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What's new with the UAF Alumni Association?
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From left: UAF Resident Director Iván Solís Cruz; Andrew Parker, resident assistant in Bartlett Hall; Michael Montuya, resident assistant in Skarland Hall; and Cameron Blood, UAFAA senior student assistant and resident assistant in Skarland Hall.
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The UAF Alumni Association board of directors met in Fairbanks Oct. 4-5 and participated in a variety of events, including a Student Life Meet 'n' Greet in the Hess Recreation Center sponsored by UAFAA. It featured an introduction to the new living-learning communities by Brimah Vonjo, UAF's student success coordinator. Board members and local alumni also participated in the annual UAF Swimming Alumni Meet and helped sponsor an after-party at the Pub.
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We also welcomed several new faces to our staff, including student assistants Millard Arnold and Feyne Elmore. Elizabeth Talbot joined the team in September as our new alumni relations coordinator, in charge of membership and other special projects. Stop by the alumni office this month and say hello!
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Photo above left: Your UAF Alumni Relations team, from left, student assistant Millard Arnold, coordinator Elizabeth Talbot, student assistant Feyne Elmore and director Theresa Bakker.
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Photo above right: UAF Student Success Coordinator Brimah Vonjo talks with UAF Alumni Association board member Mary Beth Loewen.
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The Alumni Association is also working on supporting new and ongoing events on campus. These are opportunities for alumni to get involved and meet current students, as well as support research and innovation at UAF.
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Alaska Startup Week
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From November 18 to 24, events in Fairbanks and across the state will highlight Alaska entrepreneurs as well as programs and initiatives supporting innovation and commercialization. As with last year's Startup Week, the events coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week. Startup Week powered by the 49th State Angel Fund, TechStars, and Global Entrepreneurship Network.
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Here on campus, we are teaming up with OIPC, Dean Bill Schnabel of the College of Engineering and Mines, and the Residence Life living-learning communities for an event on Tuesday, Nov. 19, called Nook Tank. Students and alumni are invited to participate in an exercise to think up new products and make a pitch to our panel of alumni judges. Let us know if you'd like to volunteer!
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UAF One Health, One Future conference
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Another exciting opportunity to partner with a campus initiative comes with the One Health, One Future conference coming to UAF in March 2020. Veterinarians coined the term “One Health” to capture how relationships between humans, animals and the environment affect the spread of diseases. One Health concepts and ideas lie at the core of Indigenous worldviews and are inextricably linked to the development of a sustainable future in the Arctic.
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UAF defines health as a state of individual and community well-being that encompasses not only physical health but also mental, behavioral, emotional, cultural and spiritual health. Every discipline at UAF can contribute vitally to building the One Health initiative. Scientists, health care professionals, educators, students, policymakers and community stakeholders will work together to learn about the latest advances in One Health research at the upcoming conference.
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To support this important work, the UAF Alumni Association has agreed to sponsor the welcoming reception during the conference. Look for more information soon about this event. You can also register online.
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Other UAFAA news
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2020 UA Impact: Legislative fly-in
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From left: UAFAA President Peter Van Flein, Rep. Steve Thompson, Mathew Carrick '08 and UAFAA Director Theresa Bakker.
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We are planning a large UAF alumni presence at the beginning of the legislative session. At its October meeting, the board voted to hold the winter meeting in the state capital so directors can take part in our annual fly-in to Juneau.
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Watch this space for more information about ongoing legislative advocacy efforts and an alumni event in Juneau.
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UAF class notes
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Let us know what you are up to! We are currently gathering photos, snippets and stories for the winter edition of the online Aurora magazine. We invite you to share positive stories from your time at UAF, updates about your current achievements and other news. Here is the link to the class notes section in the latest edition of Aurora.
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UAF alumni profile
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Nava marks more than half-century at UAF
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In Fairbanks, Joe Nava is pretty much a household name, whether through his work as a gun safety instructor, as host of the local radio program “Shooters Corner,” or as the creator of the Youth Hunter Education Challenge.
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What might not be so well known is Nava’s longtime ties to the University of Alaska Fairbanks — as a student, athlete, researcher and, as of 2009, a member of the Nanook Hall of Fame.
