Alumni Phone-a-thon

The AMU/APU Alumni Association will be conducting our annual phone-a-thon on April 6th and 7th. A current APU student will call you on one of those evenings to ask you to show your "Grad-I-tude" to your University by making a gift to the annual fund or by joining the AMU/APU Alumni Association. At the same time, they'll also provide you with an opportunity to update your contact information for our records and for the new online Alumni Directory.

If you would rather not receive a call from one of our students during the phone-a-thon -- you can make a contribution or join the Alumni Association right now by calling the Office of Development (907) 564-8250. Give us a call!

Alumni Directory

Opt in! As part of our new and improved Alumni Web Page we will soon be offering a password protected on-line Alumni Directory where you'll be able to find up-to-date contact information for fellow alumni. However, in order to be included in the directory you must "opt in" by calling the Office of Development at (907) 564-8250 or by emailing us at devoff@alaskapacific.edu. You'll also have the opportunity to opt in when the Alumni page is complete by going right to the alumni page and signing up. The directory will only be available to confirmed alumni who will receive a password in order to access the page. Don't miss this great opportunity to be part of AMU/APU's growing alumni network!

Dan Alex
Dan Alex graduated from Alaska Methodist University in 1964, with a BA in Mathematics. After graduation he worked for the US Navy as a civilian Geophysicist out of Washington, D.C. In 1973 he came back to Alaska to work as President and Executive Director of Eklutna. Inc. Dan has held many different positions for the corporation, and is is presently Chairman of the Board.

Dan served on the Board of Trustees of Alaska Pacific University for many years. He is currently a member of the Alaska State Advisory Commission, and has served on the US Commission on Civil Rights for many years. Dan is also a member of the District 504 Appeals Board of the Selective Service system.

Dan has remained committed to native issues. He was appointed by President Reagan as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Presidential Commission on Indian Reservation Economies and was the past president of the Alaska Native Land Managers Association for eleven years. He was a lobbyist for Alaska Native issues, a member of the advisory group for the yet to be built Alaska Native Science and Engineering building for UAA, and a member of the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission as a cultural advisor.

Sandy Sanders
Sandy Brown Sanders moved with her family to the territory of Alaska in 1952. She attended area schools and graduated from Anchorage High school in 1960. At the urging of a cousin she went to visit the University of Minnesota campus. The thought of going to a university whose enrollment was about equal to the population of the entire city of Anchorage was too much. A few days after her return she was sitting in the Dean's Office, a military surplus building on the unfinished campus of Alaska Methodist University.

Not only did she become a full time student but was also the summer receptionist for the university. Sandy was Secretary of Social Affairs for the student government, worked on the Aumulet (Year Book), sang in the chorale - "you could be as active as you wanted." Because of that atmosphere, most everyone was involved in campus activities in those early years. The small classes, the professionalism and caring attitude of the professors and staff, and an environment conducive to learning was, and is the hallmark of AMU/APU. After receiving her BA she continued her education during summer and weekend classes and eventually enrolled full time in the MAT program.

She was 1989 Alumnus of the year, has served on the Alumni Board, participated in fund raising, and is now on the Steering Committee and is the historian for APU's President's Forum. Sandy retired after 24 years of teaching in Anchorage and Queensland, Australia. Her time is now taken up with scrapbooking, quilting, gardening, traveling, and occasionally volunteering for ACVB. She works one week a month for the property management company she and her husband recently sold to their son. Sandy and her husband Ed, whom she met a AMU, have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Lael Bach
A Spring, 2004 graduate, Lael Megan Bach was born to Michael and Lisa Bach on July, 15th 1980 in Bend, Oregon. "I have always been interested in the outdoors (mostly to gross out my younger sister with bugs) and I am very adventurous," she says.

Lael moved to Alaska when she was eighteen to finish off her senior year at University of Alaska Anchorage. She was able to send college credits back to her High School in Oregon and she received her diploma in the mail, but she did not walk at graduation, "I promised my Mom that I would walk this time." She transferred to Alaska Pacific University when she heard that we had cuter boys here. After transferring to APU she changed her focus from Education to Psychology. Lael has been involved in psychology club, service projects and she is currently holding the position of Senior Representative in ASAPU.

Lael says, "I have plenty of student loans to pay off, so I plan on getting a really good job." She wants to work with children experiencing mental disturbances and eventually start an outdoor guiding business focused on women and challenged children.

"I am extremely pleased with the extensive education I received at APU. I feel as if I have really found out who 'Lael' is thru the wonderful interactive learning in the College. The levels of personal relationships I have developed with the staff and faculty ensures I will be back for my master's degree in psychology and counseling."

Kristen Dunlap
Kristen is an Environmental Science Major. She will be graduating this May with a Bachelors of Science Degree. Kristen has worked in the Outdoor Recreation program here at APU and has recently completed her Senior Project "Climbing in Rifle Mountain Park, (Colorado): Impacts on Soils and Vegetation." Her research was conducted along with APU Professor, Carl Tobin, who is on sabbatical in Colorado.

Kristen was born in Valdez, Alaska of Athabascan heritage. She was raised in Arizona and chose to return to Alaska for her undergraduate education. This is the second year in a row that Kristen was chosen to receive an APU President's Forum Scholarship. She is an outstanding and dedicated student. Kristen said, "I am very thankful to receive the President's Forum Scholarship, it has been inspirational to me that I have been chosen, and the scholarship has been a tremendous help financially."

Kristen's post-graduation plans include: pursuing a Masters in Environmental Sciences Degree, and working in a field that promotes environmental conservation. She also plans on earning her Ph.D. and writing a book. "I enjoy learning, and I'll never be bored with it," she says. We are sure that Kristen will accomplish these goals.