Scholarships, Songs, and Community Spirit
The UAF College of Liberal Arts is proud to share that Term Assistant Professor Sarah McConnell, from the Department of Music, has been awarded a 2025 People's Endowment grant.
McConnell’s successful proposal funds several Summer Music Academy scholarships — creating new opportunities for young musicians to experience transformative learning right here on the UAF campus.
The People’s Endowment is a unique fund that supports projects with a lasting impact on UAF and the broader community. Awarded through a competitive process, it’s an incredible opportunity for faculty and staff to bring meaningful ideas to life.
Building Community Through Music
McConnell’s project directly addresses a need close to her heart: making sure that no young musician is turned away from the UAF Summer Music Academy due to financial barriers.
"The scholarships enabled by this award allow students and their families to afford tuition," McConnell explains. "These students may not otherwise be able to attend the camp and would miss out on expanding their performance experience as well as making new friends in the Fairbanks music community."
The UAF Summer Music Academy (SMA) is a two-week intensive program designed for students who have completed grades five through 12. Hosted on the UAF campus each summer, the Academy offers young musicians the chance to study with UAF faculty, alumni, and guest artists. Students dive into collaborative and individual creative learning, taking enrichment courses, rehearsing with new friends, and performing in professional venues like the Davis Concert Hall and the Georgeson Botanical Gardens.
"Summer Music Academy provides both individual and collaborative creative learning and performing opportunities to junior high and high school age students in the Fairbanks community," McConnell shared. "Students are able to join forces with old and new peers while learning from different instructors, thereby increasing their overall knowledge and skill set." Through SMA, students grow not only as musicians but also as leaders, teammates, and confident individuals.
More Than Music: A Bridge Between UAF and the Community
SMA is about much more than performance. It represents a deep, lasting connection between UAF and the Fairbanks community — one that aligns closely with the university’s vision for transformative learning and belonging.
As McConnell puts it, "Summer Music Academy is a connection between UAF and the Fairbanks community. Connecting with the music students of today allows our department to help fill in the gaps of the ever diminishing fine arts education in our public schools... We want to invest our time and efforts into the community, not just into the students who choose to study at UAF."
The UAF Summer Music Academy Jazz Band performs at the Davis Concert Hall, Friday, June 15, 2012.
The Academy’s nurturing environment introduces young students to the idea that they belong at UAF — and shows them what is possible when passion and education come together. Some students eventually choose to pursue degrees at UAF’s Department of Music, while others take the skills and friendships they form at SMA with them to new opportunities around the country.
"Regardless of where students go to college, we want to give our campers tools for success in life — scholarships for those families who need it is the first step in doing this," McConnell emphasized.
Supporting the Future of Music Education
The Department of Music is deeply committed to community outreach, and the Summer Music Academy is just one piece of a larger effort. Through initiatives like the Music Community School and partnerships with local K–12 schools, the department works to ensure that music education is accessible, inspiring, and lasting for students across Alaska.
Supporters who would like to invest in the next generation of musicians can “Become a Sponsor” at a variety of levels or make a direct donation to the Summer Music Academy. Every contribution helps break down financial barriers and open doors for more students. More information about sponsorships and scholarships can be found on the UAF Summer Music Academy website.
