Friday Focus: Summer daylight enhances celebration season
Julie Queen, UAF vice chancellor for administrative services, and Ronnie Houchin pause at the Pride Month swag and information table set up at Ice Cream Thursdays at the Wood Center on UAF's Troth Yeddha’ Campus in Fairbanks.
— by Julie Queen, vice chancellor for administrative services
Happy (almost) Summer Solstice! On June 21, the longest day of summer, Fairbanks can expect a setting sun at 12:47 a.m., which rises again at 2:57 a.m. With just under 22 hours of daylight and some “usable twilight” it gives us a full day here in Fairbanks to enjoy all of the local festivities. For Chukchi Campus, UAF’s only campus above the Arctic Circle, Nanooks in Kotzebue will get to experience a full 24 hours of daylight! For many, this is the most exciting part of summer and the buzz of events and time for getting together is even more appreciated after the past several years.
On the Troth Yeddha’ Campus in Fairbanks, I was able to stop into UAF’s Ice Cream Thursdays at the Wood Center, sponsored by the Center for Student Engagement. A weekly summer opportunity to get a treat for just $1, it is held from 12-2 p.m. and is usually a lively spot to say hello to colleagues and students alike. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the sunshine, company, or ice cream (or a combination of the three), and it is refreshing to see people gathering and sharing stories.
On this particular Thursday, Ronnie Houchin was supporting the Nanook Diversity and Action Center by sharing Pride Month swag and information in support of the progress and achievements of our LGBTQ2IA+ community. It is uplifting to be part of a culture that cares and expresses compassion and support in so many ways. Thanks to the CSE team for a great series of events and fun ways to connect with others on campus!
If you don’t yet have plans for the weekend and are feeling up to the challenge of a 10K run (or walk), I would be remiss not to encourage you to seek out the Midnight Sun Run. UAF is so proud to be part of this very popular community event and see the return of the in-person race start in 2022. Grab a costume (if you like) and your friends or family - this year’s race is expected to have a big turnout in celebration of the solstice and benefits the Fairbanks Resource Agency, a non-profit championing individuals with disabilities since 1967. A huge thank you in advance to the UAF Police Department, Fire Department, Facilities Services, Environmental Health and Safety, the Events Committee and many others for working with our local partners to bring this event back in 2022.
Saturday is a busy day, but if you are out using as many hours of daylight as possible, you can also visit UAF’s table at the NAACP’s annual Juneteenth celebration. From 10-2 p.m. at Bernice Allridge Park in Fairbanks, there will be food, cultural presentations and activities for the family.
With all of the festivities (there are so many I couldn’t list them all), please get out and enjoy all that UAF and our communities have to offer, wherever your location or number of daylight hours. Be safe and come back next week feeling refreshed and rejuvenated!
Friday Focus is written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.