UAF Alumni Association seeks award nominations

November 14, 2018

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association is looking for nominations for its two annual awards, the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the William R. Cashen Service Award. Honorees are selected by a committee of alumni and community members. Both awards will be presented at the Blue and Gold Celebration, UAF’s signature engagement event, on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was first presented in 1962 to recognize a living graduate of UAF based on service to the university and community, along with professional accomplishments. Past recipients include Eric Toskey, an engineering graduate of UAF who has worked in the energy industry for decades, and Virginia Farmier, whose career with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner led to the creation of the Snedden Chair of Journalism at UAF.

A Distinguished Alumnus Award nomination should include information about the candidate's life achievements along with three letters of support from UAF graduates or former students. Only UAF alumni are eligible to receive the honor, but anyone may nominate a candidate.

The William R. Cashen Service Award is named after the late Bill Cashen, class of 1937. He was a former alumni director, professor and proud alumnus. Cashen set an example for service to the university and its alumni association. Past recipients include Kurt Koudelka, a student firefighter at UAF and charter member of the alumni association’s student firefighters chapter, and Jo Scott, an Alaska educator who helped create the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, now in its 38^th year.

Nominations for the William R. Cashen Award will be judged on the basis of meritorious service at more than one level of alumni activity. This could include serving on the board of directors, assisting with a project, setting up a scholarship, or serving on a UAF committee or advisory council. This award is not restricted to alumni of UAF.

Nominations can be submitted online at: bit.ly/uafaaawardsnomination. The deadline is Nov. 30, 2018. For more information, please call the UAF alumni office at 907-474-7081.