Icicle Seafoods gifts thousands to UAS

JUNEAU - Icicle Seafoods, a seafood processing company founded in Petersburg and currently one of the largest seafood processors in Alaska, has gifted $20,000 to the University of Alaska Southeast to help fund various educational programs.

From the donation, $10,000 will go toward supporting the UAS Ketchikan Campus Fisheries Technology Program, and will assist with the purchase of a Conductivity, Temperature, Density meter (CTD meter) for use in core fisheries technology classes. The device will aid shellfish farmers in assessing water column water quality and in outreach projects involving secondary students across southeast Alaska. The CTD meter will also be utilized for ongoing UAS research on harmful phytoplankton in the region. The Fisheries Technology Program prepares students for employment in a variety of fisheries occupations in Southeast Alaska with an emphasis on finfish fish culture and salmon hatchery technologies. The program offers a Certificate in Fisheries Technology as well as an Associate of Applied Science degree.

"We are thrilled with Icicle Seafood's generosity in supporting both the Petersburg community and the UAS Fisheries Technology program," Kristy D. Smith, interim associate dean of the UAS School of Career Education, said. "This is a great opportunity for Petersburg high school students, teachers, and counselors to participate in our program and learn about career opportunities in hatchery employment and fisheries careers."

Additionally, Icicle donated $5,000 in scholarship and travel funds to the Icicle Seafoods Career Education/Dual Enrollment Scholarship. This fund awards tuition, fees and partial travel support for Petersburg High School students who are enrolled in Career Education or dual enrollment classes at UAS.

The remaining $5,000 was designated for The Icicle Seafoods Petersburg High School Scholarship, providing assistance to Petersburg High School graduates or Petersburg residents with a GED who plan to attend the UAS. These scholarships are available to full or part-time students across all disciplines.

Scholarship applications may be made by contacting the UAS Director of Financial Aid at 907-796-6255.

Icicle's $20,000 contribution to UAS is part of a $200,000 gift to the University of Alaska made in December. This is the third consecutive donation of its type.

Icicle has operations in Petersburg, Seward, Homer, Egegik and Larsen Bay, as well as floating processors that operate at various locations around the state.