In the Field
Alyeska contributes to successful engineering program

University of Alaska Anchorage associate professor of engineering Herb Schroeder, director of the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) at UAA, shared a brief history lesson about the Inupiat people with a crowd of over 500 that gathered on Friday, January 27 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of ANSEP. Schroeder talked of how the Inupiat hunters would protect their eyes from the fierce winds and blinding glare of the snow by making goggles out of driftwood. Schroeder, founder of ANSEP, shared the story while distributing traditionally-made Inupiat snow goggles to a collection of supporters who Schroeder acknowledges as having shared in the vision of ANSEP, helping the program evolve to a nationally-recognized educational model.

ANSEP has a 70 percent retention rate, which is impressive when compared to the 27 percent national average retention rate for indigenous engineering students in similar programs. Last year, Schroeder received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

The banquet in January was a celebration of the program's recent history as well as a look at its bright future with various corporate partners announcing their intentions to support the program. Alyeska is providing significant support of the new ANSEP Building. The 14,000 square foot building will provide a vibrant academic community for all UAA engineering students to live and study together. It is planned for completion in summer 2006. Alyeska delivered its second installment check of $100,000 towards the overall goal.

Alyeska was one of the initial financial supporters of ANSEP and remains a major contributor. Alyeska spends $750,000 annually to support education and developmental opportunities. Since 1996, the company has awarded over $6 million to Alaska Native students pursuing higher education. Last summer, 15 college students worked through the summer and into the school year; 13 of them were ANSEP students working on the pipeline system from Pump Station 1 in Prudhoe Bay to the Valdez Terminal.

"The fields of science and engineering have played a major role in the economic history of Alaska and it makes sense to continue to invest in the brain trust of the next generation," said Kevin Hostler, Alyeska President and CEO. "Alyeska is proud to be associated with these outstanding programs and we look forward to working with ANSEP as it continues to prepare students for careers in the energy sector."

According to Hostler, Alaska offers promising returns in terms of the global oil market and Alyeska realizes that many of the ANSEP students will be helping to develop new solutions to keep North Slope oil competitive.