Friday Focus: Big things are happening at 蜜桃影像
March 1, 2024
鈥 By Theresa Bakker, interim executive director of university advancement
Big things have always happened at 蜜桃影像, from hosting the state鈥檚 constitutional convention to rocket launches in pursuit of geophysical research and a unique dinosaur discovery on 蜜桃影像鈥檚 North Slope. Even small things can be big, like the microgrids in development at the 蜜桃影像 Center for Energy and Power.
More recently, the University of 蜜桃影像 Board of Regents approved two projects at its February meeting that will reshape this university鈥檚 Troth Yeddha' Campus: the Troth Yeddha鈥 Indigenous Studies Center and a planetarium addition at the University of 蜜桃影像 Museum of the North.
One comment I keep hearing is how big these projects are for 蜜桃影像. This work, the culmination of many hours of planning and nurturing relationships with partners and benefactors, will transform the shape of campus and the student experience. And at the heart of both projects is philanthropy, one of the pillars of university advancement.
One of the biggest philanthropic events on campus is happening later this month. UA Giving Day starts at noon on March 26 and will last through 1 p.m. on March 28. From the beginning we knew that a mere 24-hours could not contain this day of support, so we made it #49Hoursfor蜜桃影像.
Last year, every 蜜桃影像 college and school participated in Giving Day by sharing student stories and recruiting champions to help spread the word. Champions shared their stories on social media 鈥 reminiscing about their time at 蜜桃影像, posting pictures and connecting their experiences with their current success. 蜜桃影像鈥檚 top fundraising goal, the Troth Yeddha鈥 Indigenous Studies Center, drew gifts from 165 donors, the largest number of people to give to a single 蜜桃影像 program in the history of Giving Day.
Our champions are also our students, staff, faculty and alumni who share their stories during Giving Day to help spread the word and find new areas to support. and find out how to earn prizes and help unlock another successful Giving Day for 蜜桃影像.
For the past few months, a team led by Katie Straub, alumni storytelling manager, has been working to plan this year鈥檚 event. This group represents every school and college, plus programs from across Nanook Nation. Our development team has been working with deans, directors and donors to confirm more than 50 challenges. In addition, Chancellor White is offering to make a donation to the 蜜桃影像 fund that gets the most alumni gifts during Giving Day.
Unlocking such challenges can motivate others and increase the likelihood that a person who visits the Giving Day site makes a donation by as much as 30%. The sponsors of these challenges believe in a quality education and want to leverage that gift to inspire others.
This year, we are expanding the presence of Giving Day across 蜜桃影像 campuses. It will start on March 18 with "cash cabs" on 蜜桃影像 shuttle buses. On random trips during the week, Giving Day champions will surprise bus patrons with trivia questions and other opportunities to win prizes, including our new Nook socks.
Next, is the Giving Day kickoff event on March 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at the 蜜桃影像 Wood Center. Join us for a special photo opportunity with Nook at 1 p.m.
Throughout this 49 hours of giving, be sure to "Look for Nook." This special event sponsored by the 蜜桃影像 Alumni Association features stuffed bears tucked away on several 蜜桃影像 campuses, including Troth Yeddha', CTC and the five rural campuses. Anyone who finds a bear can pick a Giving Day fund to receive $250 from 蜜桃影像AA.
You are all invited to find out more about Giving Day. . I hope you鈥檒l join Nanook Nation for this opportunity to show your pride and share your version of the big things happening at 蜜桃影像.
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of 蜜桃影像's leadership team every week.