SOY Nominees: January - December 2003
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| Angel Denise Hollers works part-time and voluntarily tutors an elementary student every week. She also talks with younger students about health related and peer group topics. | Service to Children | Kenai |
| Cody Downs is involved in the video production for various community agencies by doing photography and developing advertising for a variety of classes. | Fine Arts | Anchorage |
| Middle School Youth Council is a service learning group involved in several community projects such as landscaping the park and cleaning up trash in the cemetery. Group members also did an assets survey of middle school students. | Service to Community | Healy |
| Building Trades Class is a school to work program that includes students who built a shower house for National Park Service employees at Wonder Lake campground. | Service to Community | Healy |
| Candice Burkhead is a peer mediator who helped create and is currently the full time coordinator for the random acts of kindness month in her school.. | Service to Peers | North Pole |
| Danielle Mondloch is a youth awareness representative who provides "kidstalks" to well over 190 children. She is helping teach younger children to take care of their minds and bodies. | Service to Children | Eielson AFB |
| Brienna Marok volunteers her talent as a piano player at church once a month and even traveled 260 miles to provide music for a graduation ceremony in a small town. | Fine Arts | Fairbanks |
| DeJohn Cromer is a volunteer mentor who speaks to younger kids about leading drug free lives. He has volunteered over 700 hours with the School Age Program at a nearby elementary school. | Service to Children | Eielson AFB |
| Crystal Dionne is a transplant recipient battling cystic fibrosis who initiated the first dance team at her school. Her dance team performs at the school's activities' half time. | Overcoming Challenges | Ninilchik |
| Carly Barron volunteers her time and talents to teach younger kids to swim and play the clarinet. | Fine Arts | Unalaska |
| Ben Reeves is a valley peer outreach worker who has a real up beat way of talking about things he's been through and reaching other teens. | Service to Peers | Wasilla |
| Bethany Thornton is a volunteer Sunday school teacher and camp counselor. As secretary of Skyview Interact club she coordinates projects to improve interaction among teens | Service to ? | Soldotna |
| Carrie Collins is a community volunteer and treasurer of the Skyview Interact club who has coordinated childrens craft fairs. | Service to Community | Soldotna |
| Team Talon is part of a classroom cirriculum where students researched the needs of their community and services available and then decided where to volunteer to address these needs. | Service to Community | Fairbanks |
| Kids Who Kare are students requesting and organizing donations for the children of Burma | Service to Children | Fairbanks |
| Amanda Behrens is an 8th grade student involved in equality and fair treatment of all teens and educating her peers. | Overcoming Challenges | Juneau |
| Michelle Phillips "Sarah" is starting a Planet Protectors Club for students grade 4-6. She does informational presentations and promotes and motivates others to recycle in her village. | Environmental Activism | Chuathbaluk |
| Caelin Ariel Kubena-A victim of Tourette's syndrome, she knows the pain & true devastation that ignorance of her disease can cause. She has become an accomplished public speaker and & educator. | Overcoming Challenges | Soldotna |
| Lily Jordan is a lead volunteer at the Imaginarium; who works with children and she is also an assistant soccer coach for 4-5th graders. | Service to Children | Anchorage |
| Michelle Evan provides a teen perspective and representation to the community when needed. | Service to Community | Lower Kalsag |
| Paul Harrison, on his own initiative, took on the task of learning the oral tradition of his native family. He recites the tradition with his elders to ensure the history of his people is not lost. | Cultural Activities | Palmer |
| Mat-Su Youth Court Members are teens who serve as defense and prosecuting attorneys and judges who dispense justice to their wayward peers. | Service to Peers | Wasilla |
| Katie Van Der Wege is a volunteer DJ on the public radio station in Keani. She has her own weekly program which highlights youth and activities in her community. | Media | Kenai |
| Trina Marok is a member of the Northland Children's Choir in Fairbanks, who is a great singer, has a wonderful sense of humor and is "just a very good person." | Fine Arts | Fairbanks |
