Lenhart J.H. Grothe Resources Award

The UAF Alumni Association, by unanimous vote at the Sept. 22-23, 2017 meeting of the Board of Directors, has decided to no longer oversee this award, as it believes it's more appropriate to have it considered at the unit level. We keep this page here for historical purposes, and to continue honoring the past recipients. 

Lenhart Grothe

The Lenhart J.H. Grothe Resources Award was named after alumnus and tin miner Lenhart Grothe. Grothe, the award's first recipient, was a talented businessman who enjoyed sharing his wisdom with others. He started the Northern Exploration and Equipment Co. as a Fairbanks college student and graduated at the top of his class with a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering in 1957. Grothe, with his partner Tom Pearson, started Lost River Mining in Tin City and Nome, Alaska. Their mine in Tin City was the only operating tin mine in Alaska and the United States at the time. Grothe always said, "It doesn't matter what you do, just do what you do and do it well," and "Nothing is more valuable than your reputation as an honest person."

Criteria for selection: The Lenhart J.H. Grothe Resources Award is given posthumously to an alumnus who made significant contributions in the resource, mining or agricultural fields.