BP donates $1 million toward UAF engineering facility

February 12, 2016

Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902

A $1 million gift from BP has doubled the amount raised so far to complete the fourth floor of the new engineering building at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The fourth floor will house the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power, which develops and tests alternative energy systems.

BP announced the donation at the annual UAF Chancellor’s Gala in Fairbanks Saturday evening.

“Energy innovation and STEM education are important to both Alaska and BP,” said BP Alaska President Janet Weiss. “This world-class facility will support engineering education and sustainable energy research at UAF.”

BP is a longtime supporter of the university and has contributed more than $30 million to the University of Alaska system. In addition to providing financial support, the company partners with UAF on research projects, provides mentors and internships for students, and hires UAF graduates. Weiss serves on the UAF Board of Advisors and as co-chair of the ACEP centennial fundraising initiative, which aims to raise $6.5 million to complete the center’s offices and labs in the building. BP’s gift brings the total raised to $2 million, nearly a third of the total needed to complete the floor.

“Business and industry partnerships are vital to the health of our university, and BP has been our partner for more than four decades,” said UAF Chancellor Mike Powers. “This generous gift not only is a big step for the ACEP initiative but also significantly advances the university’s efforts to provide engineering and energy solutions for the entire state.”

Other major ACEP initiative donors include Usibelli Coal Mine, which provided the initiative’s lead gift of $500,000, and ConocoPhillips Alaska, which followed with a $500,000 gift as well.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Dawn Patience, BP Alaska, Dawn.Patience@bp.com.