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Welcome to The Eyak Foundation
The Eyak Foundation was formed as a non-profit charitable organization in 1997 to provide educational and charitable benefits to shareholders of The Eyak Corporation and their descendants. The Foundation provides annual scholarships for both college and vocational training programs.
Latest News:
Supporting Educational & Cultural Activities
Educational Scholarships
Vocational Scholarships
Funding for Cultural Activities
Testimonials
Heidi VanGilder
"The Eyak Foundation is wonderful in so many ways! Not only did it help with finances but it made me feel supported by my Corporation. It is an amazing feeling knowing you have help and support along the way. I will soon be helping my daughter fill out her scholarship application. I am grateful and thankful the opportunity is there for me and my children, to keep passing it along to the next generation to help with educational growth. I now get to give back in another form that brings me so much happiness and joy, being the Program Coordinator for The Eyak Foundation. I love being able to have the opportunity to help Shareholders and Descendants receive their scholarship funding and to give back to the Foundation that has helped me. I am very proud to be apart of The Eyak Corporation and The Eyak Foundation, I feel my best when I am helping others."
Heidi VanGilder, Scholarship Recipient
Rikki Addy
"I am forever grateful to The Eyak Foundation (TEF) for helping me reach my educational goals through their scholarship program. Admittedly, I wasn’t 100% sure how I would pay for tuition and books for college after I was accepted, but my mom suggested I check with TEF to see what they offered. The scholarship TEF provided helped ease the financial burden I felt so that I could focus less on the financial aspect of college and more on learning. I’ve always remembered that sense of relief I felt - so much so that it has driven my desire to stay active with The Eyak Corporation (TEC) to this day. I want to ensure that meaningful scholarships are available for our Shareholders and Descendants today and in perpetuity - and I want to ensure TEC is successful and able to provide meaningful returns to all current and future Shareholders. This sense of wanting to give back is directly attributable to that first scholarship I received. Thank you, TEF!"
Rikki Addy, Scholarship Recipient
Rockele Jones
"It was a dream of mine to go to college, play sports, and find a passion that I would eventually call my career. In 1996 I graduated from Cordova High School and couldn’t wait to spread my wings and see what this world had in store for me. The Eyak Foundation was one of several native scholarships that I received that helped me achieve my goal and earned my bachelors degree in 2001 in accounting. Fast forward a few years and I decided that I wanted to learn something new and rewarding, so I returned to school and received my certification in Massage Therapy. I love both of these skills of mine and still use both of them today. I have been blessed with the support from my family, community, native corporations, and the drive and determination to make it all happen. Find a dream or passion and go for it!"
Rockele Jones, Scholarship Recipient
Jerry O'Brien
"After my military career I was excited to start my college experience. I wanted to become a Civil/Structural Engineer. I always thought that it was exciting to see the finished product and say “I contributed to that!”. I remember I was very proud of being a recipient of an Eyak Corporation Scholarship. Applying for any scholarship was at many times an arduous task involving much information gathering and your time. College itself took a lot of time! I spent a fair amount of time applying – fishing for scholarships and putting the ‘hooks’ out there. As small as our Corp. may have been I was over-joyed to be able to receive anything. I was a married man, and a father of two when I started my college experience. As with many young families, finances weren’t always the easiest to come by. Being a recipient of the Eyak Scholarship allowed me to fill the financial gaps where my job was unable to, and allow me to concentrate on studies as opposed to have to work a double-shift to make that gap.
I was proud to be a recipient. I was proud to be more than just Jerry alone out there on my own trying to get it on my own. It was good to know that there was an entire corporation comprised of my native brothers and sisters behind me to support me to keep my eye on the prize! I was successful in earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Double Major in Mathematics and Structural Engineering.
Fast forward to now and I am able to contribute positively to my people serving as Board of Director. I also have a productive career as a Civil Engineer / Construction Project Manager. Thank You for that support for the Board and for the Scholarships!
Today my sons Dillon & Hunter are also able to receive Eyak Scholarships to support their college ambitions too! Dillon is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Hunter is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and has received his Sport Pilot License and is continuing on to the next level of that Licensure.
Quayana! To all those that support our Eyak Corp. Heritage Foundation. You have sewn positively into Generations!Jerry O'Brien, Scholarship Recipient
Contact Information:
The Eyak Foundation
615 E. 82nd Ave, Suite 300
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
Email: hvangilder@eyakfoundation.org
Phone: (907) 334-6971
Fax: (907) 334-6973