On Oct. 28, the Alaska Humanities Forum honored the Governor’s Arts and Humanities Awards recipients for 2025 during a ceremony at the Anchorage Museum. The honorees were selected for consistently demonstrating strong leadership, integrity, values and commitment to excellence and diversity in Alaska’s business and nonprofit sectors. 

Established in 1968 by the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, the Governor's Arts and Humanities Awards recognize Alaska individuals and organizations whose noteworthy contributions to the arts and humanities have made a lasting impact on Alaska's social, economic and civic life.

Congratulations to all awardees, including the three UAA alumni receiving this year’s honors.

Dr. Loralie Gax̱.áansán Heagy 
Individual Artist Award
G.Cert. Language Education ’13

MoHagani Magnetek
Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Community
B.A. English with a minor in Women’s Studies ’16, M.F.A. Creative Writing and Literary Arts ’20

Melissa Shaginoff 
Rising Humanities
B.A. Psychology with a minor in Alaska Native Studies ’12