| John "JR" Ancheta is student council president who fulfills his role as organizer and initiator of many activities. He is an inspirational writer of poems and celebrates his Filipino culture at several events throughout the year | Service | Sitka |
| Cody Schwegel helped write, and is helping administer a youth focused drug and alcohol prevention grant. He creted YAP (youth and adult partnership council and stresses the importance of youth sitting on boards and councils. He has also created a video. | Service or Fine Arts | Craig |
| Jamilah Pitchford is a dedicated member of her high school and native community. She is a leader in school and outstanding role model for youth everywhere. | Cultural Fine Arts | Saxman |
| Andy Dupre is a teacher of Japanese language and culture. He coordinates functions for the exchange students that visit each year, and a Christmas event that provided food to the needy. | Service to Community | Ketchikan |
| Angel Holbrook has taken a leadership role in many projects for the benefit of her community and presented an explained standards that students met, to the state legislators. | Participation in Government | Coffman Cove |
| Kelly Kadake is a member of the Mayor's Economic Advisory Committee, student rep on the School Board and a volunteer firefighter. | Participation in Government | Kake |
| Kelli Hughes was chosen as a "Famous Poet for 2002", (a national competition) for her poem-"That Beautiful Singer" | Fine Arts | Kake |
| Jesse Bannon is a UAS Duel enrollment student who participates in college woodworking courses. He volunteers for several agencies and inspires other students to be involved in their community. | Service to Community or Peers | Juneau |
| Wrangell Youth Court members volunteer their time to participate in peer judgement, making a positive impact on the juvenile crime rate in this small town. | Service to Peers or Community | Wrangell |
| Ronan Rooney is an excellent leader for his peers. He volunteers countless hours as the president of the Wrangell Youth Court Bar Association. | Service to Peers or Community | Wrangell |
| Youth of the National Teen Center board and staff organized and implemented a carnival and street dance during Homer's annual Youth Appreciation Week. | Service to Peers or Community | Homer |
| Kachemak Bay Youth in Action (KBYIA) lead and organized a mock car crash to educate teens about hazards of drunk driving, just prior to their prom night. | Service to Peer | Homer |
| Stephanie Abrego is a teen with limited family resources who has been chosen to participate in a job share with the UK Foreign Minister. She's an outstanding community volunteer. | Service to Community | Anchorage |
| Martha Leffek has committed herself to participation in at least one volunteer project every year. She currently volunteers at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center and plans piano twice a month at the Anchorage Pioneer Home. | Service to Community | Anchorage |
| Barriane Perkins is a very talented young actress who has had several roles in various Valley Performing Arts Productions. When new theatre seats were acquired from Anchorage she not only helped transport them to the valley, she washed and installed them. | Fine Arts | Wasilla |
| Tyler Hull came up with the concept, organized and hosted a Freshman Sneak Preview at the end of the summer at Lathrop High School. | Service to Peers | Fairbanks |
| Ft Tee Shirt Company is a student run business that sells and markets t-shirts to schools and the public. Teens have developed their own business plan, logo and mission statement, marketed possible customers and done all aspects of screen printing busines | Participation in Business | Fairbanks |
| Melissa Takaaze is President of the Fairbanks Key Club, a high school service organization that focuses on children and how to make life better for them. Projects include working with Special Olympics, and helping abused kids. | Service to Community | Fairbanks |
| Robin Masek is a high school big brother who volunteers one hour each week to spend time with little brother Adam, who is hearing impaired. | Service to Children | Anchorage |
| Heidi Berry helped develop and write curriculum for the technology classes and participated as a mentor in the Dragonfly Project, which is a technology awareness program for the community. | Service to Community | Haines |
| Sharon Arriola is a mentor in the Dragonfly Project which helps community members become technology literate. | Service to Community | Haines |
| Iris Kemp is an active member of the Dragonfly project, a community service computer training program. She also volunteers as a Santa's helper and teacher of arts and crafts to her peers. | Service to Community | Haines |
