Icicle Seafoods donates $200,000 to UA for third year in a row

Funds will be used for student opportunities and fisheries research


Icicle Seafoods has made a third generous donation of $200,000 in support of programs and scholarships at several University of Alaska (UA) campuses. The donation includes $85,000 to UAA's Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) for the Icicle Fisheries Fund. The fisheries fund was established two years ago with a similar gift from Icicle Seafoods to strengthen ISER's capacity to engage in research and instruction regarding Alaska's fishing industry and seafood markets.


"We are pleased to support the University of Alaska and provide educational opportunities to local residents in many Alaska communities where the seafood industry is a vital component of the economy," said Icicle Seafoods' CEO Dennis Guhlke. "This is a worthwhile way for us to give back to those communities that are a big part of our success and invest in the future of Alaska."


New to this year's donation is the establishment of the Icicle Seafoods Endowed Scholarship at Kenai Peninsula College (KPC). Scholarships from the endowment will provide financial aid for students from the Seward and Homer areas attending KPC, the Resurrection Bay Extension Site or Kachemak Bay Campus. This is the second scholarship Icicle has endowed. The first was for Kodiak College students in 2008. Icicle also provides scholarships for students in the Bristol Bay region and Petersburg. What's particularly unique about this scholarship and the other Icicle scholarships is that both full- and part-time students are eligible to apply, as well as non-degree seeking students.
 
The remainder of the $200,000 donation will benefit the following UA campus programs:

KPC's Kachemak Bay Campus -- Learning Resource Center for student success
Kodiak College -- Icicle Seafoods Scholarships and general support for highest needs
University of Alaska Southeast -- Fisheries Technology program equipment; Scholarships for College Connection/Fish Technology classes for Petersburg High School students; Icicle Seafoods Scholarships for Petersburg residents
University of Alaska Fairbanks -- Alaska Business Week and Bristol Bay Campus for scholarships for residents of the Bristol Bay region

"We are very grateful to Icicle Seafoods for their continued support of the Icicle Fisheries Fund which is strengthening research and instruction in Alaska's fishing industry, and the addition this year of an endowed scholarship," said UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer. "Scholarships are extremely important to our students and by providing an endowed scholarship, Icicle is insuring scholarship support in perpetuity. Through its generosity, Icicle sets a wonderful example of giving back to the community. Their contributions to UAA will support students and help us gain a deeper understanding of Alaska's fishing industry, two of Alaska's greatest resources."