The University of Alaska Anchorage and You
For many Latino students, pursuing higher education can be difficult due to a lack of financial aid. In addition, the sacrifice parents made to raise their children in a state as calm and stable as Alaska, where access to resources and higher education costs considerably more, compared to Latin America, can be challenging. However, the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) offers a variety of resources, from opportunities for high school students to those already enrolled at UAA.
This section will cover scholarships, grants, and other means through which Latino/Hispanic students can obtain financial aid. For first-year students majoring in languages, UAA offers a $500 scholarship. The requirements are simple: be fully admitted to UAA by the spring 2025 semester, choose languages as a college major, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in high school or college. In addition, high school students can aspire to the UA Scholars Award, a $15,000 scholarship, if they finish within the top 10% of their class by the end of their junior year. To take advantage of this opportunity, they must apply to any college in Alaska by May 1 of their senior year of high school. On the other hand, students already enrolled in UAA have access to several scholarships for almost any university specialty. One of the most prominent options is the University of Alaska General Scholarship 2025-2026, which allows you to apply to all campuses in the UA system. Selection criteria include outstanding academic achievement, financial need, and merit. Similarly, students pursuing degrees in the liberal arts or sciences can apply for specific scholarships such as the CAS Persistence Scholarship ($1,000) or the New Admit Scholarship ($1,000), as long as they are enrolled full-time for the spring semester. The deadlines are CAS Persistence Scholarship, December 14 at 11:59 PM, and New Admit Scholarship, January 1 at 11:59 PM. In terms of state resources, the Alaska Performance Scholarship has expanded its criteria thanks to changes pushed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. These modifications have created more opportunities for students to continue their education without needing to take out large loans. Finally, students enrolled at UAA interested in studying abroad can also apply for specific scholarships. To qualify, they must have completed at least 24 credits, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and schedule an appointment with the education abroad coordinator. These scholarships allow students to continue under the UAA academic program while taking classes or doing internships in other countries. Importantly, the community in Alaska is close-knit and diverse, which reduces stress in circumstances where finding help can be tricky. Studying in a region inhabited by indigenous peoples and people of diverse cultures opens the door to new perspectives, often unattainable for previous generations. Leveraging these resources is key for Latino students to work toward a dignified and meaningful life, using the power of education. 
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