FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 23, 2025
Utqiaġvik, Alaska — Iḷisaġvik College is honored to announce a generous gift from Yield Giving, established by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, that will significantly advance the institution’s commitment to building a sustainable and resilient future for its students, campus, and community.
The contribution—made as part of Yield Giving’s goal to empower organizations with a “high potential for sustained positive impact”—will strengthen the College’s mission and contribute to its long-term efforts to build a new campus. It will also contribute to the sustainability of Iḷisaġvik’s academic programming and student experience, as well as enhance opportunities for collaboration, allowing the College to develop new initiatives that support student success.
Iḷisaġvik College Board Chairperson, Heather Qannik Dingman, shared that “This significant contribution from MacKenzie Scott and Yield Giving will have a lasting impact for Iḷisaġvik College and our students for years to come. It is an honor to be one of the many higher education institutions that Ms. Scott has chosen to receive unrestricted donation funds, especially since she is notable for ‘practicing trust-based philanthropy’.”
“We are deeply grateful to Yield Giving for believing in our vision and investing in Tribal higher education,” said President Justina Wilhelm. “This transformational gift allows us to take meaningful steps toward a long-term sustainable future as we educate the next generation of leaders and look to developing Iḷisaġvik’s new campus.”
The College will share updates on specific projects and initiatives made possible by this support, in alignment with our strategic priorities as a Tribal College providing quality post-secondary academic and career and technical education.
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About Iḷisaġvik College
Iḷisaġvik College is Alaska’s only Tribal college and is located in the northernmost village in the United States, Utqiaġvik (Barrow). Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Iḷisaġvik College provides quality post-secondary academic, career, and technical education in a learning environment that perpetuates and strengthens Iñupiat culture, language, values, and traditions. It is dedicated to serving its students and developing a well-educated and trained workforce who meet the human resource needs of North Slope employers and the state of Alaska.
Iḷisaġvik College Contact:
Caitlin Walls
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
caitlin.walls@ilisagvik.edu