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Joe Nava visits the rifle gallery at the UAF Patty Center in fall 2019. Photo by Elizabeth Talbot.
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Nava has enough stories to fill a book, something he accomplished last year when he penned an autobiography, “Not Your Average Joe,” with the help of his friend, Laura B. Berkowitz. All of the proceeds support the Joseph A. Nava Shooting Scholarship Endowment Fund, a UAF scholarship he helped endow more than 30 years ago.
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Nanooks rifle coach Layne Lewis said that Nava’s ongoing roles as a rifle team booster and fan have left a lasting impression. “Joe has been very influential with the university and our rifle program,” Lewis said. “The amount that Joe has done for the Nanooks is immeasurable.”
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Honoring UAF alumni veterans
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In honor of Veterans Day, the UAF Department of Military and Veteran Services is sponsoring an Honor Wall featuring portraits of UAF veterans and submissions from the UAF community. We want to make sure our alumni are included at this event. Veterans and nonveterans are also invited to participate. Many of us have family or friends who served and are important to us. Please submit photographs, stories or names of veterans who are important to you at this link. Submissions will be accepted the entire month of November.
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The exhibit will open in Arctic Java in the UAF Wood Center with a display of submitted photos and stories on Nov. 4, 2019. You are also invited to the official opening of the Honor Wall on Nov. 14 from 4-6 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the UAF DMVS at uaf-va@alaska.edu or 474-7400.
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Photo above: James C. Gilchrest, Wendy Whitehead Martelle, Joseph Morris and Macherie Dunbar participated in a veterans portrait project in 2014. UAF photos by JR Ancheta.
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Join us for our signature event
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SAVE THE DATE
2020 Blue and Gold Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020
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The 2020 Blue and Gold Celebration will highlight alumni and faculty honorees. Join us for fine dining, live music and an opportunity to raise significant support for our inspiring students. Interested in supporting your alma mater? Sponsorships, including table sponsorships, are available now for the UAF Blue and Gold Celebration. Take a look at these fun opportunities to show your support for #NanookNation.
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Net proceeds from the Blue and Gold Celebration will support critical needs of our students via the UAF Student Support Fund. You can also make a donation at the event to support a fund of your choice.
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Wanted: UAF alumni to choose award winners
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We need your help! The UAF Alumni Association is looking for nominations for its two annual awards. Honorees are selected by a committee of alumni and community members. Nominations are due by Nov. 30, 2019. Both awards will be presented at the 2020 Blue and Gold Celebration in February.
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The Distinguished Alumnus Award is our most prestigious award. Alumni are selected based on distinguished accomplishments in business and professional life.
The William R. Cashen Service Award is designed to encourage service and inspire all those associated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
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UAF Alumni Association
201 Constitution Hall
P.O. Box 750126
Fairbanks, AK 99775-0126
Fax: (907) 474-6712
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We are also looking for alumni to serve on the UAFAA Awards Committee. Contact us at uaf-alumni@alaska.edu for more information.
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Upcoming alumni events — save the dates
- Nov. 7-8, UA Board of Regents meeting in Anchorage
- Nov. 14, UAF Honor Wall reception in Arctic Java in the Wood Center
- Nov. 19, Alaska Startup Week "Nook Tank" event at Hess Rec Center
- Jan. 29-31, UA Impact, legislative fly-in to Juneau
- Feb. 1, UAFAA winter meeting in Juneau
- Feb. 1, UAFAA alumni event in Juneau
- Feb. 8, Blue and Gold Celebration at the Carlson Center
- March 11-14, One Health, One Future conference
- April 24-25, UAFAA board meeting in the Alumni Lounge
- April 25, UAFAA Grad Bash at the Pub
- May 2, UAF Commencement
- July 16-18, Nanook Rendezvous alumni reunion
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Membership supports UAF students — join today!
Membership in your UAF Alumni Association helps support alumni outreach and events like the annual Nanook Rendezvous reunion and student scholarships, along with campus projects such as the Blue and Gold Celebration, Grad Bash, the upcoming One Health, One Future conference and many other worthy endeavors.
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UAF alumni membership rates:
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One-year membership = $50
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Three-year membership = $140
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Lifetime membership = $1,000
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Special rate for friends of UAF alumni = $60
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