$163,000 raised at sold-out Blue & Gold Celebration
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
Sept. 18, 2024
Tracy Vanairsdale, president of Bettisworth North Architects and Planners Inc. and a member of the chancellor's Board of Advisors, holds up her bidder's paddle during the 2024 Blue & Gold Celebration on Sept. 14, 2024, at the Wood Center on the Troth Yeddha' Campus in Fairbanks.
Donors at Saturday’s Blue & Gold Celebration contributed nearly $163,000 to support scholarships for University of Alaska Fairbanks students.
The event, presented by Kinross Alaska, drew 250 local leaders and university supporters. The evening included the debut performance of an all-UAF alumni and employee band and a live painting demonstration by artist and UAF student Kyle Agustines, whose work was part of a live auction and blue vs. gold pledge competition. The gold team took top honors with $49,341 raised, narrowly edging out the blue team, which raised $43,750.
“We are grateful for the enormous support provided by the local community during this year’s celebration,” said Tom Hough, UAF’s executive director of university advancement. “To the 250 guests who attended, we just want to say, ‘Thank you for being such a fun and amazing part of the UAF family.’”
In addition to raising money for scholarships, the event celebrated the 2024 recipients of the Emil Usibelli Distinguished Teaching, Research and Service Awards.
Brandon Boylan, political science professor and director of the Arctic and Northern studies program in the College of Liberal Arts, received the Distinguished Teaching Award. William R. Simpson, professor of physical chemistry in the College of Natural Science and Mathematics and the Geophysical Institute, received the Distinguished Research Award. Katie Spellman, research associate professor at the International Arctic Research Center, received the Distinguished Service Award.
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