Our Benefactor Fund donors
Since 1998, the ÃÛÌÒTV Alumni Association Benefactor Fund has inspired alumni to give back through an annual giving program that directly strengthens the university and its students. The program was created with the vision and dedication of alumni leaders including Peggy Beistline, Alan Head, Bart Lebon, Bob Mitchell, Merritt Mitchell, Jake Poole, Michael Sfraga, Therese Sharp, Deborah Tilsworth, Ann Tremarello, and Sally Wien.
Jake Poole
As executive director of the ÃÛÌÒTV Alumni Association, Jake Poole envisioned the Benefactor Fund as a way to strengthen collaboration between the university and its alumni. He believed in the idea that students are “alumni in residence†whose ÃÛÌÒTV experiences shape their lifelong connection to the community. When students feel the impact of alumni support during their time on campus, they are more likely to stay engaged as alumni. Although Poole left the association soon after the fund’s creation, he continues to donate to the Benefactor Fund, recognizing its power to enhance student life. Almost thirty years later, his vision endures in a program that continues to make a meaningful difference for students and the ÃÛÌÒTV community.
Jeremy Vermilyea ‘92
Jeremy Vermilyea was a driving force behind the Benefactor Fund when it was created in 1998. At the time, he and others envisioned a meaningful way for graduates to give back to ÃÛÌÒTV. Inspired by his own experiences building community in the Wood Center, Vermilyea helped champion the fund’s first project, providing new furniture to create a welcoming gathering space for students. As the Benefactor Fund has evolved, his commitment has remained constant. Vermilyea continues to advocate for its core mission, supporting students and funding areas that are underserved, while ensuring the fund stays focused on enriching the ÃÛÌÒTV experience for generations to come.
Current benefactors
The ÃÛÌÒTVAlumni Association is pleased to recognize the following alumni benefactors for their generous contributions to the association. The contributions pay for projects that enhance student life at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Gold level
Donations of $1,000 or more
- David Abrams ‘94
- Tom ’79, ’81, ’10 and Mary ’80 Albanese
- John ’05 and Judy Binkley
- Tom Brice ’90
- Meredith Cameron ‘09
- Chevron
- Doug* ’40 and Marcel Colp
- Linda Gordon ’65
- Daryl ’71 and Karen ’72 Haggstrom
- Dolores Hammond
- Kay Hinkley
- Aftab Khan ’88
- Herb Lang ’51 (Lang Family Fund)
- Frank Matulich ’76
- Deborah Pomeroy
- James Pruitt ’73
- Ronald '58 and Dr. Sylvia Ruscett '57
- Peter* ’58 and Joanne, Matric, Schust
- Julia Scott ’82
- Lorna Shaw
- Peggy Shumaker
- Schust Family Trust
- Raymond Smith ’43, ’82
- Eleanor Smith ’75
- Terry ’63 and Meeta Thomas
- ÃÛÌÒTV Alumni Association Fairbanks Chapter
- Matthew Varga ’98 & ’10
- Jeremy Vermilyea ’92
- William ’64 and Helga Watterson, Matric
- Kenneth Weaver ‘88
Blue level
Donations of $500 - $999
- Marsha Armstrong ’72
- Dr. Robert ’71 and Joan Bundtzen
- Robert ’79 and Linda ’73 Bursiel
- Donald ’64 and Carol Callahan
- Jim Dixon ‘90
- Tina Drake ’02
- Ronald ’58, ’88 and Fan Graham
- Key Bank Foundation
- Nicole Hallingstand ’89
- Keith ’85 and Carolyn Hanneman (Matriculate)
- John Hargesheimer '77
- Ken and Cynthia Henry
- Larry ’90 and Melani ’84 Hinzman
- Robert ‘72 and Christy Hughes
- Jo Ann Kuchle
- Trent and Bonnie Latshaw
- Robert Marovelli ’50
- Frank Matulich ’76
- Shannon McCarthy ’88
- Bob ’90, ’98 and Heather ’96 Mitchell
- Pete Pinney ’88
- George ’90, ’98 and Chris Plumley
- Barbara ’67 and Norman Richards
- John Ryer ’77, ’80
- Angela Schmidt ’99 and Chris Miller
- Wallace Powers ’81
- Richard Seifert
- Jacqueline and Michael Tinker
- Ann Tremarello ’57
- Joe Jr. ’81 and Marilyn Usibelli
- Usibelli Coal Mine Foundation
- Usibelli Foundation
- Elaine* ’69 and Thomas ’70 Woodruff
- Kenneth* ’62 and Kim*, Matric, Zonge
* Denotes deceased
White level
Donations up to $499
- Robert Alexander ’90 and Becky Stemper ’86
- Theresa Bakker
- James ’82, ’83 and Kathleen Balko
- Megan (Damario) Bean ’06, ’12
- Peggy ’96 and Ralph ’72 Beistline
