University Of Alaska Anchorage: UAA Announces Largest Estate Gift In University History

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

May 19, 2021

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) announced today it received the largest estate
gift in the university’s history from the late Caroline “Carrie” E.B. Lewis. A longtime
university supporter, Lewis passed away on Nov. 10, 2020, at age 90. Her gift, valued
at approximately $15 million, will support two endowments that build educational opportunities
for first-generation college students and foster student success initiatives at UAA.

"I am grateful to Ms. Lewis for her devotion to higher education in Alaska,” said
Roberta “Bobi” Rinehart, UAA associate vice chancellor for development. “She wanted
to help more Alaskans pursue their academic dreams in their home state, and that's
what her gift will do. We are humbled to have the opportunity to carry her vision
forward."

Lewis visited Alaska in 1961 and returned in 1962 to make it her home. Her love of
the Last Frontier inspired a philanthropic passion for supporting programs and educational
initiatives focused on building Alaskans’ prosperity and resilience. She had a special
interest in health care and learning. Lewis focused on investing in Alaska residents
who planned to remain in the state, envisioning her gifts would help students finish
their degree programs, secure employment in state and contribute meaningfully to their
communities.

A committed donor to UAA since 2000, Lewis established UAA’s First-Generation Student
Scholarship fund. In 2012, Lewis made significant gifts to endow this fund in perpetuity,
while also establishing the Alaska Endowment for Excellence to support the chancellor's
priorities. Since its inception, the Alaska Endowment for Excellence fund has supported
the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing Program and most recently
the Alpine Skiing team at UAA. Both of these programs represent areas that were personally
meaningful to Lewis given her love for Alaska, interest in health care and passion
for Alpine skiing.

During her lifetime, Lewis’ investments in UAA were anonymous. She specified that
long-term use of the Alaska Endowment for Excellence should remain flexible in order
to ensure the transformational gift continues to serve the highest priority needs
of the university. UAA’s immediate plans for the endowed funds include supporting
initiatives that increase access to higher education for first-generation students
and advance student success at UAA.

Short-term plans include strengthening existing student resources such as the Peer-to-Peer
Learning program and the Learning Commons while also investing in new tools such as
an Open Educational Resources (OER) incentive program, which would encourage the use
of lower-cost educational materials and textbooks. After the first few years, the
university will evaluate the success of these initiatives and weigh institutional
priorities in order to make decisions about the use of the endowment moving forward.

“We are deeply honored to receive an endowment of this magnitude from Ms. Lewis, an
avid supporter of the university,” said Bruce Schultz, UAA interim chancellor. “This
gift will allow us to continue funding programs that further student success at UAA
and ultimately fulfill Ms. Lewis’ aspiration to advance educational attainment in
Alaska.”

University of Alaska AnchorageThe University of Alaska Anchorage is Alaska’s largest university, educating nearly
12,000 students annually. UAA transforms lives through teaching, research, community
engagement and creative expression in a diverse and inclusive environment. Learn more
at uaa.alaska.edu.

For Alaska: The Campaign for the University of AlaskaThe University of Alaska System launched the public phase of its first-ever comprehensive
philanthropic campaign, with a goal of raising $200 million for the university — the
most ambitious fundraising undertaking in state history. Explore the campaign at uaa.alaska.edu/foralaska. 

To learn more about planned giving opportunities at UAA, please contact Harry Need
at 907-786-4840, hwneed@alaska.edu or Bobi Rinehart at 907-786-1107, rrineha1@alaska.edu.

This press release was produced by the University of Alaska Anchorage. The views expressed here are the author’s own.