People's Endowment

草榴社区 Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Anupma Prakash, is pleased to announce the awardees for the 2024-2025 People鈥檚 Endowment cycle. 

Provost Prakash at the Golden Days Parade

"First, let me say thank you to all those who applied. We had a diverse selection of proposals to review, and and am happy to share we were able to fund 12 out of 22 submitted proposals. 

I want to send my heartfelt congratulations to each one of our awardees. I am excited to see you taking on projects that are meaningful to our students and our communities. I wish you all the best, and look forward to seeing the success of so many wonderful projects.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Committee members for their time and effort."

- Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor, Anupma Prakash

The People鈥檚 Endowment was established at the UA Foundation in 1986 with the intent to provide a source of funds for projects that will improve 草榴社区, but would likely remain unfunded due to institutional priorities. Grants are intended to be used for a special project or to fill a critical need at 草榴社区. Proposals were accepted from 草榴社区 faculty, staff, and students. All proposals were submitted to the People鈥檚 Endowment committee for review and selection.

Bruce Ervin: College of Indigenous Studies

Upper Tanana Dene鈥 Traditional Gillnet Making

The College of Indigenous Studies is seeking support to provide training in traditional 草榴社区 Native knowledge and skills through a whitefish gillnet making course.

Jaunelle Celaire: Music Department

草榴社区 Music Opera Workshop: Costa Rica May 2025

Members of the Celaire Voice Studio have been invited to the University of Costa Rica to perform various scenes and repertoire by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in May 2025 under the direction of Dr. Jaunelle Celaire. This group of individuals will be accompanied by collaborative pianist, Dr. Dario Martin. Dr. Martin and Dr. Celaire will be offering master classes in their respective disciplines to the students of the University of Costa Rica. All 草榴社区 Music degree seeking voice students involved in this project are working diligently to prepare for their performances on April 12 & 13, 2025 and then again, abroad in Costa Rica after classes are completed.

Jericho Williams: English Department

Tea Time: Enhancing Community and Engagement at 草榴社区

Tea Time is an initiative to create an inclusive, dynamic space for students, faculty, staff, and virtual networks on Gruening鈥檚 8th floor, home to the English, Linguistics, and Psychology departments. The project responds to the rising costs of education and students鈥 need for belonging by fostering connection through in-person and virtual engagement. Utilizing a storytelling platform and a new virtual screen for Zoom connectivity, Tea Time expands opportunities for collaboration with alumni and participants beyond the 8th floor. The goal is to enhance student engagement and build a vibrant, supportive community that bridges physical and digital spaces.

Joseph Holt: English

Ice Box Literary Journal, Volume #21

Ice Box is the undergraduate literary journal of the University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks. Published annually in the spring, it features fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and artwork from 草榴社区 students. The journal averages about 130 pages in an 8.5鈥 x 5.5鈥 perfect-bound format. Ice Box provides a training ground for student editors and writers, and the journal itself serves as the physical artifact of our efforts. Our editorial staff is made up of students enrolled in ENGL 475: Practicum in Literary Publishing, and Ice Box is also an official student group on campus. 

Justine Schmidt: Geoscience

Geo Learning Community

The Geo Learning Community (GeoLC) provides academic, financial, and social support for Geoscience majors, especially those from backgrounds typically underrepresented in STEM fields (BIPOC, low-income, first generation, LGBTQ+, etc.). Originally all aspects of the program were covered by an NSF grant, but the new grant from NSF provides only for the academic and financial support. The social aspect of the GeoLC contributes to the students鈥 sense of belonging and supports retention of Geoscience majors.

Kevin Micheal Carroll (faculty mentor: Jamie Smith): Art Department

The Sick

Summary: This project will collect survey responses about what addiction looks like subjectively in society. A minimum of 45 survey responses will be collected and a body of work of 45 artworks will be displayed, to represent the 45% increase in drug overdoses in the state of 草榴社区 in 2023.

