History

The Nanook Hall of Fame was established on January 9, 2008 to honor and preserve the memory of the men and women who, through their outstanding contributions both in intercollegiate athletics and community involvement, have brought honor and distinction to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It exists to recognize not only outstanding contributions of student-athletes but the contributions of coaches, administrators, athletic staff, community members and others who, in a positive way, have promoted the mission of UAF and the Alaska Nanooks.

UAF was established in 1917 and basketball teams were nicknamed the "Polar Bears." After 1963, the Polar Bears and UAF's official mascot became known almost exclusively as "Nanooks," after the Inupiaq Eskimo word for polar bear, "nanuq." Up until the mid-1970's, the men's basketball team was known as the "Flying Nanooks" because of the regular, and long, airplane rides undertaken in order to compete with other college teams. Now, all of UAF sports teams are referred to as "Nanooks."

The Nanook Hall of Fame's Class of 2008, its inaugural group of inductees and the first of three groups to be considered the Hall's Charter Group, will be announced in the summer of 2008. The first class will be composed of a maximum of six individuals with the number of non-athletes being limited to two individuals. A committee of 14 qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds will choose the inaugural class from among the individuals nominated. Once selected, the inductees will be honored in a ceremony in the fall of 2008. Please call Pamm Hubbard, the Nanook Hall of Fame contact, at 907-474-5601 before March 31, 2008 with any questions regarding this year's inductions.

Nominations are now being accepted for the inaugural Class of 2008. For nominating procedures and criteria, click here.