Scholarship benefits UA geography students

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
10/09/08

The University of Alaska Geography Program this year named senior Matthew Balazs as its first Maxwell Scholar.

Maxwell Scholars are recipients of the Dr. Earl Maxwell Scholarship, an endowed scholarship created to recognize outstanding UAF geography students. The UA Geography Program is part of the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences.

The Maxwell Scholarship was initially established by Maxwell and was later redefined by this daughter, registrar emerita Ann Tremarello.

"(My father would be) very proud knowing that his legacy and passion for geography and education are well served through the University of Alaska Geography Program," she said.

Maxwell was born in 1904 and earned his medical degree from Washington University in 1928. He served as an Air Force flight surgeon during World War II and ended his military career as a brigadier general responsible for Medical Services in the Pacific theater. He served in Alaska from 1953-1956. After he retired from the military, Maxwell was director of research at Alcon Laboratories, an eye medicine manufacturer. He passed away in 1988.

The new scholarship adds to the Tremarellos’ longstanding commitment to education and excellence at UAF. Ann Tremarello graduated from UAF in 1957 and served the university in several leadership positions for 45 years. Her husband, Joe Tremarello, is a 1958 and 1968 graduate of UAF and is well known for his leadership and coaching skills on and off the basketball court.

Mike Sfraga, director of the UA Geography Program, said he is honored the Tremarellos chose this program. "To have an award in Dr. Maxwell’s name is indeed an honor any institution would celebrate," Sfraga said. "This very generous gift once again demonstrates the Tremarellos’ continued support of UAF, the Fairbanks community and the students we serve."

CONTACT: Katie Kennedy, UA Geography Program, at 907-474-7494 or via e-mail at katie.kennedy@alaska.edu. Nancy Tarnai, SNRAS public information officer, at 907-474-5042 or via e-mail at fnnjt@uaf.edu.

NT/10-9-08/046-09