May 8, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 8, 2025

985 Alaska High School Seniors Recognized with UA Scholars Award

Each Receives a $15,000 Scholarship

(Anchorage, AK) – The University of Alaska (UA) has named 985 graduating seniors from 289 Alaska high schools as 2025 UA Scholars. Each student ranks in the top 10% of their class and will receive a $15,000 scholarship to attend any University of Alaska campus.

Established in 1999, the UA Scholars Award encourages Alaska’s best and brightest to pursue higher education in-state. Since then, the program has helped thousands of students earn more than 8,500 degrees and launch successful careers across Alaska.

“The UA Scholars program continues to celebrate excellence from every corner of Alaska,” said UA President Pat Pitney. “We’re proud to support these students as they build their futures here at home.”

Alumni of the program often credit the scholarship with making higher education both accessible and meaningful. "It was a really important moment in my life that allowed me to go to college, stay close to home, and create more financial stability for myself," said Amber Zins, COO at Northrim Bank, UAF ‘03, Accounting graduate.

“Being a UA Scholar really was instrumental in giving me that jumping off point for the career I knew I wanted,” said Dr. Sarah Nielsen, UAA ‘05, Nursing graduate. “It allowed me to return and serve the community I love.”

Recipients receive $1,875 per semester for up to eight semesters, and the award may be combined with other financial aid such as the Alaska Performance Scholarship and UA Foundation Scholarships. The program is funded by the University of Alaska Land Grant Trust Fund.

A complete list of 2025 UA Scholars is available online at alaska.edu/scholars and will be published in Alaska newspapers in May. For more information, visit alaska.edu/scholars.

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Media Contact:
Lael Oldmixon
UA Scholars, Executive Director
lmoldmixon@alaska.edu
907-450-8115

Photos available by request