It's Good To Be Home

My last few days on campus with the crisp, fall air have reminded me of the overwhelming excitement and joy I felt during my first few weeks as a freshman at UAF. I was - and still am - proud of myself for breaking free of everything I knew and daring to make my own life and adventure in a place that promised "North to the Future." It was the best decision I ever made. I graduated with a degree in Communication and began traveling the world with my husband and returning to Alaska in the summers. We moved back to the lower 48 where I earned a graduate degree in English, started a career, and had a kiddo. But UAF and Fairbanks called me back and I am thrilled to be here.

In order for us to become better acquainted, here is the lowdown on me: I read Pride and Prejudice at least once a year, usually in the winter. I like watching tv shows on DVDs. I was a tour guide to the Arctic Circle during the summer while attending UAF. I love tea and, because I have refined my taste, I carry my own tea with me in my purse no matter where I go. I played basketball for UAF and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I met my husband my first weekend at college (he lived one floor above me in Lathrop Hall) but we didn't start dating for another year. I spent the last five years teaching English in colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. My favorite countries that I've visited are: Australia, Cameroon, and Spain, but have been to many others. Fairbanks feels like home. I'm pretty sure my life would greatly improve if I would just start to garden. After attending a Nanook volleyball game, my two and a half year old runs around the house yelling "Point Nooks!" I love UAF and like you already.

Falafal Tuesdays at UAF

I wanted to share my excitement for a recent community and university partnership that has developed with regard to food on campus. The Pita Place, a local vendor of pita falafels, which is usually open on College Rd. in during the summer months, will be serving up pita falafels at the Wood Center at UAF for the next three Tuesdays. This is a trial to see if they will be there more during the winter.

This makes me incredibly happy for two reasons:

1. Pita falafals from the Pita Place are delicious.
2. It's a great example of how the university dining services listened to student feedback and worked with a popular vendor to bring this fantastic product to campus.

Starvation Gulch

This weekend, the University of Alaska Fairbanks will celebrate Starvation Gulch, an annual fall tradition.

The event was first held in 1923 and includes a bonfire competition. Students use wooden pallets to try to build the most creative fire with the highest flame.

The building of the Starvation Gulch bonfires will take place Saturday, September 25th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Taku parking lot. The bonfires will be lit at 10 p.m. and the event will include music, booths and a barbecue. The public is invited to attend.

Free with your PolarExpress

The PolarExpress card gets students into many events or activities for a free or reduced price. It's one of the many perks of being a student here at the University. As I was perusing a few of my favorite listservs I came across this announcement:

The UA Museum of the North is hosting an indoor live butterfly pavilion Sept. 18 – Dec. 31. The pavilion will be open weekdays from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Admissions is $2 or free with museum admission. UAF students always receive free admission with their PolarExpress card.

It is just one of the many examples of "free with your PolarExpress card" that I've come across. I'm on the hunt for more things like this... know of any?

Move-in-day

When you move into housing here at UAF it's a team effort. Check out this awesome video!

Go Nanooks!

UAF photo by Todd Paris

Junior goalie Scott Greenham is ready to assume his duty to keep opposing pucks out of the Nanook net this coming season.

I just love this photo and had to share it with all of you in the blogisphere. We have another exciting hockey season to look forward to here at UAF. Can't wait for the first exhibition game on September 25th!

 

UAF recognized in top 15% of military friendly schools

2011 Military Friendly Schools List Released
List shows veterans which colleges are a good fit.

Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 16, 2010 – G.I. Jobs announces the release of its 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools at http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2011list. The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools which are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students.

Schools on the list range from state universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience....

To read more: http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2011list




ABOUT G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.”

Source: G.I. Jobs
Contact: Matthew Pavelek
(412) 269-1663 (412) 269-1663 x145
matthew.pavelek@gijobs.com
www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/press

Letter from the Chancellor

Aug. 30, 2010

TO: UAF students

FROM: UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers

SUBJECT: Welcome to Fall 2010

Whether you’re in Fairbanks or downtown at UAF's Community and Technical College, at the Interior-Aleutians Campus or at one of our community campuses in Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue or Nome, I'd like to officially welcome you to UAF for the 2010-2011 academic year.

I encourage you to get involved at your campus. Take advantage of opportunities for leadership development, undergraduate and graduate research and public service. Together with our faculty, your involvement could help make a difference in one of the many Alaska communities where we study, teach and serve.

I encourage you help to shape the campus of the future. That's what Fairbanks students did in 2009 when they voted to charge themselves a $20 sustainability fee. The fee—funds that are matched by my office—will, over the next decade, help support overall efforts for a greener campus.

The best of Alaska's future is, in many ways, represented by some 10,000 students from all over the state, the U.S. and more than three dozen countries converging this week at UAF's campuses. Your involvement is essential to your success and to ours.

I wish you all the very best -- academically and personally. Have a fantastic semester!
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Students, staff and faculty are invited to attend fall convocation, Thursday, Sept. 9 from 1 - 2 p.m. in the Charles Davis Concert Hall. An ice cream social will take place at each of the campuses afterward. The event will also be webcast.

Information about the fall semester is also online in the Cornerstone newsletter at http://www.uaf.edu/cornerstone/. Be sure to follow UAF on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/uafairbanks and Twitter http://twitter.com/uafairbanks for updates

Orientation events welcome students to campus, community

Once again, UAF welcomes our incoming students to campus. Orientation is one of my favorite times of the year! I always feel the energy and excitement for the start of the fresh new academic year. This morning the admissions counselors and I welcomed the newest members of our community and asked them how many had met with one of us. It was not too surprising to us that the majority of the audience stood to acknowledge that they had received some sort of help from the admissions team. In the coming weeks the admissions counselors will head out on the road to meet the next class (starting in Fall 2011)! Keep an eye out at your high school for one of the counselors and hopefully we'll see you at Orientation next year!

UAF News and Events » Blog Archive » Orientation events welcome students to campus, community

Fairbanks Summer!!

Campus from in front of my office in Signers' Hall

Today is one of my favorite days in Fairbanks - Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year. The sun rose at 2:58am this morning, and won't set until tomorrow at 12:48am - and it's light out for 24 hours around the clock. The sun is shining, and Fairbanksans are celebrating!

Fellow Admissions Counselors Carrie Coxon and Chris Wheeler both completed the 10k Midnight Sun Run, where people come out in droves to run and walk through Fairbanks under the midnight sun, often in costume!

Wherever you are, I wish you a warm, sunny, Summer Solstice (or a warm, sunny, Winter Solstice for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere!) full of joy and friendship!!