Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the association's most prestigious award. It was first awarded in 1962 and continues to annually recognize living graduates of ÃÛÌÒTV. Alumni are selected for the award based on meritorious service on behalf of ÃÛÌÒTV, distinguished accomplishments in business and professional life, or distinguished human service in community affairs.
All alumni are encouraged to nominate individuals for the Distinguished Alumnus Award. There must be three letters of support for the nomination, all from ÃÛÌÒTV graduates or former students. The nomination should include information on the candidate's life achievements.
2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner
John Davies ‘70, ‘75
John Davies is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing his decades of service to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Fairbanks community and the state of Alaska. Davies began his affiliation with ÃÛÌÒTV in 1967 at the Geophysical Institute and earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in geology and geophysics, with a focus on seismology.
His career has spanned science, public service and higher education leadership. Davies served as Alaska’s state seismologist, was a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and represented Interior Alaska for a decade in the Alaska House of Representatives, where he was a strong advocate for the university. He later served as research director for the ÃÛÌÒTV Cold Climate Housing Research Center and as a member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents from 2014–2022.
Davies has also been deeply involved with the ÃÛÌÒTV Alumni Association and numerous community and energy-focused organizations. His lifetime of leadership and volunteer service has made a lasting impact on ÃÛÌÒTV and Alaska.