Anchorage Post Scholarship

BG Benjamin B. Talley Scholarship Endowment Fund

History

Through the Fund, created in 1997 in honor of Brigadier General Benjamin B. Talley, a distinguished engineer popularly known as the father of military engineering in Alaska, the Anchorage Post contributed $258,500 (1999-2019) toward college scholarships for upper-division students in engineering and natural science degree programs.

A Board of Trustees, volunteers who are elected by the members of the Anchorage Post for three-year terms, is charged with management of the Fund. The Board holds quarterly meetings and works closely with a financial account manager First National Bank Alaska, who manages the Talley Fund primary endowment. The Board recently established a separate endowment with the Alaska Community Foundation which has ability to accept non-traditional donations in the form of non-traditional cash assets.

On average, around $25,000 in scholarships are presented during the Post’s annual banquet. Additional scholarships from separate funding sources, such as the Anchorage professional services community, are also presented.

Eligibility

Applicants Must Be:

• (1) A Resident of Alaska; (2) A Student attending college in Alaska; (3) an Active Duty/Reserve/National Guard Service Member; or (4) A Dependent of a Military Service Members stationed in Alaska
• A SAME Anchorage Post Member (as a reminder, Post membership is free for students!)
• A Sophomore, junior, or senior student of engineering, architecture, construction or project management, natural, physical, or applied science, or mathematics at an accredited college or university
• A Citizen of the United States of America
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Not currently on a full (tuition, room and board, books) scholarship

How to Apply

All eligible personnel are encouraged to apply!

• If you are not already an SAME student member. Learn more about Student Membership and Join.
• Open the SAME Scholarship Portal and create an account.
• Start an application for the Anchorage Scholarship Application. 
• You can save your progress and make edits until your application is submitted.  You will need to upload your transcript and essay in .PDF format.
• Submit your application and required documents by the application deadline. Information for the 2024 application period to come soon!

How You Can Help

There are several ways by which you can support the Talley Fund!

• Donation by Check
• Donation Online
• Leaving funds from a Retirement Account
• Leaving a Legacy through Your Will
• Leaving funds from Life Insurance
• Donating Appreciated Stocks

Learn more about Talley Fund

In addition to these methods, we also encourage you to contact the Alaska Community Foundation and/or your tax advisor to discuss charitable gift planning to the Talley Fund.  Your legacy gifts will help ensure the Talley Fund is well positioned to support deserving students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math studies for many years to come!

From Talley Scholarship recipients:

Five years after graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture I am still thankful for the SAME Anchorage Post’s support and generous contributions to my education.  The Benjamin B Tally Foundation and local businesses do more than offering scholarship money to college students; they take a moment every year to highlight the achievements of students and celebrate the successful future Engineers, Architects, Contractors, and Scientists of our World.  For me, that is the true moment of joy that this program gives; a welcoming embrace and encouragement for students entering into the engineering and science professions.

Michelle Gallagher, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C

After four and a half years of sweat, blood and tears, I am now a UAA alumni with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  School is rough and looking back now I wonder how I ever made it through.  I look back at all the support I had; from family, friends, and scholarship supporters.  These are the people who believed in me and helped me continue to keep persevering and pushing myself to reach my goals.  Scholarships helped tremendously throughout my college career.  I did not work during the school year because I liked to have the ability to fully concentrate on school and my learning.  I saw other students who struggled as they worked part time or even full time on top of a full load of classes.  I am very blessed and thankful to have had the support I had throughout these years.  I am also proud to say that I have absolutely no student loads to pay off and I know I would not be able to say that without the support from scholarship donors like SAME.

Deborah Morales, EIT/ Electrical Engineer in Training

The SAME scholarship is very important to me achieving a degree in Computer Science with concentrated study in human and computer interaction.  It will help me help others in developing technology that improves people’s standard of living.  Thank-you for helping me achieve this goal!

Johanna Lucht, Student Computer Science

The endowment is funded primarily by donations from the Post and individuals. Fund-raising activities such as training seminars, the Annual Banquet Raffle, golf tournament, and “split the pot” at Post meetings provide funds toward contributions from the Post. At times, sustaining Members generously provide matching funds for scholarships, which allow the Fund to provide more scholarships. All gifts are tax-deductible, as allowed by law.