< Previous10 In June, UAA received a $1 million gift from entrepreneur and alumnus Gary Klopfer, B.B.A. Accounting and Finance ’81, and his wife Jane Cuddy Klopfer, a celebrated Alaska investment leader. The gift establishes the UAA Student Investment Fund in the College of Business and Public Policy (CBPP), giving students real-world experience using financial industry tools. The gift is the largest, individual gift an alumnus has given to UAA during his lifetime. Part of a UAA legacy, generations of students have already benefited from the longstanding support and contributions of Jane’s family to many areas of the university, particularly UAA’s culinary arts and hospitality programs housed in Lucy Cuddy Hall, which is named in honor of Jane’s grandmother. The gift provides UAA students the opportunity to manage an investment portfolio and encounter real-life scenarios they can expect to find in the workforce, explained CBPP dean John Nofsinger, Ph.D. This valuable training will benefit Alaska’s financial sector long term. In addition, pro- ceeds from the portfolio will be awarded to accounting and BUSINESS LEADERS DONATE $1 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THE STUDENT INVESTMENT FUND AT CBPP By Kirstin Olmstead and Green and Gold News finance students as scholarships each year. As the portfolio grows, so will the number of scholarships awarded. “It is a privilege to be able to use our resources to benefit stu- dents,” said Gary. “During my time at UAA in the early ’80s, I was the recipient of a $500 scholarship, which really came at just the right time to help me complete my degree. This is an opportunity for me and Jane to pay it forward and help UAA students and the future business leaders of our state.” The Klopfers are business owners and entrepreneurs, well known to community members for founding Anchorage’s popular Snow Goose Restaurant and Sleeping Lady Brewing Company in 1996, which they sold in 2015. They remain active in the hospitality and brewing industry in Alaska as entrepreneurs and investors. Their gift to CBPP shines light on the college’s commit- ment to prepare students for leadership at the frontiers of a changing world, and helps establish UAA as a leading finance hub of the University of Alaska system. 11 Getting to know Gary Klopfer How did the UAA community influence your life? I’m always amazed at how somebody can change your life. That’s exactly what happened at UAA for me. My first business class was Accounting 101, taught by Professor Harold Nick. To make a long story short, I became an accounting and finance major strictly because of him. In his class, he would say, “Everybody thinks accounting is boring. But hey, that’s what runs the world. That’s what runs the business.” You founded the UAA Accounting Club, which today is one of the most active clubs on campus. How’d that go? I started the Accounting Club to build interaction between the community and college graduates. Every month we would invite guest speakers from the municipality, the oil industry, and the big eight accounting firms, so students learned about career opportunities and they built a network. What’s your favorite thing about Alaska? If you’re not mesmerized by looking at the scenery around you, you’re in the wrong place. The world is your oyster here. And what’s your advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs? If you’re willing to work hard, people are willing to invest in you. What’s your hope for the community rallying behind the UAA Student Investment Fund? Why not contribute to this Investment Fund to train future professionals in Alaska? This is something where the stu- dents will see the real-world results of what they’re learning. Getting to know Jane Cuddy Klopfer How has the storied life and achievements of your grandmother, Lucy Hon Cuddy, influenced your life? She was really a remarkable woman. I was very fortunate to grow up with her. She was a community leader and a really wholesome person. I think both she, as well as my parents, led by example, in that you need to be a part of your com- munity, not just an occupant. They were part of a community. My grandmother came up from Arkansas on a train to teach in Valdez in 1916, later moving to Anchorage. One of the things I remember her saying is that everybody came from somewhere else and everybody was sharing their memories, their traditions. What professional or life achievement are you most proud of? My daughter. What’s your favorite thing about Alaska or Anchorage or your favorite pastime? Well, for me, my family is here. My memories are here. This is home. Beyond that, it’s everything that Alaska has to of- fer: I love the seasons and I love fishing so much. I love the fact that anyone can just go out and catch dinner instead of going to the store to buy food. What advice do you think your grandmother would give to the next generation of women business leaders in Alaska? To have purpose and drive, and a curiosity and an interest. I think I picked this up from my father, be curious about everything, about your surroundings, about your education, about what’s going on. Curiosity opens up understanding. It opens up windows to further education. 