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 the Alumni of Distinction Celebration Banquet on March 31, 2023.

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Kenneth McCoy — 2022 Alumni of Achievement Award
B.A. Justice '96
Division chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Providence

As division chief DEI officer at Providence, Kenneth McCoy promotes culturally-competent patient-centered care across the organization in Alaska and Puget Sound. Before joining Providence in 2022, McCoy retired from a 27-year career with the Anchorage Police Department, starting at the patrol level before culminating as chief of police. Read more about Kenneth McCoy >>

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Maggie Winston — 2022 Alumni Humanitarian Award
A.A. General Program '13, B.A. Psychology '15
Program director at Independent Living Center

When Maggie Winston was 21, she was diagnosed with idiopathic transverse myelitis, leaving her without the use of her arms and legs. Since then, Winston has become a fierce advocate for expanding services for people with disabilities through her work on various boards, councils, nonprofits, and her current position as director for independent living programs at the Independent Living Center in Kenai. Read more about Maggie Winston >>

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Marie-Sophie Boggasch — 2022 Alumni Emerging Leader Award
B.S. Aviation Technology '16, M.S. Interdisciplinary Studies '20
Women's gymnastics head coach at UAA

Originally from Germany, Marie-Sophie Boggasch came to Anchorage in 2012 when she was recruited to UAA as a student-athlete. After graduating and working in Alaska’s aviation industry, Boggasch returned to UAA as a gymnastics coach. In that time, she helped lead fundraising efforts to save Seawolf gymnastics from elimination, raising more than $900,000. Read more about Marie-Sophie Boggasch >>