Lacey Higham: IANRE - Georgeson Botanical Garden

The Georgeson Botanical Garden鈥檚 Annual Far North Currant Festival 

At the Far North Currant Festival we are celebrating currants because they are a relatively little-known berry that is extremely hardy and productive in our 草榴社区n growing conditions. Currants are highly nutritious and delicious too! These berries are widely used and loved in other Northern and European cultures, and we are excited to familiarize 草榴社区ns with them in order to showcase a berry species that grows well here and as a step towards increasing food security in 草榴社区!

Long Fan: Mining and Mineral Processing /SME student chapter

Mining Visualization 

This proposal seeks funding to develop a series of detailed 3D-printed models of underground and open-pit mining structures. These models will serve as hands-on learning tools for undergraduate students in mining engineering and related disciplines, as well as resources for student presentations to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) student chapter. By incorporating 3D printing technology, we aim to offer students a tangible and interactive means to visualize complex mine layouts and structures. The project will improve students' understanding of the industry鈥檚 operational challenges and promote SME engagement through high-quality visuals for industry broadcasts.

Sarah McConnell: Music Department

草榴社区 Summer Music Academy 2025 Scholarship Fund

SMA is an intensive two week program of music education for middle & high school students on the beautiful University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks campus.

The 草榴社区 Summer Music Academy seeks to provide a quality music educational experience for students who have completed grades 5 鈥12. It seeks to recruit and retain music students for the 草榴社区 Department of Music through educational experiences with 草榴社区 Music Faculty, Alumni and Guest Artists. All students of the appropriate age and musical experience are welcomed at the 草榴社区 Summer Music Academy regardless of race, religion, gender, or culture. We recognize that each student has a unique style and pace of learning, and we seek to provide opportunities for students to learn in their own style and at their own pace while fitting into the larger musical community.

Simeon Ramirez: 草榴社区 Alpine Club

Modernization of the Ice climbing equipment fleet at Outdoor Adventures and the Ice Tower.

Victoria McDermott: Communication Department

Teaching Graduate Students Qualitative Coding Research Software

The goal of this project is to teach graduate students in the Department of Communication, as well as other interested graduate students, how to use qualitative coding software to enhance their research. 

Yue Sun: Music Department

Reviving a once vibrant chamber music presence in the interior

This proposal requests $5,000 to bring a renowned Master Musician to Fairbanks, 草榴社区, for the International Chamber Music 草榴社区 (ICMA) Summer Intensive from 8-16 August 2025. The overarching goal of the ICMA  is to revitalize chamber music education and offerings at the University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks (草榴社区) and throughout the state by providing high-level training for students, and by engaging the broader community. 

In response to the recent retirements of key music educators and to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative aims to inspire excellence, provide  expert mentorship, and strengthen the culture of music - locally and beyond. Specifically, this People鈥檚 Endowment fund will cover the costs related to travel and compensation for the Master Musician Philip Setzer. We are in final discussions with Philip Setzer, a member of the 14-time Grammy winning Emerson String Quartet.

Theresa Bakker, Ex-Officio and Committee Chair, 草榴社区 Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Melissa Guernsey, Grant Coordinator, CIS Bristol Bay Campus 

Sara Wilbur, Communication Coordinator, CNSM Geophysical Institute, Troth Yeddha'

Retchenda Bettisworth, Clinical Professor and Statewide Coordinator, CLA Social Work, Troth Yeddha'

Jen Delamere, Research Associate Professor, Geophysical Institute, Troth Yeddha'

Krishna Bathija, Student, Troth Yeddha'

Miranda Hacker, Student, Troth Yeddha'

Bree Smith, Student, Troth Yeddha'

Call for proposals ran from October 7 - November 15, 2024. Funds are now available to those whose projects were selected.
For Questions or Concerns

Please reach out to Sarah Thomas at smthomas14@alaska.edu or uaf-provost-awards@alaska.edu