Alumni Spotlight: Rick Jarvis

B.A. Sociology '74 Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

It's uncanny how well Rick fits with his volunteer role as co-chair of the new Alumni ParTee: 9 in the Spine mini-golf tournament. Not only is Rick a proud alumnus, a dedicated community volunteer and a parent of a UAA student, he's also a seasoned golfer who-of course-has experience organizing golf tournaments in Anchorage. He's an ideal addition for 9 in the Spine, and the Alumni ParTee wasn't even his idea. That invention belongs to Jayson Smart, Rick's co-chair for the event. "I'm a Johnny-come-lately on this one," Rick said, "but this seemed to be a perfect fit."

Last year, a few top minds were brainstorming a spring alumni event, something fun and low-key to complement the fall's annual Green & Gold Gala. They needed an event to bring alumni to campus, ideally something with student involvement as well. At the same time the event committee kicked around ideas, Rick decided he'd like to volunteer with the Alumni Association. He got in touch at the right time-soon enough, he was co-chairing the spring event, and his unique experience coordinating golf tournaments helped green-light 9 in the Spine as the new spring alumni tradition.

Rise of the Spine

When Rick was a student at UAA, the campus was a fraction of its current size and 'spine' was, if anything, just a vocab word in anatomy class. Rick knew UAA had potential to expand and adjust, so he started campaigning for new facilities near the end of his college career. "I'd advocated with the legislature and the university for a student union building," he explained. "The answer was no... initially."

Time passed, Rick graduated and oil boomed. He started a job with the state's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation at the same time an influx of oil money changed the future of UAA. Suddenly, the university had funds to build not only a student union, but a physical education building as well. Due to Rick's advocacy as a student, he was called back to helm an advisory committee on the new buildings.

Thanks in part to Rick's vision, we have the Spine we know and love today. The building's open multi-story floor plan--offering views of the rink, pool, court and cafeteria--almost didn't happen. Several designers pushed against the original blueprints, hoping to close off the Spine and significantly increase floor space instead.

"I can remember that conversation still all these years later," Rick said. "As the chairman I had a little weight there. What I said was, Listen, we're walking down the spine. The idea of the spine is to invite you into the buildings... We want that interaction.

"I'm glad to see it's still there."

Rick's participation benefitted UAA, but it helped his career just as much. Through the committee, he got to know the building's architect and, when the project wrapped, he had a job offer. The architect went on to build homes in Anchorage, and Rick went on to sell them. He's been in real estate since 1978.

Rick still revisits the Student Union, occasionally meeting his son for dinner there after classes. "I've checked on the building over the years and it is what we envisioned," he said. "We knew it would grow and change and be modified, and that is what we think is absolutely super."

Hitting the Green at UAA

Sure, he expected the buildings to change, but he couldn't have predicted the Student Union would someday play host to a mini-golf tournament. Or that he'd be the one leading it.

As a long-time Alaskan (his family moved here right after the earthquake), Rick has a dedicated investment in his hometown and has volunteered extensively throughout his career. Likewise, as a loyal UAA alumnus, he's an avid supporter of the university

"I've volunteered in some capacity with many different organizations over the many years," Rick explained, "[and] I thought 'Oh, the alumni!' I've been watching the UAA hockey games for years-and some volleyball and basketball games-and I thought, Okay, I should get involved."

His golf experience was pivotal in last year's inaugural mini-golf event, although he'll admit he organized his first golf tournament primarily to squeeze in tee time for him and his friends. "We found out the golf courses were full and the only way to get on there was to organize a golf tournament," he recalled. "So I organized a golf tournament."

That first event continued for 10 years, and a corporate sponsor later took over as host for an extra two decades. Rick still plans his company's tournament and other golf fundraisers around town. But for now, his focus is on putt-putt.

There are of course some obvious differences between big golf and mini golf tournaments. For starters, the indoor course requires softer golf balls to prevent any catastrophic window collisions. The course is narrower, the traffic is greater and the courses can't make a clean circuit. However, the goofy energy and low-key camaraderie are perfect for mini-golf.

"It is fun, it's easy, the alumni staff is awesome," Rick commented. "They're carrying the brunt of it-I'm just hanging on."

This year-the event's second edition-the course doubles in size, allowing for twice the number of student groups and alumni teams. Last year's tournament had several standout designs, including a working windmill from engineering students, an interactive iPad element from the eLearning department and the people's choice winner-the Accounting Club's steaming, spewing Mt. Rasmuson.

"I'm looking forward to this year since we'll have 18 holes, so we'll see how creative it gets," he said.

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Want to take part in this year's Alumni ParTee? There's still time to register your foursome, or as an individual. Click here for online registration to the 2015 Alumni ParTee: 9 in the Spine