Glenn Godfrey Sr. Memorial Scholarship

December 1, 2021

The Godfrey Scholarship of $5,000.00 is awarded annually to one student majoring in community service and/or civic duty field with the highest combined KEF General application and GPA score. This scholarship was established to help our Alutiiq people pursue education in careers that exemplify positive leadership roles. The student who qualifies will be identified by KEF and notified individually if they are eligible. No additional application is necessary.
Requirements:

  • 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA.
  • Educational focus in community service and/or civic duty roles.
  • Sophomore class standing or higher.
  • Full-time student status.
  • Ability to demonstrate continued community service or civic duty roles.
  • Must meet all other KEF eligibility requirements.

About Glenn Godfrey:
The Glenn Godfrey Sr. Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Mr. Glenn Godfrey Sr., an Aleut political and social leader raised on Kodiak Island. Glenn Godfrey led an exemplary career with the State Troopers, from walking a beat to finding innovative ways to improve law enforcement in rural communities, and finally serving as Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Alaska. At his retirement, after 32 years with the Department of Public Safety, Governor Tony Knowles said, “He has distinguished himself by his selfless dedication to public service, his commitment to protecting Alaska’s children, and meeting the unprecedented public safety challenges that followed September 11th.” 

Glenn was born and raised in Kodiak and joined the Alaska State Troopers in 1970. He served as a patrol trooper in Anchorage, Juneau, and Northway, where he was responsible for drug enforcement along the Canadian border. In 1978, he was promoted as post commander for Western Alaska in Bethel where he was instrumental in the development of the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program. Godfrey was later assigned to the director’s office in Anchorage and was put in charge of the VPSO program, statewide search and rescues, and the Trooper’s Special Emergency Reaction Team. Godfrey went on to serve as chief of Rural Enforcement and deputy director of the Alaska State Troopers. Knowles promoted Godfrey to director of the Trooper Division in 1995 and he succeeded Ron Otte as Commissioner of the Department in August of 2000. Upon his retirement, he was appointed to Gov. Tony Knowles’s cabinet as the Commissioner of Public Safety. Mr. Godfrey was the first Alaska Native in both posts. Godfrey also served as chairman of Koniag Inc., the ANSCA regional corporation for Kodiak, and was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Alaska Federation of Natives in 1999. 

*Because KEF is a private nonprofit, IRS regulations require that all scholarship funds must be sent directly to the university being attended.