| Jessica Hunt is a spiritual role model for her peers at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She serves on the executive board of LEADS, a program which focuses on learning how to positively guide classmates to make good decisions regarding their personal lives. | Service to Peers | Sitka |
| Alexandra Sprano is the only full time youth docent at the Anchorage Museum. She gives tours as often as twice a week and especially loves doing the programs with the children. | Service to Community | Anchorage |
| Mirror Lake Radio Team is made up of 3 students that broadcast school information to an audience within a 30 mile radius. They do all interviews and put together material for the shows. | Service to Peers or Community | Anchorage |
| Alisa Adkinson is a board member of the LEADS peer helper program at MT Edgecume High School. As president of the drama team, she is responsible for organizing events, fundraising and recruiting actors as well as coordinating all other logistics of drama | Service to Peers | Sitka |
| Casey Yakovich decided to take the initiative and get "tough on crime" with one of his fellow students at school. He confronted his peer who was selling drugs and took it to the proper authorities for action. | Service to Peers, Life Saver | Hoonah |
| Rory Egelus is a wood carver who makes furniture out of willow. He willingly shares his talent and wood products with others in the community, including donating pieces to raise money for local sports teams and a cancer patient | Fine Arts | Palmer |
| Tracy Alexander has assumed responsibilities of running her family business which provides young children the opportunity to participate in music and dance performances with the Sunshine Generation. | Entrepreneurial | Anchorage |
| Emma Collins is a competitive figure skater who coaches and organizes Special Olympic athletes and events | Service to Children | Anchorage |
| Collin Reilly is a student government member and involved in student athletics who sets a good example for peers by being a model of kindness and good sportsmanship. | Service to Peers | Angoon |
| Klukwan Chilkat Dancers perform under the leadership of Kath Hotch. They practice everyday and sing and dance whenever invited. All members have made their own regalia and the younger ones participate with their mothers, aunts and grandmothers in the maki | Cultural Activities | Haines |
| Patricia McClory has danced since she was 3. She is a performer with the Ketchikan Theatre Ballet as well as a pianist and volleyball player. | Fine Arts | Ketchikan |
| Kelly McDonald has danced with the Ketchikan Theatre Ballet for 9 years and volunteer teaches younger children ballet and tap. | Service to Children | Ketchikan |
| Billy Pfeifer has made various contributions to his community including landscaping the local church and working with the church youth group as a choir member and guitarist. | Service To Community | Ketchikan |
| Jamin Cook acts as a youth court judge who assumes the role as leader and brother for many of his peers. He uses his music and ministry to improve the lives of those around him. | Service to Peers | Ketchikan |
| Jordan Carboy organized and leads Helping Hands. They began by offering house cleaning services to raise funds for a classmate who needs medical treatment for a brain tumor and now take on several projects to help those in need. | Service to Community | Chugiak |
| Brooke Leslie shares her beautiful singing voice with others in the community of Wrangell. She is an inspiration to other youth through her volunteer work with seniors in extended care and helping out small children at Bible School. | Service to Community | Wrangell |
| Emilie Brooks takes on the responsibility to see that all visiting sports teams to Ketchikan receive the best possible hospitality. She Volunteers through her youth group to provide services to seniors and others in need. | Service to Community | Ketchikan |
| Jerry Tierney was nominated by several of his peers for being a very willing and active community volunteer. He plans school field trips, packs wood and sawdust for others in need and is always positive and energetic. | Service to Community | Port Protection |
| Thorne Bay Imovie Producers recognized how much internet changed lives in their small town, including access to their families and friends outside. The movie highlights the revolution, reaction and reform of internet in Thorne Bay. | Service to Community | Thorne Bay |
| Eric Swenson took the initiative to create a small poster size list of all emergency numbers for residents living in this island community. He gathered the information, created the poster and took care of the distribution. | Life Savers | Port Protection |
