(All photos by James Evans / University of Alaska Anchorage) View slideshow on SmugMug.

On Wednesday, May 1, UAA honored individuals with emeritus status, Meritorious Service Awards and Honorary Degrees during the 2024 Spring Commencement Awards ceremony in the Fine Arts Building.

Honorary Degree

The Honorary Degree Award is bestowed to an individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the university, to the state of Alaska, or to the individuals discipline or profession. The spring 2024 recipients are:

• Alvin Amason, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
• Diane Kaplan, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Meritorious Service

The Meritorious Service Award is bestowed to an individual who has demonstrated significant work in the area of public, academic, volunteer, or philanthropic service to UAA's main or community campuses, or an Alaska community. The spring 2024 recipients are:

• Cathy Rasmuson, Board Member, Rasmuson Foundation
• Ira Perman, Executive Director, Atwood Foundation 

Emeritus

The position of emeritus is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a full-time professor or staff member who has retired after a minimum of 10 years of faithful service to the University of Alaska. The spring 2024 recipients are:

• Talis Colberg, Senior Administrator Emeritus, Mat-Su College Director
• Elizabeth Dennison, Professor Emerita of History, College of Arts and Sciences
• Herminia Din, Professor Emerita of Art, College of Arts and Sciences
• Yuan-Fang Dong, Staff Emerita, Institutional Research
• Sandra Ehrlich-Mathiesen, Professor Emerita of Business Communications, College of Business and Public Policy
• Mariano Gonzales, Professor Emeritus of Art, College of Arts and Sciences
• Diane Hanson, Professor Emerita of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Karen Ward, Director Emerita, Center for Human Development

Congratulations to all of the honorees!