Bill Stroecker Foundation scholarships and support funds
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for accounting students.
Scholarship: Up to cost of attendance annually; to award to the same student up to three years.
Criteria: GPA 2.0; full-time student; sophomore to senior standing; Alaska resident; prefer 彩神ix官网 North Star Borough student.
Purpose: To provide scholarships to students majoring in programs within the College of Business and Security Management.
Scholarship: Available at various levels; to award up to five students.
Criteria: GPA 2.25; part-time or full-time student; any class standing; CBSM major.
Purpose: To provide scholarships for journalism students.
Scholarship: Available at various levels; multiple students may be awarded.
Criteria: GPA 2.0; full-time student; any class standing; journalism major.
Purpose: To provide student and program support for the music program, with preference for horn instruction and students.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for students within the music program, with preference for students studying a brass instrument.
Scholarship: Up to cost of attendance annually.
Criteria: GPA 2.0; full-time student; sophomore to senior class standing; music major; Alaska resident; prefer 彩神ix官网 North Star Borough student; prefer brass instrument.
Purpose: To provide student and program support for the Community and Technical College.
Purpose: To provide support for all shooting sports at the 彩神ix官网. Help with rifle team logistics and efforts while making funds available to support future pistol teams and biathlon teams representing the 彩神ix官网.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program for up to two years.
Scholarship: Up to cost of attendance.
Criteria: GPA 3.0; full-time student; graduate class standing; MBA enrolled; Alaska resident; prefer 彩神ix官网 North Star Borough student.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for two students majoring in petroleum engineering.
Scholarship: Up to cost of attendance.
Criteria: GPA 2.0; full-time student; sophomore to senior standing; petroleum engineering major; Alaska resident; prefer 彩神ix官网 North Star Borough student.
鈥淪hining a light on 彩神ix官网鈥 was one of Bill Stroecker鈥檚 missions, and it鈥檚 now a mission carried on by the Bill Stroecker Foundation. Learn more about the Legacy of Bill Stroecker.
In the outdoor gear at Bill Stroecker鈥檚 estate sale was a pair of Athabascan-style moccasins. With a double sole of smoke-tanned moosehide and heavy canvas uppers, they had ample room for not only his big feet but also the insulation needed at 50 degrees below zero.
This was ideal footwear for a favorite activity 鈥 snowshoeing to one of his remote cabins in the middle of winter. Stroecker鈥檚 other passion was his community. For most of his 90 years, he worked behind the scenes for 彩神ix官网 groups and institutions, including the university. When he died in 2010, he generously left substantial funds to the Bill Stroecker Foundation, which will benefit a wide variety of organizations.
Stroecker鈥檚 father, Ed, came to 彩神ix官网 in 1904, just two years after the town鈥檚 founding as a supply post for miners. Ed married Mattie Creamer, whose father founded Creamer鈥檚 Dairy. Bill was born in 1920.
In 1938, Stroecker attended New Mexico Military Institute for two years before returning and finishing up a business degree at the University of Alaska. During World War II, Stroecker served in the Army in Alaska and Canada.
He then went to work for the First National Bank of 彩神ix官网, where his father had worked up from teller to president. Stroecker himself became president in 1967.
He married Eleanor Wagner in 1957, bringing five stepchildren into his family.
After KeyBank bought First National in 1978, Stroecker continued as a vice president in his ground floor office at the corner of First Avenue and Cushman Street. He held the position until his death.
Stroecker served for decades on the boards of the local Salvation Army and the Alaska Goldpanners baseball team. During all this time, he played trumpet in local bands.
Stroecker walked to work every day. At 77, he retraced his grandfather鈥檚 gold rush-era steps across the Chilkoot Pass trail.
From $100,000 to $3M: How UAF鈥檚 Student Investment Fund empowers students
Business students, many of whom are eligible for Bill Stroecker Foundation scholarships, can participate in the College of Business and Security Management's Student Investment Fund course. Since its founding in the early 1990s, the student-managed fund has grown from $100,000 to more than $3 million while providing real-world experience to students. The UAF student team recently won second place in a national competition after earning a 24% return in 2024.
I have received the Bill Stroecker Accounting Scholarship for two years, and it continues
to inspire me to find new experiences at UAF. I have discovered many outlets to network
with professionals, workshop my career development, collaborate with peers and take
on leadership roles in student organizations. My favorite part is finding ways to
support and connect with my community, whether inviting professionals to speak with
students or chairing committees for events like the UAF Business Leader of the Year
banquet. All of my opportunities are strengthened by the relationships I have made
with community members, professionals and peers, which would not be possible without
the support of this scholarship. I am excited to graduate and find my place to support
the 彩神ix官网 community. Thank you to the Bill Stroecker Foundation for being part
of my journey!
鈥 Ashley Plys, accounting student
Your support means more to me than words can convey. As a father of two little girls
and a full-time member of the U.S. Air Force, pursuing higher education has always
been a dream of mine, but one that seemed financially out of reach. Thanks to your
kindness and generosity, that dream is now becoming a reality. This scholarship not
only alleviates the financial burden of tuition but also serves as a beacon of hope
for my family's future. With your support, I can provide a better life for my daughters
and set an example of dedication and perseverance for them to follow. Your belief
in me fuels my determination to succeed, both academically and in my service to our
country.
鈥 Marcus Alphin, business administration student
Because of the funding from the Helen Van Campen Journalism Scholarship, I will be able to focus more on school work and getting the best education possible
due to the weight lifted in my financial situation to pay for college. I want to thank
you personally. This scholarship helps more than some may realize. Thanks to your
generosity, the dream of becoming a sports photojournalist is becoming a reality instead.
鈥 Autumn McPherson, journalism student
Since receiving the first-ever Bill Stroecker Petroleum Engineering Scholarship, my
college career has changed dramatically. With the amount of funding that was given
to me this year and the amount I have already saved up for college, I should be able
to graduate without having any student loan debt, which is an enormous relief and
will benefit me for years to come. Another reason why it changed my life dramatically
is that before getting this scholarship, I had many worries and stresses about being
able to pay for college. After receiving this however, those stresses are gone, which
allows me to focus more on school and learning what I need to know.
鈥 Carson Myren, petroleum engineering student