Students, research benefit from Flint Hills Resources support

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
01/20/06

Undergraduate research, student scholarships, needs-based tuition grants and an energy civilization research project at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will receive funding as a result of a $101,000 donation from Flint Hills Resources Alaska. Flint Hills representatives Kevin Radke, Jeff Cook and Jeri Wigdahl presented the gift to UAF Chancellor Steve Jones last month at the company’s North Pole Refinery.

"This donation will benefit students through scholarships and research opportunities," said Jones. "We’re both fortunate and grateful to have such a committed and consistent corporate supporter of our educational mission."

The donation will provide funding for:

• Research projects conducted by undergraduate students;
• An endowed $1,000 scholarship to a petroleum engineering student at UAF;
• A needs-based tuition grant available to eligible part-time students taking entry-level and workforce-development courses.
• Research by Doug Reynolds, associate professor with UAF’s School of Management, which will culminate in a book examining energy’s importance to economic growth and how civilizations have used energy throughout history.

The gift is an increase from $95,000 donated in December last year, which helped establish the endowed scholarship. Part of that donation was also used to upgrade training equipment for the UAF Tanana Valley Campus emergency services program.

Flint Hills Resources Alaska donated $150,000 in June 2005 to fund a four-year partnership with the University of Alaska Museum of the North to sponsor school tours and help fund the earth sciences lab.

CONTACT: UAF Advancement Services at (907) 474-6402 or 1-800-823-4483 or fygive@uaf.edu . UAF Public Information Officer Marmian Grimes at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu .