Alyeska first to answer Rasmuson Foundation Challenge Grant

Alyeska Pipeline became the first donor to answer a $2 million challenge grant by the Rasmuson Foundation toward endowing a chair for the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program. Once fully funded, the endowment will create a full-time, year-round faculty member dedicated to advancing science and engineering opportunities for Alaska Native students. 

“Alyeska has a rich history in Alaska engineering,” said Kevin Hostler, Alyeska President and CEO, pictured at right. “I am proud of our commitment to preparing the next generation of engineers who will work to solve future technical challenges facing our state’s various industries.”

At this year’s Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage, other industry partners and Native corporations joined Alyeska in response to the challenge. The commitment helps create the Herbert P. Schroeder Endowed Chair for the engineering program, commonly called ANSEP. The program is a success. Since 2002, over 100 Alaska Native engineering students have graduated from the University of Alaska, and 100 are currently enrolled.

Since Alyeska first announced its donation, seven other organizations donated to the chair: ASRC Energy Services, BP, Chevron, CIRI, ConocoPhillips, Shell Oil and Udelhoven Oilfield System Services.

ANSEP is a longitudinal program that works with students from the time they’re sophomores in high school all the way into graduate school. The program has been proven to increase university recruitment and retention rates through hands-on high school outreach initiatives, rigorous summer bridging programs, focused academic learning communities, organized student cohorts, networks of peer and professional mentors, community-based learning, professional internships, undergraduate research projects and graduate school programs.

“Alyeska has been a leader in supporting ANSEP since 1995,” said Dr. Herb Schroeder, ANSEP’s founder and executive director. “Their contribution to the endowed chair helps ensure that there will be a faculty advocate for Native students on our campus in perpetuity.”

Alyeska President Kevin Hostler, left, at this year's Alaska Federation of Natives convention along with other industry partners who have pledged their support of endowing a chair for ANSEP.