The University of Alaska Gymnastics program is at risk of being cut!

On August 19, 2020, a recommendation was made public that proposes the cut of the successful Division I gymnastics team after this year, due to significant reductions in state funding. Fortunately, with your support, we can help SAVE the program! We have three weeks to show UAA's Board of Regents and Athletic Director Greg Myford the power of the gymnastics community. On September 10th, the Board will vote on the recommendation from UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen to eliminate gymnastics. 

UAA Gymnastics is developing multiple action plans to show self-sustainability and is getting ready to present its case. Your signature will send a positive message to the Board and AD Myford that not only is gymnastics important to the community, but is also well-supported. 

The decision was made public 4 hours after the coach found out, and almost immediately after student-athletes found out. The student-athlete Zoom call was scheduled on the same morning, instead of in advance. Some student-athletes found out while boarding their airplanes, others found out from the media.

UAA Gymnastics fills a crucial role serving the local community needs by providing an incredible amount of volunteer hours. In 2019, UAA Gymnastics clocked the highest efforts among all UAA athletic teams with 554 hours among its 18 members. Additionally, UAA is the only higher education institution in the State of Alaska that offers a gymnastics team. Many young Alaskan gymnasts look up to these women as their role models and are shaped by the determination to one day join this team to step into their footsteps. Very few Alaskan gymnasts have ever made the jump to go to an out-of-state university. Cutting UAA Gymnastics, would be a disservice to UAA’s community outreach in the city of Anchorage and the State of Alaska.

UAA Gymnastics has been an integral part of UAA’s mission since 1985, has helped to serve higher education needs of the state and its communities, and has encouraged over 200 student-athletes to obtain their baccalaureate and graduate degrees in a rich, diverse and inclusive environment.

UAA Gymnasts strive for excellence on the competition floor, in the classroom and beyond, and it shows in our impressive statistics, including 130 UAA Letter Award Winners, 120 All-MPSF athletic honorees, 102 Academic All-MPSF honorees, 84 Academic All-America honorees in the last 15 years, rankings in the top ½ of the country for team GPA for over a decade straight, with several top 10 showings. In the last full season (2019), the UAA Gymnastics team recorded its best season yet breaking 17 school records and UAA's best-ever finish at NCAA Regionals by then-Junior Sophia Hyderally, who tied for the MPSF title on beam.

Please show your support by donating to support UAA Gymnastics and keep the team alive!

Please show your support by signing this petition and sharing it with your friends and family!

A GoFundMe account will be set up soon for you to contribute and help in the fight to save the University of Alaska Gymnastics Team.  Thank you!