Spirit of Youth

Adam and Liam are the founders of Youth Philanthropists Alaska. They were looking for a way that youth could make a tangible difference in their community. The group brings students together two to three times a year. Each youth brings a $10 contribution and three local charities make a brief presentation. The youth then vote on which charity they want to support. Through this effort youth aged 12-17 learn the power of investing in local charities.

• Home Town ANCHORAGE
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Humanitarian, Visionary, Role Model

Dalen attended the legislative fly and testified to the legislature about his: community power outage, the lack of health aides, the lack of police, and the high cost of living in rural Alaska. As a youth in the village his voice made a huge impact on the State Legislature.

• Home Town Akiak
• School District Yupiit School District

Jack is the leader of Fairbanks West Valley High School’s suicide prevention program, Sources of Strength. He serves as a powerful role model for other young men at the school. He is currently spearheading a project raising money to make mental health bags for a local homeless youth shelter.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District FNSBSD
• Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Sarah serves on both her local and statewide student government organizations including serving as vice president. She also has a youth seat on her local school board. Through her role, she helps other students address issues that they are concerned about by helping them clearly present their ideas which results in real impact in the state. Some issues she has helped address are gun violence, mental health awareness, menstrual product accessibility, and use of artificial intelligence in schools.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Audrey is a dedicated volunteer with Petersburg Medical Center Youth Programs, contributing hundreds of hours of service. She has committed herself to supporting younger children while continuing to develop her skills. Audrey leads by example, showing children and her peers how to approach challenges with a positive attitude.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg
• Award Category Role Model

Libby serves as a Mentor in Training with Petersburg Medical Center Youth Programs, contributing hundreds of volunteer hours. She has participated in training alongside staff members to strengthen her skills as a caregiver and young educator. Alaska faces significant concerns around youth mental health and Libby helps address this challenge.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg
• Award Category Role Model

Valentina is the founder of a youth-led nonprofit organization called Furry Tail Endings Foundation with the mission to support local animal shelters and rescues across Anchorage through donations, delivering appreciation cards to staff/rescuers, advocating and spreading awareness regarding animal-welfare.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Visionary, Role Model

Diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, Galen uses his journey to lift up others. Galen turns personal goals into meaningful community action such as completing the Fairbanks Equinox Marathon to raise support, hosting fundraisers for a summer camp that supports kids with disabilities, and creating an event to raise awareness of what it’s like to walk in his shoes.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Humanitarian, Phoenix, Visionary, Dreamer, Role Model

Melissa volunteers with the Bright Lights Book Project, a nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy by making books accessible to communities across Alaska. She regularly spends her Saturdays preparing books for distribution to local schools and community members, directly supporting efforts to address Alaska’s low literacy rates. Melissa also helped place, maintain, and stock a bookcase at Wasilla High School, encouraging her peers to engage with reading. Through her dedication, she is helping foster a stronger culture of literacy in Palmer and Wasilla.

• Home Town Palmer
• School District Matanuska-Susitna School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Visionary

Alexi volunteers with the Bright Lights Book Project, a nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy by making books accessible to communities across Alaska. She regularly spends her Saturdays preparing books for distribution to local schools and community members, directly supporting efforts to address Alaska’s low literacy rates. Alexi also helped place, maintain, and stock a bookcase at Wasilla High School, encouraging her peers to engage with reading. Through her dedication, she is helping foster a stronger culture of literacy in Palmer and Wasilla.

• Home Town Palmer
• School District Matanuska-Susitna School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Visionary

Phoebe is a youth leader working with the Copper River Watershed Project to strengthen recycling and environmental stewardship in Cordova. She helps lead an aluminum can recycling program, collaborates with teachers and school administrators to engage students across grade levels, and supports community outreach through events and local media. Phoebe also assists with hands-on environmental education for younger students, helping teach about healthy watersheds and salmon life cycles. Her leadership reduces waste, protects local waters and salmon habitat, and encourages long-term sustainability in the community.

• Home Town Cordova
• School District Cordova
• Award Category Discovery

Morgan is a youth leader working with the Copper River Watershed Project to strengthen recycling and environmental stewardship in Cordova. She helps lead an aluminum can recycling program, collaborates with teachers and school administrators to engage students across grade levels, and supports community outreach through events and local media. Morgan also assists with hands-on environmental education for younger students, helping teach about healthy watersheds and salmon life cycles. Her leadership reduces waste, protects local waters and salmon habitat, and encourages long-term sustainability in the community.