12 “I never thought I would be involved in philanthropy, but after gaining an in-depth understanding of the program and work- ing with Dr. Tina DeLapp, I decided to establish an endow- ment to the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN), as a beneficiary of my modest estate.” Hautman recalls her father often told her, “No one can take away your education.” Now, by establishing the new Mary Ann Hautman Indigenous Nursing Endowed Scholarship at UAA, she will provide a gift to others that, in her father’s words, “cannot be taken away.” No stranger to education, Hautman earned a B.S.N. from Mount St. Joseph University, M.S.N. from Wayne State University, a family nurse practitioner certificate from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in adult health nursing from UT Austin. She has held teaching positions at University of Illinois Urbana, University of San Diego, and she served as a professor of nursing at UAA from and from 2003–2007. Hautman shaped her education and career based on serving diverse populations. Her first academic nursing position was with Navajo Community College, the first college established by Native Americans for Native Americans. This experience set her on a career trajectory focusing on the dynamic relationship between connecting culture, health and illness, as well as storytelling of individual and collective expe- riences. She credits Native American scholar Leslie Marmon Silko for influencing her lifework, and her outlook for connecting science to per- sonal stories. During her early academic years, Hautman worked part-time as a home health nurse, which allowed her to talk with patients in their own spac- es. She was involved with the Transcultural Nursing Society whose mission was to foster culturally and ethnically congruent and equitable care. A prolific speaker and recipient of numerous awards, Hautman taught on transcultural nursing and published 19 papers, including a co-authored paper on RRANN with Tina DeLapp and Mary Sue Anderson. The Mary Ann Hautman Indigenous Nursing Endowed Scholarship at UAA will provide financial assistance for tuition and other related educational expenses for students seeking a baccalaureate degree in nursing. “Becoming part of a new crowd of UAA supporters and funders can have a transformative influence on supporting the academic goals of students” Hautman said. Hautman lives in Cornville, Arizona, and is professor emeri- ta of the University of San Diego and UAA. DR. MARY ANN HAUTMAN ESTABLISHES INDIGENOUS NURSING ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP By Jennifer Motes Community-created scholarships helped nursing students “ UAA offered me an opportunity to come full circle and teach in an academic setting that supports Alaska Native students,” said Mary Ann Hautman, former professor of Nursing. 13 Now more than ever, we know the importance of teaching Alaska Native Studies. Why is it important to you? Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart: There’s an increasing national awareness of the lives and histories of Alaska Native people, such as the news highlighting the issues of boarding schools and Native Americans. It is more important than ever to hear about our past from a Native perspective and to hear it from our voices, our Elders and our people who have experienced difficult histories. Our history isn’t gone, our people are still here and the languag- es are still so alive. Maria Williams: Alaska Native Studies and education is critically important. We have 20 different Alaska Native languages. In Alaska, we have the highest percentage of Indigenous people per capita in the United States. Haliehana Stepetin: Alaska Native Studies validates and values Indigenous knowledge. We have been surviving for so long. We know how to thrive in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. It is important to continue our ways of knowing how to thrive. I think it’s really beautiful to make space for this in academia. Why do you include the UAA Alaska Native Studies Excellence Fund in your philanthropy? Maria Williams: I firmly believe in philanthropy. Supporting Alaska Native Studies enriches the student experience, for instance through new special events in the community and visiting distinguished Elders engagement. Of what contribution or achievement are you most proud? Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart: One of my contributions is developing the Alaska Native Studies language minor. We have seven languages that we’re offering this fall. Haliehana Stepetin: Teaching as an alumnus of UAA and teaching my Native language this fall will be a very moving experience. ALASKA NATIVE STUDIES Interviewed by Alex Komar Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart B.A. Alaska Native Studies, UAF ’12 M.A. Applied Linguistics, UAF ’17 Chair, Alaska Native Studies I teach art and the Ahtna Dene Language at UAA. I have been teaching art now for about 20 years. My grandparents were from the Chickaloon area. I was the first one to graduate from college in my family. Maria Williams, Ph.D. Professor, Alaska Native Studies I have been teaching at UAA since 2011. I was born and raised in Anchorage, or Tikahtnu, the word for “Cook Inlet” in the Dena’ina language. In particular, UAA is very important to my family, many who studied here. My father was the first in my family to graduate from high school and the first to earn a college degree at the university. Haliehana Stepetin B.A. International Studies ’16 Term Instructor, Alaska Native Studies I am a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California Davis. I was born and raised in my village, Akutan, in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. I am also a Navy veteran. 