- Scott Bell '82
- Patricia Bergdahl ’78
- Paula Bettano-Everts, Matric, and Rob Everts
- Tim Borkowsky
- Brent Bowman ’99
- Joan Braddock
- Cheryl and James Bradley
- Aisha ’91 and Jon ’92 Bray
- Brian ’96 and Amber ’97 Brubaker
- Mary Brunton
- Robert Bundtzen ’71
- Marlene Burrud, Matric*
- Charlie ’91 and Denise ’92 Busby
- Donald & Carol Callahan
- Hon. Howard Cameron (Matriculate)
- Sheldon Clark ’61*
- Connie & Clem Clooten
- Michelle Coombs
- Art ’53 and Helen Cort
- Edward Cox ’47*
- Terry Cruikshank ’10
- John Davies ’70, ’75 and Linda Schandelmeier ’71
- Barbara Day ‘91
- Leonard Demaray ’79
- Donna Dinsmore
- Dawn Dinwoodie ’92
- Wayne Donaldson ‘80
- Lawrence Duffy ’72, ’77
- Thaddeus* ’67, ’72 and Brenda ’66 Dumas
- Libby Eddy ’92
- Jane and Jay Edwards
- Thomas Farrugia '18
- Mary P. Fenlon ’74
- Daniel ’94, ’97 and Deborah ’93, ’98 Flodin
- Birch and Jen Foster
- Kim ’74 and Marsha Francisco
- Hilary Freeman, Matric
- Barbara Fujimoto ’13
- Brenda Fuller ’73
- Anthony Gasbarro ’79
- Gary Gislason ’66
- Jason Gootee ’05
- Warren Griese ’68, ’76, ’78
- Ray Grover Jr ’94
- Nick* ’57 and Hallie Hackenberger
- Florence Hage ’70*
- Keith and Carolyn Hanneman
- John and Judy Hargesheimer
- Harry Harker ’73
- Gloria Hartley-Compeau ’19
- Lorena ’77 and Ian ’78 Hegdal
- Susan Henrichs
- Bowman Hinckley, Matric
- Jay Holmes ’64
- John ‘62 and Sally ‘61 Howard
- Stacey Howdeshell ’13, ’19
- David Herbert
- Doug ’54 and Anne ’53, ’61 Huber
- John (Matric) and Karen Immel
- A.E. Jarw
- Cathryn Jelinek ’70
- Tom ‘65 and Karen Johnson
- G. Taylor II ’72 and Dianne, Matric, Jones
- Robert ’94 and Carrie ’87 Jordan
- Katie Kennedy ’08
- Bill ’77 and Cheryl ’79, ’06 Kilgore
- Russell Klapchuk ’81
- David Klein ’53
- Cynthia Klepaski ‘80
- Rebecca ’94 and Eric ’94 Klingler
- Bernard Koebbe ’79*
- Carol ’62 and Darrell ’64 Korman
- Donna Krier ‘64
- Forrest Kuiper ’99, ’00, ’12
- Sarah Isto
- Rosalie L’Ecuyer ’95
- John Law ’91 and Hongfei Lin
- Robert ’53 and Jo Anne Lear
- Lori Learned ’97, ’00
- Gerald Ledbetter ‘64, ‘65
- Ed Lewison ’51 and Connie Hayes, Matric
- Bart ’75 and Mary ’75 LeBon
- Ronald & Val Lind
- Mary Beth Loewen
- Robert Marovelli ’50
- David Martin
- William ’66 and Donna McClure (Matriculate)
- Vicki McConnell ’95
- Edmund McMahon ’70*
- David ’69 and Elizabeth ’67 McNab
- Sheryl ’08 and Jeff ’91 Meierotto
- Rank & Roswitha Miler
- Derek Miller ’03, ’11
- Karen F. Miller ’59
- Ernst Mueller
- Marie Nash ’67
- Margaret Nelson ’80
- Maureen O'Neill ’69
- Takeshi* and Kumiko Ohtake
- Alice Osborne, Matric*
- Chet Paris ’78, ’81
- Mohotti Perera '96
- Sam Perera ’96
- Marian Petrick
- Timothy Petty ’17
- Ann Pittman ‘83
- George ’90, ’98 and Chris Plumley
- Jake Poole
- Michael Potter
- Kris Racina ’06, ’09
- Dave ’89 and Mary Rausch
- Terry ’63 and Nancy ’67, ’77 Reece
- Whitham Reeve ’69
- Marie Reid ’82
- Peter Rhymer
- Kate Ripley ‘11
- Tom and Bonnie Roberts (Matriculate)
- Bess Rounds ’02
- George Schaller ‘55, ‘92
- Gary & Kim Schofield
- Steven Sinai ’83
- Judy Rae Smith
- Alice Snodgrass ’35*
- Cindy Spanyers and Ed Flanagan
- Tim Stallard ’99, ’04
- John Stauff ’64
- Gretchen ’74 and Glen Straatsma
- Emiko Strandberg ’70
- Dianne Tarnstrom ’67
- Janet Taylor ’76
- Robert ’58 and Virginia ’60 Taylor
- Dana ’74 and Kay ’83 Thomas
- Craig J. Thompson ’76
- Pat and Julia Tielborg
- Tonya Trabant ’99, ’04 and Patrick McKenna
- Teresa Chepoda Usibelli
- Peter Van Flein
- Wilson ’77 and Priscilla Valentine
- Jene’ Vance ’73
- A Wilson
- Jeremy Vermilyea
- BJ Vinson ’67
- Ron ’89 and Amanda ’01, ’05 Wall
- Bruce Walling ’78, ’92
- Ted Wallace
- Arlene ’61 and Fred ’73 Walters
- Martin Walther ’87
- Nevada Walton ’96
- Rachel Ward ’14
- Emma Warwick ’38*
- Rose Welton ’84
- Alicia White
- Gay Ann White ’71, ‘81
- George White
- Gina ’66, ’68 and Vince Wickwar
- Sally ’62 and Richard ’08 Wien
- Blair ’61 and Mary Wondzell
- Glenna Wood ’81, ’83
- Walter and Lisa Wood
- William and Cindy ’88 Wright
- Wilson and Wilson CPAs INC
- Rocky ’69 and Sandra ’72 Wilson
- James Winslade ’83
- Pamela Younker, Matric
- Phil A. Younker Sr. ’72
- Sandy and Margy Zabriskie
* Denotes deceased