Nominations open for 2020 Pathfinder Award
March 10, 2020
The annual Pathfinder Award goes to a staff member who possesses a high degree of
ethical standards, compassion and dedication to the academic success of Native Alaska
and other students from rural Alaska. Since 2012 the Department of Alaska Native Studies
and Rural Development has awarded seven UAF staff members the Pathfinder Award. This
award was established by DANSRD to honor retiring employee Kay Thomas for her selfless
dedication and highly effective academic guidance. With her commitment to the belief
that rural Alaska and Alaska Native students deserve equal opportunity and any necessary
support to access education at UAF regardless of background, her legacy of student
successes have reached more than 2,000 students, extending over several generations.
Do you know a current UAF staff employee who exemplifies that same excellence and
commitment to rural students? What is your story and experience working with this
person? As a UAF student or employee, you have the opportunity to nominate an individual
to receive the 2020 Pathfinder Award for their dedication to the success of students
from rural Alaska. The selected recipient will receive a $500 cash award.
The deadline for nominations is March 16 at 5 p.m. Read more about the nomination process. Submit nomination letters to sljones19@alaska.edu or uaf-dansrd@alaska.edu.
Past recipients of the Pathfinder Award:
2012 Kay Thomas: DANSRD — Troth Yeddha’ Campus (Fairbanks)
2013 Gabriele Russell: Academic Advisor, RSS — Troth Yeddha’ Campus (Fairbanks)
2014 Agnes McIntyre: Emerging Scholars Coordinator — Kuskokwim Campus (Bethel)
2015 Kacey Miller: Student Services Manager — NW Campus (Nome)
2016 Sarah Andrew: Adult Learning Programs Manager — Bristol Bay Campus (Dillingham)
2017 Olga Skinner: Academic Advisor, RSS — Troth Yeddha’ Campus (Fairbanks)
2018 Angela Rutman: Tribal Management Program Coordinator — Interior Alaska Campus
(Fairbanks)
2019 Robin Brooks: Student Success Advisor– Interior Alaska Campus (Fairbanks)
Download the flyer (PDF) here.