April 16, 2024
Daylight: 15:24:01 

Greetings!

Wow! We are down to just two weeks of classes remaining! For everyone at UAF, students, staff, and faculty, the finish line of the spring 2024 semester is fast approaching. We are all so excited to celebrate the end of the term and the beginning of summer!

Some of you joined us for this adventure in January and some began their journey last August. Either way, it has been a long road and you have made it so far! This is the point in the race where you can practically see the finish line. It is so close! Keep up your good work. Put the time in, keep the pace, and finish strong!

For some of you, the finish line on May 4 will mean much more than the end of a single semester or a single year. For over a thousand of you, this spring will mark the culmination of years and years of work and invested time and money. It has all paid off and you are about to finish! Graduation is at hand and we are all so excited to celebrate your truly remarkable achievement. You have likely worked more than a thousand days; you have put in thousands of hours, hundreds of nights and weekends, and all to achieve this important milestone. You will complete your program and earn your degree, certificate, or credential. Amazing!

We have so many celebrations coming up in this season of finish-line festivities! Graduation is a momentous milestone. Find events and celebrate as much as possible with close friends and familiar colleagues where you can. This spring, we have:

• First-Gen Cording Ceremony: April 27

• Honors College Graduation Ceremony: May 2

• Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony: May 3

• Honorary Degree and Award Recipients: May 3

• Grad Bash: May 3

• Commencement Ceremony: May 4

• Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony: May 4

• Kuskokwim Campus Commencement: May 7

• Northwest Campus Commencement: May 9

• Chukchi Campus Commencement: May 11

• Bristol Bay Commencement: May 11

If this spring is not yet your final lap, please join me in celebrating the achievements of your fellow travelers! Nobody completes a challenge of this magnitude completely on their own and everyone benefits from the support and encouragement we share. Whether you are running alongside, on the sidelines, or serving as a support crew, it is time to celebrate! It is such a great time to be a part of UAF and to be awestruck by the significance and triumph of each student's journey. Go ‘Nooks!

Things to do:

Attend Spring Fest:
Spring Fest is this coming weekend; it is one of my favorite weekends of the year! There are so many things to do, watch, or participate in. Events start tomorrow (Wednesday, April 17) and run through Monday, April 22. Check it out! 

Register for summer and fall classes! 
Do your future self a favor and sign up for classes. This is like putting away the firewood for next winter. Don’t wait! Financial aid may be available as well. Check-in with a financial aid advisor to find out more.

Get a summer job at UAF:
All UAF Student jobs can be found online. Work. Make money. Take a class (or two). Enjoy Fairbanks and UAF in the summer!

Take care of yourself:
Really. It has been a long race. Check in with yourself. Eat right. Rest. Care for, support, and celebrate your fellow travelers. We are nearly there and we are excited to celebrate you! You are amazing!

Thanks to last week’s reader, GH, who gave me some valuable feedback on improving the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Do you have feedback on how we can make your education more accessible or how we can make UAF better? Let me know by emailing me at obguthrie@alaska.edu.

— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management