| Kalon Kirsechenamann volunteered his time and talents to help repair the existing basketball court in Port Protection. | Service to Community | Port Protection |
| Justin Freestone is one of Soldotna High Schools outstanding volunteers when it comes to raising funds for MDA. As a victim of the disease himself, he focuses on his abilities, rather than disabilities. | Overcoming Challenges | Soldotna |
| Andrew Seetook is a talented and dedicated Wales native dancer and member of his father's whaling crew. He is also part of the search and rescue crew which helps scare off polar bears from the village. | Cultural Activities, Life Saver | Wales |
| Lauren Leslie drives into Nenana twice a week to tutor other home schooled students, usually in math. | Service to Peers | Two Rivers |
| Leigh Miller is an incredibly talented actress with a "huge and fine" singing voice who was famous for her 3 foot long hair. Her motivation to cut it last summer was to donate it to "locks for love." | Fine Arts | Douglas |
| Clara Weishahn was the campaign manager for her father's unsuccessful bid for Haines Borough Assembly. She took a proactive role in government and civics through her efforts. | Participation in Government | Haines |
| Axel Johnson grew up in a tough environment but has become an outstanding athlete and role model for his peers | Overcoming Challenges | Unalakleet |
| Mylon Kingeekuk overcame a serious neck injury and does computer generated research on the water quality in his village. | Environmental | Savoonga |
| Tammy Katchatag is a talented native beader who has proven that one can survive trauma and live a productive life. | Overcoming Challenges | Shaktoolik |
| Tim Snowball won the eagle feather at the native youth conference for his ability to be an effective public speaker and share his message with his peers about overcoming some difficult experiences in life. | Overcoming Challenges, Service to Peers | St. Michael |
| Bryron Kotongan is an avid subsistence hunter and fisherman who gathers traditional foods and donates it to the elders in his community. | Cultural Activities, Service to Community | Unalakleet |
| Gary Nanouk has been a trapper for 7 years. He engages in this traditional cultural activity to provide materials for his mother's native crafts. | Cultural Activities | Koyuk |
| Robert Tokeinna is the suicide prevention coordinator and actively involved in recruiting his peers and younger children to become native dancers and singers. | Cultural Activities, Life Savers | Brevig Mission |
| Freddy Oyoumick fills in as a volunteer jail guard when the VPO can't be there. He's a great role model for young children by showing them its ok to be a "good kid." | Service to Community | St. Michael |
| Gale Ilmar designed and built a prototype for a snow-ice skateboard. It was voted the favorite and most likely to succeed project at Gruening's invention convention. | Technology | Eagle River |
| Dana Bagley invented a "shovel glove" to help gardeners. These are waterproof with tiny rakes and shovels that lay on the palms and fingers like scales. | Technology | Eagle River |
| Jake Songer took on the task of clearing all alders and brush from Mile 1 to Mile 5 of the Copper River Highway. This resulted in 250 hours of volunteer labor, organized by Jake, to provide a clear view of Eyak Lake, Mount Eyak and the waterfowl that inha | Environmental Activism | Cordova |
| Rachel Seetook has overcome her extreme shyness to dance as a member of the Kingikmuit group in Wales. | Cultural Activities | Wales |
| Mike Viens invented "toes of warmth" which is a thick clothe skate cover with velcro and pockets for small packet warmers. Mike is a hockey player and wanted to find a way to keep skaters' feet warm. | Technology | Eagle River |
| Cecily Foo felt so strongly about the needless waste of paper that she created an "ecopad" which is a clipboard size writing pad that replaces regular paper | Technology | Eagle River |
| Jesyca Shores helps improve the quality of life in Galena by cleaning up hazardous waste and is spearheading efforts to start village recycling | Environmental Activism | Galena |
| Stephanie Joseph won second place out of 150 competitors at the national 2002 Best New Talent awards for the singing competition in Hollywood. | Fine Arts | Anchorage |
| Richard Warner serves as a volunteer EMT and firefighter in St. Paul village. He is always the first to volunteer for anything in the community. | LifeSavers, Service to Community | St. Paul |
