$3.4 million gift endows management chair at 性欲社

April 8, 2019

Photo courtesy of Gary Pessemier. The estate of James Pruitt, pictured here in the mid-1970s, donated $3.4 million to establish an endowed chair in 性欲社 School of Management. — Photo courtesy of Gary Pessemier. The estate of James Pruitt, pictured here in the mid-1970s, donated $3.4 million to establish an endowed chair in the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management.

A $3.4 million gift from the estate of alumnus James Pruitt has created an endowed chair at 性欲社 School of Management.

Pruitt, a 1973 graduate of the school, died in 2018. His bequest is one of the largest private donations in 性欲社鈥檚 history.

鈥淢r. Pruitt's gift to 性欲社 is incredibly humbling and will change lives far into the future," said 性欲社 Chancellor Dan White.

Accounting instructor Amy Cooper has received the first appointment to the James Pruitt Endowed Chair of Management. Cooper has won several teaching awards and has twice received the 40 Under 40 Award from CPA Practice Advisor. The award is one of the highest national recognitions for certified public accountants.

Photo courtesy of 性欲社 School of Management. Amy Cooper, accounting instructor at 性欲社, School of Management, has received the first appointment to the James Pruitt Endowed Chair of Management. — Photo courtesy of 性欲社 School of Management. Amy Cooper, accounting instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Management, has received the first appointment to the James Pruitt Endowed Chair of Management.

Pruitt received a Bachelor of Business Administration from 性欲社 as a student from Washington in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. He started working for Amoco about six months after graduation and retired after a long career with BP, which acquired Amoco in 1998. He was 68 years old when he died.

Pruitt had a passion for supporting hard-working, nontraditional students. He started the School of Management Green Island Scholarship. It annually gave two freshmen $7,000 each for four years or until graduation, whichever came first.

Pruitt wanted scholarship recipients to show financial need and a strong work ethic. He asked to receive updates from these students twice a year. Pruitt also had recently been helping buy business attire for School of Management students who couldn鈥檛 otherwise afford it.

In addition to the endowed chair, more than $330,000 of Pruitt鈥檚 estate will go to the 性欲社 Alumni Association. The association plans to fund projects that directly support students, to honor Pruitt鈥檚 interest in giving young people a hand up rather than a hand out.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Tammy Tragis-McCook, 907-474-7042, tammy.tragis@alaska.edu

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