Marjorie ’58 and Leonard Wright

Photo courtesy of the Wright family

One of UAF’s largest single estate gifts came from Marjorie ’58 and Leonard Wright, in support of scholarships. The Wrights came to Alaska in 1953 and spent more than two and a half decades here. Marjorie completed her teaching degree at UAF, then went on to teach in North Pole. Leonard established a construction business.

The Wrights never forgot Alaska and visited over the years after they left the state. Leonard passed away in 2007. When Marjorie died in 2013 at the age of 91, their estate provided more than $2.5 million to UAF to support student scholarships. To date, 266 students have received funding from the endowment. Their philanthropic legacy is helping generations of students fulfill their educational goals.

“Without the support of community scholarships, students like me would be unable to pursue advanced degrees,” said Emillie Ficek ’19, a biology graduate who received a 2020-2021 Wright Scholarship to help continue her studies in the UAF-Colorado State University veterinary program. “With this financial assistance, my goal to give back to my community is ever closer.”

The estate of Nathan “Nat” Gerson ‘39 has given more than $2.1 million to UAF by endowing scholarships for students who have overcome great adversity. The Gerson Family Memorial Scholarship has now provided more than 190 students with awards.

With a $650,000 estate gift, the Calvin J. Lensink Endowment was created to support graduate students and research focused on wildlife management, ecology, and the environment. Lensink ‘54 also left an in-kind donation of books and Alaska Native artwork to UAF. Lensink received a master’s degree in wildlife management from UAF. He studied marten in Alaska and then earned his Ph.D. at Perdue University in 1962 with his research into Alaska sea otters. Lensink remained in Alaska for his professional career as both a field biologist and administrator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.