| Kristofer Gee is a very sincere, likeable young man who is always helping in any he can. He is a hardworker, honest and very caring who always has patience and advice for younger students | Service to Children | Dot Lake |
| Brandi Abell took it upon herself to arrive at school one hour early every morning to help teachers whenever and however is needed. | Service to Community | Anchorage |
| Billy Paul Simon lost his mom and dad when he was very little. He's an active community member and volunteer in White Mountain. | Overcoming Challenges | White Mountain |
| Shishmaref Boys Basketball Team members sponsored an "honor the elders" basketball tournament and used half the funds to host a Thanksgiving dinner for the elders of the community. Those who could attend received their mail with home delivery. | Service to Community | Shishmaref |
| Joanne Pootoogooluk raised enough funds so she could attend a class on how to produce videos from a faith and values perspective. She plans to put her new skills to use by producing a video in her community. | Media | Shishmaref |
| David Phillips wanted to make sure each one of the 140 mobile homes in Cordova had a working smoke detector. He initiated, organized, oversaw and mapped the entire operation, including obtaining the smoke detectors for installation. | Lifesaver | Cordova |
| Youth Watershed Summit Team members Amy Vander Zwaag, Jessica Johnson, Kristen Shake and Katherine Wien were awarded the opportunity to represent Alaska at the Youth Watershed Summit. Each researched watersheds in their hometown and prepared reports. | Environment | Delta Junction, Anchorage, Wasilla |
| Nune Martirosyan is the passionate leader of the Amnesty International Club at West Valley. Her efforts are focused on heightening awareness regarding abuses of human rights all over the world. | Government | Fairbanks |
| Student Television News students produce a monthly teen television news broadcast. They report teen news from a teen perspective. | Media | Fairbanks |
| Rachel Mulvihill takes her budding journalism career very seriously. She is actively pursuing stories for radio and participating in a pilot mentorship program | Media | Fairbanks |
| Billy Redman collects local weather data five days a week and enters the information into the GLOBE headquarters. He built his own weather station to collect the data. | Environment or Science, Technology | Anchorage |
| Nome Native Youth Leadership Organization members are working with elders in the community to learn traditional Inupiaq knowledge. | Cultural Activities | Nome |
| Elaina Mattingly is the student coordinator for Seven Circles Coalition in Southeast-a drug/alcohol prevention program. She shares messages of prevention and the importance of assets with other students. | Service to Peers | Sitka |
| Landon Swank is a positive, engaging, confident, courteous and humble teen who performs professional caliber illusion shows to audiences in the MatSu Valley | Fine Arts | Wasilla |
| Ashley Bucholz has contributed hundreds of hours to service to individuals and groups including the Pioneer Home, Salvation Army, community theatre and recycling events. | Service to Community | Wasilla |
| Aaron Castle is a big brother-big sister volunteer who spends at least an hour a week with his little friend. | Service to Community | Juneau |
| John Buller participates in all sorts of school activities while pursuing his native heritage through dance. He has made a personal commitment to carry on the tradition in his community. | Cultural Activities | Yakutat |
| Nicholai Hoefferle organizes and leads the Teen Tuesdays at the Safe and Fear Free Environment shelter for domestic abuse. Every week he gathers his peers together for the teen talking group in Dillingham | Service to Peers | Dillingham |
| Kake Youth Drug Court uses the Circle Peacemaking method to help other youth settle disputes, or support a youth in trouble. Most recently they were able to help address and solve a bullying problem which had resulted in student suspensions. | Service to Peers, Overcoming Challenges | Kake |
| Lavada O'domin is a student intern at the Tribal Environmental Office who is involved in strategic planning for environmental issues in the community. | Environmental Activisim | Port Heiden |
| Tisha Christensen is not only involved in student government, she is also a student intern who documents subsistence and cultural values so that the knowledge will be passed to future generations. | Government, Cultural | Port Heiden |
| Tony Pearce has overcome his own troubles to be a role model for other youth and works with at-risk juveniles at Cornerstone. He is also active in a teen father's group. | Service to Peers | Juneau |