• Home Town Cordova
• School District Cordova
• Award Category Discovery

Angel is a youth-led leader whose work centers on cultural preservation, storytelling, and community healing. In 2025, she represented Southeast Alaska and the state at national and international opportunities, using filmmaking, journalism, and geocultural research to document and share the history of the Angoon Bombardment and protect culturally significant sites through technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry. Through award-winning films, conference presentations, and internships, Angel elevates Tlingit voices, educates broader audiences, and builds bridges between generations, disciplines, and cultures. Her quiet, values-driven leadership inspires other youth in Angoon by showing that meaningful impact can come from humility, courage, and a deep commitment to community and ancestors.

• Home Town
• School District
• Award Category Dreamer, Discovery

Ollie is a highly motivated student in a rigorous dual-enrollment program who balances college-level coursework with a strong commitment to community service. She serves as Alaska’s youth ambassador for STEM Next’s Youth Voices in STEM Flight Crew, tutors math at a community center to address inequities in STEM education, and participates in the Anchorage Museum’s Teen Climate Communicators to educate the public on climate issues affecting Alaska. In addition to volunteering with a local food pantry, the Alaska Teen Media Institute, and Junior Achievement of Alaska, Ollie consistently uses her voice to advocate for others. Her leadership and service inspire peers to engage in meaningful community action while connecting global challenges to local solutions.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District ANSEP Acceleration Academy
• Award Category Innovator
• Radio Story Listen to Olivia's radio story here

Betsy Jo Boeskool is an engaged youth leader who demonstrates cultural pride, initiative, and service through her involvement with the Filipino American Society of Fairbanks. She has led youth-centered cultural and fundraising efforts, including delivering a Filipino American History Month speech, helping run a youth-led Sari-Sari store to support Fil-Am programming, and organizing fundraisers to benefit children in the Philippines. Betsy Jo consistently contributes to community service activities and events, leading by example with humility, reliability, and a strong sense of responsibility. Through her leadership, academic and artistic achievements, and advocacy for cultural connection, she inspires other young people to engage, serve, and take pride in their identity.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Visionary, Role Model

Ella is a senior at Dimond High School and an exceptional student leader with a strong record of academic achievement, athletics, and civic engagement. Through her roles in Student Government, Model UN, and as Secretary of the Anchorage School District Student Advisory Board, she independently led youth advocacy efforts around education funding and student opportunities across Alaska. When proposed budget cuts threatened school sports and programs, Ella testified before legislators, organized a student walkout, spoke at school board meetings, and became a trusted student voice in statewide media coverage. Her confident, persistent leadership elevated student perspectives in policy discussions and inspired peers to engage in civic action, demonstrating the powerful impact of youth-led advocacy.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Miley is a friendly, thoughtful young leader who is deeply involved in Native Youth Olympics at her school and through year-round events, where she actively promotes NYO as one of Alaska’s most important sporting traditions. She regularly invites new students to participate, educates others about the games, and inspires sportsmanship while helping organize events and speaking at opening ceremonies. Through her leadership and example at West Anchorage High School, Miley has built confidence in students from all backgrounds and shown Native youth that cultural traditions are valued and thriving in Alaska’s largest city.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Visionary, Dreamer, Role Model

Rebel is a compassionate and joyful 14-year-old youth leader whose energy, kindness, and empathy make others feel welcomed and valued. She is deeply committed to service, volunteering across her community through cultural programs, food drives, school events, fundraising efforts, and support for organizations such as Rotary Exchange, Parks and Rec, and the Humane Association. Rebel also advocates for positive change by working to stop bullying and promoting access to feminine hygiene products for students, while balancing her education, friendships, and extracurricular activities with maturity and enthusiasm. As a key contributor to the Tide Turners youth leadership program and a standout participant at the 2025 Lead On Youth Conference, Rebel consistently inspires others to lead with generosity and positivity.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Emmanuel is a compassionate and thoughtful youth leader who demonstrates maturity, empathy, and a strong commitment to equity and inclusion within his rural community. As a member of the Tide Turners youth leadership team, he was selected to attend the 2025 Lead On youth conference and has taken an active role in addressing bullying, promoting fairness, self-care, and healthy boundaries among his peers. Known for his kindness toward both people and animals, Emmanuel leads with empathy while exploring future career paths in the trades and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. His international travel experience has further broadened his global perspective, strengthening his ability to advocate for kindness, understanding, and positive change.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Emi is a dedicated student, athlete, and youth leader who consistently demonstrates compassion, responsibility, and initiative through her involvement in school, athletics, and community service. She serves as a positive role model by mentoring younger students through Norwegian dancing, supporting cultural traditions, and volunteering her time with fundraisers, her dance studio, and as a lifeguard. Emi also promotes global understanding by supporting foreign exchange students through the Rotary Exchange Program and fostering inclusive, youth-centered dialogue. As a key contributor to the Tide Turners youth leadership program and a 2025 Lead On youth conference participant, Emi shows a strong commitment to strengthening her community and empowering others.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg
• Award Category Dreamer, Role Model