14 Since 1979, the Atwood Foundation has invested in training the next generation of Alaska journalists, media scholars and communication professionals. Through grants to establish and build the UAA Atwood Chair of Journalism and the Elaine Atwood Excellence and Completion Scholarships, the foundation’s decades of partnership with the university have impacted the careers of generations of media leaders. The Atwood Foundation takes its name from Robert “Bob” Bruce Atwood (1907–1997), journalist and long-time editor as Chairman of the Alaska Statehood Committee, Alaska achieved statehood. Atwood treasured Anchorage: “...the beautiful Chugach Mountains visible beyond the wilderness at the east end and beyond the west end was an arm of the majestic Pacific ocean, the forever white Alaska mountain range and also the world’s most beautiful sunsets. No other town in Alaska had anything to equal that.” He shared his passion for Anchorage and communication with his daughter Sara “Elaine” Atwood (1940–2003), who became the newspaper’s assistant publisher and first woman presi- dent of the Anchorage Chamber ATWOOD FOUNDATION SHAPES EMERGING ALASKA JOURNALISTS AND COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS By Green and Gold News From left: Journalism and public communications students Taylor Curry B.A. ‘19 and Christopher Szucs prepare to report on a story outside UAA’s Professional Studies Building for an assignment in Professor Joy Mapaye’s Television News Reporting course. and publisher of the Anchorage Times. He began his Alaska adventure in 1935, after a six-week sea voyage from Boston to Anchorage. “As a young reporter who made $35 a week at the Worces- ter, Massachusetts Telegram-Gazette, the move here was exciting. It meant a chance to run my own newspaper and be the boss. Having never run a business I didn’t know whether I would make money or not,” Atwood recalled in his 2003 autobiography Bob Atwood’s Alaska. Under Atwood’s guidance, the Times became Alaska’s largest daily newspaper. Through his advocacy, and his role Below: Bob Atwood while the editor/ publisher of the Anchorage Times newspaper. Young Evangeline and Robert Atwood aboard a cruise ship.15 of Commerce. She and her father received the Governor’s Award for public service in 1987. Today, the UAA/APU Consortium Library’s Archives and Special Collections holds the Atwood family papers (1906–2003), available for use by students and the public. The Atwood Chair of Journalism program invites nationally recognized journalists and educators to the Department of Journalism and Public Communications (JPC) as distin- guished visiting professors. This year’s Atwood Chair is Patricio Espinoza, a five-time Emmy Award-winning bilin- gual multimedia journalist. He has interviewed popes and presidents, and has a simple mission while at UAA: to inspire his students to tell people’s everyday stories. “Journalism is about everyday people,” said Espinoza. “I would like to encourage the community to support UAA and the journalism program so that the stories that are being told can be published in the community. That’s es- pecially important in today’s world.” To complement the invest- ment in the chairship, the Atwood Foundation’s grant- making for scholarships at the university champion storytellers, content creators and critical thinkers. “Our students and city have benefited from the foun- dation’s passionate and longstanding dedication to journalism and public knowl- edge, as well as profound philanthropic investments in Alaskans’ social, economic and civic life,” said Dr. Bruce Schultz, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. Journalism and Public Communications student Christian Cielo, B.A. ‘22, discusses his work with classmates in a discussion about podcasting Elaine Atwood Excellence Scholarship recipients alumni reflect on the value of journalism: “ Quality journalism helps us better understand our city, state, nation and world. It helps us make informed decisions and have developed opinions. We are lucky to have such incredible technology to commu- nicate with others and to learn stories and important news so quickly from all around our world.” Malia Barto, B.A. ’19 “ Without communicating truth and compassion, communities fall apart.” Mary Ryan, B.A. ’20 2021 Atwood Chair of Journalism Patricio Espinoza16 The late Clayton Brockel founded the Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) in 1964. He and his late wife, Jean Mirella Bardelli Brockel, M.A. Education ’73 — mu- sician, artist, philanthropist and educator — were lifelong supporters of the college and the community. “They both loved KPC. When Clayton founded KPC, he put his heart and soul into that place. He really left a legacy,” reflects Gary Turner, KPC director emeritus. Jean was active in public education and performing arts; she wrote and performed theater and was exceptionally community-minded, notes Turner. Earlier this year, KPC received a $1.6 million bequest from the Jean Brockel Estate to support the Brockel Family Scholarship Endowment and the John C. Brockel Scholarship Endowment, established in memory of their late son John. The Brockel Family Scholarship benefits students in the humanities, fine arts and performing arts and the John C. JEAN