| Chester Valley Student Council members organize food drives, fundraising, spirit days, and their own elections. They promote a school-wide enthusiasm. | Government | Anchorage |
| Port Heiden Group members represent the community for the drug and alcohol prevention symposium. They are also involved in various community and school activities | Service to Community/Peers | Port Heiden |
| Jenna Mayra is highly motivated to make her school and community a better place to be. She's a great role model, positive, outgoing and confident, and she's an awesome babysitter! | Service | Anchorage |
| Bristelle Larsen helps plan and implement drug free activities for all youth. She serves as school mascot and building team and community spirit at all events. | Service | Dillingham |
| Natural Helpers in New Stuyahok are installing smoke detectors in elder's homes and will go back for a 3 month check up to make sure they are all working. They also clean up trash and lead drug/alcohol free lifestyles by choice. | Service, Lifesaver | New Stuyahok |
| Natural Helpers in Nunam Iqua provide free volunteer service whenever and wherever it is needed. | Service | Nunam Iqua |
| Sarah McCarr is class president, member of the Youth Council and participated in Alaska Closeup two times. | Government | New Stuyahok |
| Brandon Daughtery is described as the greatest asset in the village. He hunts and provides meat and fish to elders, transports them and is always ready to help. | Service to Community | Chignik |
| Chloe Babich provides support and mentorship for her siblings and actively volunteers in the community. | Service to Community | Anchorage |
| Halley Moak is a loyal volunteer at the Youth of the Nation Teen Center. She spends about 8 hours a week keeping the center operating. | Service to Peers | Homer |
| Bennie Holt is the manager of the Wells Fargo Bank with a school at East High School. He oversees the bank operations which are totally student-run. | Participation in Business | Anchorage |
| Amnesty International is a group of students who meet weekly to write letters on behalf of people who have suffered human rights violations. They work to educate other students and the entire community about the importance of protecting human rights in th | Service to Community | Fairbanks |
| Kirk Nicoli is a West Valley student and award winning mask carver. He works part time and is an active member of the Alaska Native Leadership Club. | Fine Arts | Fairbanks |
| Rachel Kastner has kept a full time job since the age of 14 to help support her family. She's an assistant scout leader & outstanding cheerleader. | Service to Community | Nikiski |
| Angela Nicholai helps to promote environmental awareness in Chistochina. She promotes recycling through education and role modeling. | Environmental Activism | Chistochina |
| William Tuovinen is a volunteer stream monitor for the Anchorage Waterways Council and an active member of the Alaska Youth For Environmental Action. | Environmental Activism | Anchorage |
| Ali Hamza-Sheikh is the core member of the AYEA in St. Mary's. He encourages his peers to be involved with environmental issues to improve the quality of life in his community. | Environmental Activism | St. Mary's |
| Bryan Joe works with the youth group and ANHB youth panel to promote recycling and address environmental concerns in his community. | Environmental Activism | St. Mary's |
| Terra Rentz has been instrumental in planning and implementing two major environmental education events for youth. One was the AYEA summer get together in Southeast Alaska and the other was the first ever statewide environmental education conference in No | Environmental Activism | Anchorage |
| Jamie Fortin has been successful in forging personal relationships with rural youth and has supported them in developing environmental projects and involving youth in their own communities. | Environmental Activism | Anchorage |
| Whitney Cushing is president of the Homer Alaska Youth for Environmental Action group and has been instrumental in organizing the paper and aluminum recycling program at Homer High School. | Environmental Activism | Homer |
| Robert Ellis, a victim of cerebral palsy is an explorer for the Houston volunteer fire department who is an inspiration to all who have met him and benefited from his service to the community. | Overcoming Challenges/Lifesaver | Houston |
| Jessica Holden is a board member for Assets for Interior Alaska Youth. She has taken a leadership role in starting a teen action council and speaks to various groups about the importance of involving teens in decision making processes-especially those that directly affect them. | Service to Peers | Fairbanks |
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