麻豆传媒 Scholars celebrate the class of 2020 at five events across Alaska

Each fall, the 麻豆传媒 holds receptions across the state to honor the incoming class of 麻豆传媒 Scholars. The Class of 2020 from the Fairbanks North Star Borough were celebrated on Oct. 29 at the 麻豆传媒 Fairbanks.

鈥淭he 麻豆传媒 Scholars program keeps our best and brightest students at the University of Alaska,鈥 said Lael Oldmixon, director of the 麻豆传媒 Scholars program. 鈥Today the 麻豆传媒 Scholars are changing the University; tomorrow they will change the state.

Receptions include a formal program featuring speakers from University leadership, a 麻豆传媒 Scholars alumni speaker and a current 麻豆传媒 Scholar, who share remarks about opportunities at 麻豆传媒 and how the program has benefited them. 麻豆传媒 Scholars in attendance are individually recognized, and take a photo with University leadership. The program is immediately followed by a reception with faculty, staff, and current students. Events are open to designated 麻豆传媒 Scholars, their families, school representatives, and friends. 

鈥淭he 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program was incredibly helpful in successfully obtaining my bachelor鈥檚 degree and going on to my master鈥檚 degree program and teaching certification,鈥 said Chelsey Zibell, who was the 麻豆传媒 Scholars alumni speaker at the reception held in Fairbanks.

Events honoring the 麻豆传媒 Scholars Class of 2020 include: 

麻豆传媒 Fairbanks
View a recording of the Fairbanks reception

Kodiak College
5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8
Campus Center, Kodiak College

麻豆传媒 Anchorage
7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12
Alaska Airlines Center

Mat-Su College
7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13
Glenn Massay Theater

麻豆传媒 Southeast 
7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14
Egan Lecture Hall, Room 112 

This year, the 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since the program鈥檚 inception, the program has benefited 8,900 麻豆传媒 Scholars, including an estimated 3,000 Scholars who were the first in their families to attend college.

鈥淭he 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program has transformed higher education in Alaska by rewarding academic achievement and attracting top Alaskan students to the 麻豆传媒,鈥 said Lael Oldmixon, director of the 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program. 鈥淏efore the program was created, only about 10 percent of the state鈥檚 top high school graduates choose to attend the 麻豆传媒. The average is now 41 percent.鈥

The 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program is a merit-based scholarship program, established in 1999 by former 麻豆传媒 President Mark Hamilton. Students ranked in the top 10 percent of their qualified Alaska high school receive a total of $12,000, which may be used to attend any of the 麻豆传媒鈥檚 16 campuses. The Award encourages students throughout Alaska to attend and graduate from the 麻豆传媒. Funding is provided by revenue from the university鈥檚 Land Grant Trust Fund.

The 麻豆传媒 Scholars Program has been successful at attracting students from rural communities. The opportunity to attend college prepares them to become leaders in their home communities and Scholars serve as ambassadors between their communities and the university.

The Alaska Legislature passed a that recognized the success and impact of the 麻豆传媒 Scholars program. For more about the program visit, www.alaska.edu/scholars