BROCKEL ESTATE DONATES LARGEST GIFT IN KPC HISTORY By Gary J. Turner, KPC Director Emeritus, and Alex Komar Brockel Scholarship is targeted to create opportunities for students pursuing business and industry careers. Both scholarships are designed to help KPC students through immediate impact. Estate executor and KPC ad- junct professor Mike Morgan has directed that $600,000 be distributed to each fund “so we can get as much money out the door as soon as possible.” KPC Director Cheryl Siemers reflected, “The Brockels were engaged community members, committed to the area and offering exceptional educational opportunities locally. The Brockel family’s generous and historic contributions to stu- dents and the community at KPC will leave a lasting impact. Above left: Jean Brockel with son John and husband Clayton at KPC in the 1970s. Above right: Jean and Clayton, founding director of KPC. (Photos courtesy of Kenai Peninsula College)EDUCATION ECONOMY WORKFORCE CRITICAL SEAWOLF RESEARCH ATHLETICS Campaign Update For more than a century, the University of Alaska system has provided education and resources to build our great state. And it will continue to provide as we work together to create the hope of Alaska’s tomorrow. We are much more than the University of Alaska. We are the University for Alaska. In spring 2021, the University of Alaska system publicly launched its first-ever comprehensive fundraising cam- paign, with the goal of raising $200 million — the most ambitious philanthropic undertaking in state history. Aptly named For Alaska, the campaign is surpassing expectations. The quiet phase of the campaign, which began five years ago, has been integral to the effort. Since 2016, more than 16,800 generous UAA, UAF and UAS and systemwide supporters have given over $160 million to University of Alaska strategic priorities. All funds raised benefit the area of support chosen by each contributor. In the course of the campaign, to date, UAA has raised $62 million thanks to 6,800 #SeawolfStrong donors and partners. Our collective impact For Alaska will help write the next chapter in the state’s history. Our vision is a vibrant, bold tomorrow for all Alaskans. The University of Alaska campaign to raise The University of Alaska system belongs to every Alaskan. UAA’s vision focuses on five strategic priority areas: $200,000,000 UAA progress to date: 6,800 UAA donors and partners $62M Gifts to UAAMark your calendar for the University of Alaska Giving Day! Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 9, Seawolves everywhere will come together for a 49-hour online philanthropy marathon to support their favorite UAA programs, causes and teams. UAA Giving Day 2021 Interested in being a digital volunteer? Email: uaa_development@alaska.edu Thank you for supporting last year’s Giving Day! No.1 $170,000+ raised to support UAA 500+ UAA Donors 180+ First-Time Donors19 What motivates you to fundraise for the university? I’ve been a development professional for many years. My interest and passion for advocating for and supporting higher education stems from the values instilled in me as a child: the importance of education. I believe that giving to education is a gift that can change lives, permanently. CBPP is a wonderful college to support and it is so important to Alaska as we seek to expand our economy and develop our workforce. Why did you get into philanthropy? Development work is a funny field. Not many of us wake up in the morning and say, “Now I want to be a fundraiser.” But as we know in life, things fall in place sometimes as they should, and the field of philanthropy fell in my lap. My background in marketing, financial services, communica- tions and desire to make this world a better place by helping others added up one day to a career in development. developmen t m ember spo t light What do you like to do out- side of work? I love Alaska as my “adopted” home state. I’ve lived in Alaska longer than any other place and love what it offers. In summer, I love to camp, bike — and have others fish for me (hah!). I also love the winter — the peace and beauty of it is like no other place. I like to fat tire bike, cross-country and downhill ski, and enjoy fires in the fireplace! I also love spending time with my two daughters who live here and my two grandchildren. The UAA development team described Julia as: Warm-hearted, world-traveler and lifelong learner. Bobi Rinehart Associate Vice Chancellor for Development 907-786-1107 • rrineha1@alaska.edu KaLynn Coffey Development Officer for Scholarships 907-786-1887 • kc@alaska.edu Jayna Combs Senior Development Officer, College of Engineering 907-786-1796 • jcombs6@alaska.edu Beth Johnson Senior Development Officer, College of Arts & Sciences 907-786-0502 • ejjohnson3@alaska.edu Alex Komar Development Coordinator 907-786-1166 • makomar@alaska.edu Jennifer Motes Lead Development Officer, University Advancement Senior Development Officer, College of Health 907-786-1265 • jomotes@alaska.edu Travis Parrish Senior Development Officer, Seawolf Athletics 907-786-4670 • tlparrish@alaska.edu Eric Olson Donor Relations Officer 907-786-4818 • ecolson6@alaska.edu Samantha Sink Annual Giving Officer 907-786-1840 • sksink@alaska.edu THE UAA DEVELOPMENT TEAM JULIA MARTINEZ, CFRE Senior Development Officer, College of Business and Public Policy, University Advancement 907-301-6360 • jamartinez@alaska.edu Next >