UAA's 2024-25 Alumni of Distinction Celebration at the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall on March 18, 2025. (Photos by James Evans / University of Alaska Anchorage)

 

UAA’s Office of Alumni and Community Engagement and Alumni Association were pleased to welcome spring by announcing the 2024-25 Alumni of Distinction awards recipients. The three distinguished alumni were honored for their contributions in their fields and communities at the UAA Alumni of Distinction Celebration on March 18 at the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall on UAA’s Anchorage campus.

Accounting alumna Maria Bourne received the Alumni of Achievement award, educational leadership alumna E. Ingrid Goodyear received the Alumni Humanitarian award, and general management alumna Iuliia Chepurko received the Alumni Emerging Leader award.

Nearly 150 gathered to reconnect with their hometown university. Surrounded by family, friends, fellow alumni and university leadership, each awardee shared stories of the impact of UAA on their lives while accepting their awards. 

In addition to celebrating these notable alumni, a call was made to support the UAA Alumni Scholarship. Created in 1985 with an initial gift of $25, this scholarship has generated nearly $500,000 in scholarships to support students at every campus and today has an endowment valued at over $500,000.