Natural sciences alumnus J.C. Schoonmaker was an All-American skier for UAA, a World Cup medalist and, most recently, an Olympian (for the second time) at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. He says UAA taught him the importance of working on a team, both in and out of the classroom.
When Artemis II launched for its flyby of the Moon in April 2026, UAA project management graduate student and cross country runner Drew Johnson played a role in the mission. As an arms and umbilicals engineer at NASA, he helps oversee everything connected to the rocket while it's sitting on the launch pad.
After decades of service, motherhood and reinvention, Trisha Jean Davis graduated from Kenai Peninsula College’s Kachemak Bay Campus as valedictorian at 79, proving it’s never too late to pursue an education.
As communications director for the Anchorage Assembly, Master of Public Administration alumna Allie Hartman strives to make local government accessible by inviting people into the business of the city.
Rainey Spurlock first enrolled at UAA when she was 13, taking classes at Mat-Su College alongside her grandmother. Now, at 17, the communications major and undergraduate commencement speaker for the spring Class of 2026 is likely UAA's youngest-ever graduate.
One of the most enduring metaphors for America is the melting pot — where different experiences come together to create something stronger. For Lt. Cmdr. Sam Krakower, interdisciplinary studies alumnus and graduate student hooding ceremony speaker for the spring Class of 2026, that metaphor reflects both his academic journey and professional path.
Anchorage’s history is unique. From a stop on the gold rush route, a tent city, a military town and now a hub for the state’s transportation, tourism and government, the city has gone through many iterations, and history alumnus David Reamer is something of an expert on the topic.
At the ripe age of 25, civil engineering alumnus Gus Schumacher has already competed in two Winter Olympic Games: first in Beijing in 2022, then in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games where he walked away with a silver medal.
April 8 is National Zoo Lovers Day, and what better way to celebrate than by getting to know alumni Sam Lavin and Erica Quiett, who serve as the curator and husbandry assistant at the Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ Zoo in Anchorage?
As a safety specialist at Golden Valley Electric Association, occupational safety and health alumna Bobbie Perkins’ job keeps her on her toes. After all, how many people can say they make sure thousands of households are getting their electricity and heat?
