Community invited to UAF Day in North Pole

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
04/19/06

Santa Claus and other members of the North Pole community will get a chance to stimulate their minds and appetites during the fourth annual UAF Day at North Pole and Taste of North Pole events at the North Pole Plaza Mall Saturday, April 22.

UAF Day at North Pole will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. while A Taste of North Pole will be held from noon-2 p.m. The university is partnering with the city of North Pole to coordinate the event, which showcases UAF by creating a "mini-campus" at the mall.

"This is very much a family event," said Scott McCrea, UAF’s director of university marketing. "There will be information for everyone, from educational opportunities for prospective students, teenagers and parents, to entertainment and hands-on science activities for children."

More than 30 university departments will participate in the event. The UAF Registrar’s Office will be on hand to register students for summer sessions classes, which begin May 22. In addition, the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand, which is in Fairbanks courtesy of the UAF Festival of Native Arts, will give a free performance at 1 p.m.

As part of the celebration, North Pole Mayor Jeff Jacobson will be recognizing the UA Scholars from the North Pole High School Class of 2006. The UA Scholars program allows Alaska high school students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class to receive a four-year scholarship to attend a University of Alaska campus of their choice. The recognition ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m.

UAF Day at North Pole will be held concurrently with A Taste of North Pole, a fundraiser for Santa’s Seniors. North Pole-area restaurants will offer samples of their cuisine from 12-2 p.m. There is a $10 fee to participate in A Taste of North Pole and all participants will receive a North Pole menu guide.

CONTACT: Scott McCrea, UAF director of university marketing, at (907) 474-7905 or via e-mail at fnsjm@uaf.edu . North Pole Mayor Jeff Jacobson at (907) 488-2281 or via e-mail at Mayor@northpolealaska.com .