Alumni celebrate Nanook tradition

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
09/29/04

University of Alaska Fairbanks students and alumni will celebrate more than 80 years of tradition as the UAF alumni reunion, Nanook Traditions: All Fired Up, gets underway Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004. The reunion coincides with Starvation Gulch, a bonfire competition held on campus since 1923.

The alumni awards luncheon is scheduled Friday, Oct. 1 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge. Joe Hayes, former speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives and lobbyist, has been named this year’s Distinguished Alumnus. The Alumni Achievement Awards for community service will go to educator Susan Stitham and businessman Mike Everette. Bill and Helga Watterson of Watterson Construction will receive the Professional Excellence Award, and Marie Scholle will receive an award for her support of UAF. The William R. Cashen Service Award will go to 1996 alumnus Brian Brubaker for outstanding service to the the UAF Alumni Association’s Fairbanks chapter.

Community members, students and alumni will build the Starvation Gulch bonfires Saturday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Taku parking lot off Farmer’s Loop Road. The bonfires will be lit at 10:30 p.m. Saturday following the UAF Blue and Gold hockey game at the Patty Center.

CONTACT: Joe Hayes, UAF Alumni Association at (907) 474-7081, e-mail fyalum@uaf.edu or visit the UAF Alumni Association website at www.uaf.edu/alumni for a complete schedule of events.