On the move

The Alaska congressional delegation announced more than $21 million in grants for Alaska programs in five different federal departments. Mission Creek Lodge will receive $1.3 million from the Department of Agriculture to buy out remaining minor business partners and to refinance debt. The Department of Commerce is awarding $1.7 million to organizations and individuals from around the state, including a $1.4 million grant to Ciunerkiurvik Corporation to establish a multi-purpose training and conference center for the Lower Yukon. The Justice department has awarded $2.15 million to the Alaska State Troopers and University of Alaska Anchorage to fund drug and alcohol use programs and the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, respectively. The Department of Health and Human Services is awarding just under $5 million to fund Head Start programs and the Fairbanks Native Association family focus program. And the Department of the Air Force has granted a $13.8 million contract to Alaska Industrial Resources Inc. to provide small medical shelters in Anchorage and Olathe, Colo.

Kudos

Aspen Hotels Inc. raised nearly $24,000 for the American Red Cross as part of its four-month "Room by room promotion." From September to December 2002, the Alaska hotel chain took a percentage of each room rented at all of its hotels as part of a donation. An initial contribution of $5,000 from Aspen to the Red Cross kicked off the promotion in August.

Fairbanks architectural firm Charles Bettisworth and Company Inc. recently received four design awards for three projects. Their efforts on the North Pole Elementary School addition and renovations received the 2002 Len Mackler Award for Excellence in School Facility Design from the Alaska Council of Educational Facility Planners. The firm's design of Kodiak Hall Dormitory at Elmendorf Air Force Base won the Alaska chapter of the American Institute of Architects 2002 Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture. Both Kodiak Hall and an enlisted dormitory at Eielson Air Force Base designed by Bettisworth and Co. were recipients of the Pacific Air Force 2002 Design Excellence Award and have been forwarded on to the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, to compete at the next level.

Wells Fargo & Company was named a "Patriotic Employer" by the Department of Defense for practicing personnel policies that go above and beyond the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Six Wells Fargo managers, including the company chair and the chief executive, were nominated for the "My Boss is a Patriot" award by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency of the defense department whose mission is to gain and maintain support for employees who serve in the military's reserve forces. The nomination also makes Wells Fargo eligible for the 2003 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which will be announced in June. The award recognizes the nation's top employers that provide the highest standard of civic responsibility and unique support to National Guard and Reserve employees.

The Alaska Railroad Corp. received awards in seven categories from "Onboard Services" magazine, including recognition as Overall Best Railroad. Other recognition included first place in Safety, Equipment, Entertainment, Uniforms and Food Services, and second place for On Board Services. The railroad corporation competed for the international awards against tourist operations from around the world, including Amtrak.

Alaska Airlines has been named airline technology leader of the year by "Air Transport World" magazine. The magazine cited several technological firsts made by Alaska Air, including: the first carrier to use a head-up guidance system or "fogbuster" to take off and land; the first North American carrier to sell tickets via the Internet; the first carrier to operate a commercial flight using satellite-based navigation; the first carrier to check in passengers via the Internet; and the first carrier to check in passengers via cell phones and PDAs.

Apply within

The Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation is accepting applications for its 2003 scholarship competition. Eligible students must be enrolled in an aviation-related program in an accredited college, university, trade school or approved training center; have spent at least two of the past three years in continuous official residency in Alaska; and have completed at least two semesters towards their professional goal or have at least a Private Pilot Certificate. The scholarship is funded by contributions from friends and families of Alaska aviators. Applications must be postmarked by March 31 and may be requested by phone, letter or fax from the foundation. Address mail to The Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 4340 Postmark Dr., Anchorage, AK 99502; or call 907-243-7237.