Distinguished Alumnus Award
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the association's most prestigious award. It was first awarded in 1962 and continues to annually recognize living graduates of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Alumni are selected for the award based on meritorious service on behalf of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ, distinguished accomplishments in business and professional life, or distinguished human service in community affairs.
All alumni are encouraged to nominate individuals for the Distinguished Alumnus Award. There must be three letters of support for the nomination, all from ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ graduates or former students. The nomination should include information on the candidate's life achievements.
2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner
John Davies ‘70, ‘75
John Davies is the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing his decades of service to the University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Fairbanks, the Fairbanks community and the state of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ. Davies began his affiliation with ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ in 1967 at the Geophysical Institute and earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in geology and geophysics, with a focus on seismology.
His career has spanned science, public service and higher education leadership. Davies served as ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ’s state seismologist, was a member of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and represented Interior ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ for a decade in the ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ House of Representatives, where he was a strong advocate for the university. He later served as research director for the ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Cold Climate Housing Research Center and as a member of the University of ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Board of Regents from 2014–2022.
Davies has also been deeply involved with the ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ Alumni Association and numerous community and energy-focused organizations. His lifetime of leadership and volunteer service has made a lasting impact on ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ and ÓÐÁϺÐ×ÓÊÓƵ.