UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

Eileen Thompson
E
ileen Thompson is passionate in her support of
UAA. That passion has made Eileen a tireless
ambassador for the university in the Anchorage
community. It also earned the class of ’94 graduate
the UAA Alumni Association’s highest honor: the
Alumni of the Year award.
The education Eileen received in getting her
bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public
Communications at UAA has served her well in her
position of marketing director for Denali Alaskan
Federal Credit Union. Typical of Eileen, she chose
to “pay it forward” through service and commitment
to the Alumni Association and the work it does in
promoting the university in the community and in
fund raising to support student scholarships. Eileen
has served on the UAA Alumni Association Board
of Directors for three years.
The projects she has spear-headed or been
deeply involved with including: the annual Raffle,
the Seawolf license plate, the Pendulum Campaign,
partnering with Green & Gold Fridays, and recently,
the highly successful Alumni Curtain Calls. She
was instrumental in Denali Federal Credit Union
members having the opportunity to support UAA
through their use of the ‘Seawolf’ checks.
THE
UAA
COMMUNITY
T
hough Saradell Ard, 86, retired from the
University of Alaska Anchorage more than 20
years ago, two scholarships given in her name
continue to impact art students.
A leader in the Alaska arts scene for more than 30
years both as a painter and educator, Ard is the
matriarch of the university’s art department.
After a decade of teaching at Alaska Methodist University, now Alaska
Pacific University, Ard accepted an offer to help launch the art department
at the Anchorage Senior College in 1973, which eventually became UAA.
In her second year, Ard was appointed chair of the humanities division.
Over the next few years she added speech, drama, music and journalism
classes to the school’s offerings. She served as the Dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences from 1976-77. And retired from UAA in 1985.
The scholarships that carry her name, Saradell Ard Art Scholarships,
offer financial assistance for tuition and other educational expenses for
two full-time UAA students who are formally admitted into a
degree-seeking art program.
Saradell Ard
and Scholorship recipient
Chih-Chiang Lo
“I really feel one of the duties in life is to pass it on,” Ard said of the
scholarships her will provides in perpetuity. “That’s building for posterity.”
The first award assists a bachelor’s of fine arts candidate whose work
shows the most promise during his/her junior year for use during his/her
senior year at UAA.
The second award goes to an art major who has returned to college to
prepare for a second career. These scholarships are talent scholarships and
no consideration will be given to financial need.
During her many years with the university, Ard earned a reputation as a
leading expert on circumpolar Inuit art.
18 Accolades
Accolades 19