Liam Wilson Hood was a bright light and ball of joy. As a sweet, tow-headed toddler, he loved to cuddle, to run, to explore, to experience the world. As he grew, Liam retained these tendencies, growing into a kind, playful, curious, and creative boy who loved the outdoors, was eager to learn and experience new things, and was always ready to give or get a hug. Liam also liked to clown around and had an impish side that others found endearing.
Liam lived life with exuberance and curiosity. He excelled at soccer and was an excellent goalie. He was enthusiastic about Nordic skiing, hiking, biking, running, disc golf, shooting hoops, and being on the water in just about any watercraft. He played piano and violin and enjoyed a wide variety of music from classical to folk tunes to John Williams movie scores. He enjoyed delving into complicated math and science problems, origami, felting, and creating a wide variety of art. He loved all manner of games, including cribbage, gin rummy, corn hole, and most board games. He was a very talented photographer, artist, and poet. Liam had recently completed a 100 Consecutive Days of Photography project and was mastering aerial drone photography as well. Liam’s family camped, backpacked, rafted, and traveled extensively in Alaska, the lower 48, and internationally, often joining up with extended family and friends. Many of Liam’s photos reflect these adventures and his love of nature and the outdoors. It was his hope someday that his photography would inspire people to conserve and protect our wild places and beautiful earth.
Liam loved being with his family. He was always enthusiastic about helping, whether baking in the kitchen, woodworking, watering plants, doing repairs, helping with outdoor projects, or helping decorate the house and yard. He would bike alongside his mom while she went running, play in the yard with his dad, look over his dad’s shoulder whenever he was reading or watching something, and read together with his mom at night. He and his sister were the best of friends as well as siblings. He always wanted to be with his family, whether it was taking their dog for a walk, going for a hike, helping with chores, or running errands. His company was ever-present in his family’s lives.
Liam had an interest in growing things both indoors and outdoors, had great fun watering plants at long range, and loved harvesting berries and vegetables. He enjoyed tinkering with the hydroponic tower he helped build at Rogers Park Elementary and helped master growing herbs and greens. He loved to climb trees from an early age. He would climb the trees in his own yard, but his favorite was climbing mountain hemlocks and sometimes spruce with his sister or fellow ski buddies when he went hiking. He had remarkable endurance and enjoyed challenges. He skied multiple 25 KM races with his parents: the Oosik twice with his mom, and the Tour of Anchorage, once with each of his parents. He could hike and run remarkable distances but never hesitated to stop and admire something beautiful or interesting along the way. He truly viewed the world with wonder and awe.
Liam had a purity and playfulness about him that everyone recognized. His huge smile lit up our lives. His thoughtfulness, kindness, and eagerness to help out his family and friends will never be forgotten. His enthusiasm and happy nature was contagious and touched so many lives around him. He is deeply loved by his immediate and extended family, as well as a wide network of friends in our community. We carry his bright spirit in memories, in stories, in photos, and in our hearts. His presence on earth will long be felt and cherished.
The Liam Hood scholarship typically awards 1-2 awards from $2,500 to $5,000.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Alaska resident
- Graduating High School senior
- Minimum GPA of 3.8
- Planning to attend a 4 year college/university
- Preference for students with a passion for the outdoors, interested in STEM, or involved in music or art – either as a high school course or an extracurricular activity – to be reflected on the submitted resume
Previous Recipients
| Year | Recipient | High School | University | Intended Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Robert Luzon Carson | Kenai Central HS | University of Chicago | Biomedical Engineering |
| 2024 | Elizabeth Djajalie | Thunder Mountain HS | Harvard University | Undeclared |
| 2023 | Angela Kim Kakaruk | Colony HS | Vanderbilt University | Medicine, Health & Society |
| 2023 | William Tomeo | ANSEP & IDEA Homeschool | University of Michigan | Nuclear Engineering |
| 2022 | Cameron Hill | Mat-Su Career & Tech HS | Utah State University | Environmental Design |
| 2021 | Naya Kramer | South Anchorage HS | UCLA | Environmental Science |
| 2021 | Maxwell Pfeiffenberger | Seward HS | The Colorado College | Engineering |
| 2020 | Gavin Block | Palmer HS | Cornell University | Aeronautical Engineering |
Contact The Alaska Community Foundation with questions: scholarships@alaskacf.org or 907-334-6700