Summer 2026
From the chancellor
Dear UAF community,
With my year-long tenure as your interim chancellor coming to a close, I am filled with immense gratitude. Returning to lead my alma mater, where my journey began as a student in 1984, has been the privilege of a lifetime. I find myself reflecting on a year defined by our community's incredible spirit. This spirit was fully alive during our 49-hour ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Day in March, where 1,301 donors rallied to raise over $546,000 for UAF scholarships and programs. This year, our students stepped up as active partners in philanthropy, collaborating with alumni-owned businesses and earning club funding through the "Hand on the Nook" and other endurance challenges.
Recently, community members Richard and Rachel Kacsur attended a UAF estate-planning seminar, where they learned about the prospect of directing a qualified charitable distribution from an inherited IRA straight to the university. They were inspired by an impressive engineering student who later dropped out due to severe financial strain. By choosing to invest in human potential, they created the Kacsur Family Endowed Scholarship to ensure future engineering students facing similar hardships can cross the finish line.
As UAF prepares to welcome its next permanent chancellor, I am deeply proud of the collaborative foundation we have reinforced this year. From the resilience of our students to the strategic vision of community donors like the Kacsurs, philanthropy takes many forms at UAF. When our alumni give, when our community rallies around our students and when we partner to turn personal inspiration into lasting opportunities, we are doing far more than supporting academic programs. We are strengthening Alaska’s future.
Thank you for your steadfast support this year and for investing in the Nanooks who will continue to carry this proud legacy forward.
Sincerely,
Ambassador (ret.) Mike Sfraga ’84, ’97
Interim Chancellor
ÐßÐßÊÓƵ
America’s Arctic University
Recent benefactor highlights
Businesses, corporations, individuals and foundations give generously to UAF.
This report reflects gifts and donations totaling $25,000 or more to the University of Alaska ÐßÐßÊÓƵ between Feb.1 and April 30, 2026.
BUSINESS AND CORPORATE
Alaska Airlines gave travel vouchers to support the Rural Alaska Honors Institute.
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation gave to the GeoFORCE Alaska Support Fund.
ConocoPhillips Alaska gave to the College of Engineering and Mines Support Fund, the GeoFORCE Alaska Support Fund, the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and the UAF Alaska Science Olympiad Support Fund.
Kinross Alaska gave to the GeoFORCE Alaska Support Fund, the CBSM Arctic Innovation Competition Support Fund and the Mining Engineering Research Endowment.
MDF Alaska (CMA) gave to the ANSEP UAF General Support Fund and the GeoFORCE Alaska Support Fund.
INDIVIDUAL
An anonymous donor gave to the Charles C. Georgeson Botanical Garden.
Carl S. Benson* gave to the Rasmuson Library Archival Films Support Fund and the Ruth and Carl Benson Arctic Research Endowment.
Jeffrey Dunn gave to the David Burnett Dunn Memorial Endowment.
Nancy L. Eliason gave to the UAMN Eliason Beringian Research Endowment.
Raymond A. Fallen gave to the Dr. Christopher Fallen Memorial for Space Physics and Aeronomy Endowment.
Harold F. John* gave to the Ornithology Endowment.
James I. (Sandy) Hamilton, Jr.* gave to the Nanook Rifle Scholarship, the Nanook Women's Cross Country Skiing Scholarship and the Nanook Men's Cross Country Skiing Scholarship.
Dorli McWayne ’83 and Kesler Woodward gave to the Museum Annual Fund, the Art Department Support Fund, the OneTree Alaska Project Support Fund, the Charles C. Georgeson Botanical Garden, the Kesler Woodward Scholarship, the Barry McWayne Fine Art Photography Scholarship, the Marianna Missy Boaz Woodward Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Frank Soos Creative Writing Scholarship.
Arthur J. Movius III gave to the College Rotary Scholarship.
Jonathan and Clare Rubini gave to the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
Thomas and Susan Shirley gave to the Thomas and Susan Shirley Travel Award.
David A. Stech* gave to the David and Mary Stech Endowed Music Scholarship.
FOUNDATION AND ASSOCIATION
The Gottstein Family Foundation gave to the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support Fund.
The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation gave to the Tamamta Fellowship.
* Indicates deceased
Stories of impact
May 26
A couple’s experience with a financially struggling student prompted creation of a new scholarship fund at UAF.
May 26
An all-day competition in Wood Center on ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Day let students lend a hand to strengthen their clubs.
Mar 03
From record student grants to a $100K centennial campaign, UAF alumni are investing in today’s students and the next 100 years.
Mar 02
UAF has dedicated the Davis Concert Hall’s pipe organ to the memory of David Stech.
Dec 10
Walt and Marita Babula’s stellar donation set in motion the latest addition to the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Nov 21
ÐßÐßÊÓƵ came together on Oct. 23 to honor UAF’s student firefighters and help them cover costs far into the future.
Nov 19
UAF’s GeoFORCE program takes high school students across the country to learn about the Earth’s fantastic formations.
Sep 09
The Circumpolar Music Series, created with help from writer and musician Catherine Madsen, forms connections across the North.
Sep 05
Nancy Eliason, a 52-year Alaskan, assists researchers from UAF and elsewhere who study the people of ancient Beringia.
May 21
Kendall Kramer wraps up five years at UAF with a stellar senior season, winning the collegiate and national championship 20K freestyle races.
May 12
The fifth annual online event set a new participation milestone as donors supported more than 80 UAF programs, scholarships and initiatives.
Feb 28
The Mining Engineering Research Endowment, backed by companies, gives scholarships to UAF students working on innovative, sustainable mining practices.
Feb 28
Roger Burggraf’s extraordinary donation advances the effort to preserve Alaska’s golden history.
Dec 04
The annual Blue & Gold Celebration raised scholarship funds, while ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Tuesday supported the UAF Food Pantry.
Dec 04
Frank Ostanik ’93 is working his connections with communities in Alaska and beyond.