UA Scholars Program celebrates 20th anniversary and Alaskan academic achievement
This month, the UA Scholars Program celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since the program鈥檚 inception, the program has benefited 8,900 UA Scholars, including an estimated 3,000 Scholars who were the first in their families to attend college.
鈥The UA Scholars Program has transformed higher education in Alaska by rewarding academic achievement and attracting top Alaskan students to the 探花精选,鈥 said Lael Oldmixon, director of the UA Scholars Program. 鈥淏efore the program was created, only about 10 percent of the state鈥檚 top high school graduates choose to attend the 探花精选. The average is now 41 percent.鈥
The UA Scholars Program is a merit-based scholarship program, established in 1999 by former UA President Mark Hamilton. Students ranked in the top 10 percent of their qualified Alaska high school receive a total of $12,000, which may be used to attend any of the 探花精选鈥檚 16 campuses. The Award encourages students throughout Alaska to attend and graduate from the 探花精选. Funding is provided by revenue from the university鈥檚 Land Grant Trust Fund.
The UA Scholars Program has been successful at attracting students from rural communities.
The opportunity to attend college prepares them to become leaders in their home communities
and Scholars serve as ambassadors between their communities and the university.
Recently, the Alaska Legislature passed a that recognized the success and impact of the UA Scholars program.