2018 Award Recipients

The Alumni of Distinction awards provide the UAA Alumni Association the opportunity to recognize and celebrate alumni who have made important contributions in their communities and whose actions honor the legacy of excellence at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Congratulations to the most recent recipients, honored at Homecoming Breakfast on Oct. 12, 2018.

Alumni of Distinction 2018

Alumni of AchievementJennifer Thompson — 2018 Alumni of Achievement Award
President and CEO, Thompson and Co. Public Relations

Family is the cornerstone of Thompson’s business philosophy. Starting as an intern at Anchorage PR agency Bernholz and Graham in 1999, she worked to become president and CEO in 2006 and purchased the firm in 2009, renaming it Thompson and Co. as it’s known today. Under her leadership, the business has grown from four employees to 24 and added offices in other parts of the country. But more importantly to Thompson, she’s built a company where family wellness, personal growth and collaboration are woven into the corporate culture. Read more about Jennifer Thompson.

Alumni HumanitarianJosie Wilson — 2018 Alumni Humanitarian Award
M.B.A. Business Administration ’09 
Director of strategic communications, HDR Inc.

Originally from southern California, Wilson relocated to Anchorage for a year-long work assignment managing UAA’s food and beverage program. She stayed when she fell in love with the university and the community and has been giving back ever since. Her philanthropic efforts are as wide-ranging as her interests, which include playing violin for patients at Alaska Regional Hospital, founding leadership programs for the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, and raising $11 million to expand Alaska’s only family homeless shelter, just to name a few. Read more about Josie Wilson.

Alumni Emerging LeaderJason Hart — 2018 Alumni Emerging Leader Award
B.B.A. Management ’07, M.B.A. General Management ’10
Clinical practice manager, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

With the passing of his mother at the age of 12, Hart felt compelled to make health care for Alaska Natives better. After serving for seven years in the Air National Guard, he worked to become clinical practice manager at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. In addition, he took on the responsibilities as acting vice president of medical and multi-specialty clinics at the Alaska Native Medical Center, where he oversees more than 20 clinics, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, internal medicine and oncology. Read more about Jason Hart.