TUALATIN, OR – The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (The Alliance) is pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines has once again generously supported the Alliance, providing 75 round-trip flight vouchers for 2024.
Since 1986, Alaska Airlines has provided an annual in-kind contribution, providing Alliance member colleges with round-trip flight vouchers to use for recruiting students, meeting with donors, attending academic conferences and events, and more. These vouchers enable Alliance colleges to reach a wider range of prospective students and supporters, and provide valuable professional development opportunities for their employees. The cumulative value of Alaska Airlines’ in-kind contributions totals over $2 million and nearly 2,600 tickets have been used over the course of the partnership.
“I extend our deepest gratitude to Alaska Airlines for their incredibly generous gift of flight vouchers,” said Western Seminary President Chuck Conniry. “Firstly, these vouchers provide much-needed support for our budget bottom line. Traveling to connect with students and alumni across the country can be a significant financial strain, and Alaska Airlines’ generosity alleviates that pressure, allowing us to allocate resources more effectively towards our core programs and initiatives.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, these vouchers facilitate invaluable face-to-face interactions. While technology allows for virtual connections, nothing can replace the power of personal meetings in building relationships, fostering collaboration, and truly understanding the needs of our community.”
The Alliance applauds Alaska Airlines for their invaluable partnership, which translates into direct financial relief for our member institutions. This support empowers our colleges to attract outstanding students from across the nation, reconnect with dedicated alumni and friends, and invest in ongoing professional development for our faculty and staff. Through this collaboration, we collectively cultivate a transformative impact on the communities we serve, ensuring that Oregon’s private, non-profit colleges and universities continue to thrive as pillars of opportunity and progress.
“We are deeply grateful to Alaska Airlines for their continued support of our member institutions,” said Brent Wilder, President of the Alliance. “Their generosity allows us to better serve our students, communities, and the entire state of Oregon.”
Of their longstanding partnership with The Alliance, Joelle Skaga Nausin, Alaska Airlines’ Community Relations Manager, says that “Investing in Oregon’s private, non-profit colleges and universities isn’t just about connecting students and campuses – it’s about cultivating vibrant communities. These institutions are anchors of innovation, education, and opportunity, and supporting them means we’re investing in the future of Oregon’s workforce, economy, and overall well-being.”
To learn more about establishing a partnership with The Alliance like that of Alaska Airlines, please contact Alliance President Brent Wilder at 503.342.0004 or brent@oaicu.org.
About The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (“The Alliance”)
The Alliance is comprised of 12 private, nonprofit, independent colleges and universities. These institutions deliver high-quality experiential learning with high-impact teaching strategies. The Alliance is the collective voice of private, nonprofit education in public policy advocacy. For more information, visit www.oaicu.org or email info@oaicu.org.