Abigail creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all students at Next Step Dance Kodiak studio as a teacher. She also volunteers at Kodiak High School’s Food Pantry project, working to help alleviate food insecurity among Kodiak youth.
Yedidia embodies the spirit of fine arts, with a love of singing, violin, and drawing as her primary interests, using these media to express her feelings in a positive way. She also serves as an officer of the Anchorage Youth Court, and created her own business called “YY Sweets,” donating profits to charity.
Jeff overcame personal obstacles to become a peer mentor and role model at the Fairbanks Boys and Girls Club. His nominators say “In the face of adversity, Jeff has consistently persevered and channeled the challenges he has faced to work in his favor.”
In 2020 Rebecca started her own non-profit organization, Big Air Becca, dedicated to providing opportunities for underserved youth to experience the outdoors. An avid free-skier, Rebecca brings skills of advocacy, fundraising, and leadership to her sessions teaching kids to ski, climb, and enjoy Alaska’s outside spaces.
Aaron is an intuitive, natural leader as a longtime member of the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club, working to set up activities and events for younger members. A gifted student of music and video production, Aaron is a valued member of his high school and neighborhood community.
Luke is a longtime volunteer in the Alaska Youth Stewards program, addressing the issues of local littering and regional marine debris across the Southeast Alaska region. Additionally, Luke serves his fellow classmates through a small school cafe’, managing all aspects of the business himself.
Catey is a member of National Honor Society, South High School’s yearbook staff, and acts as the Community Relations/Service Projects Commissioner for South’s Student Government. She also has mentored other students with Cerebral Palsy at her school and online through a website called CHASA (Childhood Hemiplegia and Stroke Association).
Briley is a mentor, volunteer, and advocate for those less fortunate. She donates her time to help empower young girls to set goals for themselves, improve their self-confidence, and become stewards of their own communities.
Says their nominator: “Samantha and Pauline are the students who keep this school running.” These Stellar Secondary School students are involved in their student government as the Vice President and Social Media liaison, making sure events and activities run smoothly through their modeling and leadership.
Sycely is a student leader with a passion for student mental health advocacy. Over the past year, Sycely has dedicated significant time and energy to raising public awareness of student mental health issues, and she has sought to improve conditions for young people in our state.
Serenity is a high school sophomore who focuses on life’s bigger picture while working hard to advocate for others in her community. She is a member of the Eagle River Boys and Girls Club, and volunteers with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women events each year.
Alora, Trista and Harmony, as 5th graders, began an initiative to change the derogatory name of a local creek in Dillingham after learning the origins of the name at a presentation at the Curyung Tribal Council. The girls discussed the slur amongst themselves and came to the conclusion that a change needed to be made, and got it done.
Cheyenne is dedicated to her Tlingit heritage, taking advantage of all learning opportunities, including formline design, beading, dancing and singing, and talking with community elders. As a young woman invested in learning about and preserving her Tlingit culture, she invites and normalizes this level of cultural engagement amongst her peers.
Lauryn is addressing problems like renewable energy and sustainability for rural Alaskans, and is focused on the bigger picture of helping remote communities regarding environmental issues, renewable energies, and gathering people together.
Catriona’s selfless commitment to local and global humanitarian needs is a stellar example of youth leadership. A Ketchikan High School student, Catriona’s efforts have reached as far away as Tanzania, and as close as the Pioneer Home.
Ayla is committed to helping her peers gain a larger understanding of Indigenous cultures, practices, and issues as a president of Chugiak High School’s Indigenous Club. She is also a leader within the school’s Key Club, dedicating her spare time toward service of the community.
Bianca is a teen volunteering powerhouse. Involved with activities in the greater Anchorage area for years, Bianca fills volunteering roles for community organizations. She is respected for her various responsibilities, and takes on these tasks with pride, diligence, a positive attitude, and serious commitment.
Bianca is a highly-recruited volunteer. One of her regular activities is spending time at a local non-profit organization that supports parents of children living with special needs. The organization depends on Bianca to volunteer for events as a positive example to other youth and their families. Bianca truly enjoys sharing her love of volunteerism with peers, encouraging other teens in the community to give back of their time and talents.
Bianca’s nominator says “She is a joy and inspiration to be around and as an agency we have come to rely on Bianca for her support, energy, ideas, influence and support.”
Shannon McCarty lives in Metlakatla in Southeast Alaska, a small community where Tsimshian traditions are a foundation of daily life. Shannon is a well-respected caregiver for local children, even encouraging her peers to become babysitters so that other families of Metlakatla will have safe, responsible childcare services for their youngsters. Shannon is also a student-teacher leader for the community’s Vacation Bible School each summer, sharing her compassion and faith with local kids. A member of her high school’s dance group Fourth Generation, Shannon performs regularly as a proud member of the Tsimshian, modeling always the values of respect and caring for others.
Emil Lopez believes that all young people deserve to be heard, and he’s working to bring awareness and solutions to amplify the youth voice in Alaska. A keynote speaker for a recent youth summit, Emil brings to the table an awareness of and solutions for the role of young citizens. A student at Bettye Davie East High School in Anchorage, Emil works very hard and has high goals, and participates in additional rigorous programs that provide him many opportunities for postsecondary education. Emil is an obvious inspiration to our student body and was voted Homecoming King in 2022. Emil’s nominator said, “Emil is a student who works hard, treats others with respect, is kind, and a great friend to many in our school.”
Adreanna both participates in and volunteers with the Fairbanks arts community through dance and performance. She uses her talents to speak up and motivate others to live creatively. Adreanna often travels for performances, and has won awards while representing various Alaska dance companies. She also volunteers her time to the dance community, performs at local charity events, and is a volunteer teacher of younger dance students. It can be difficult for youth in Fairbanks to find an outlet for creativity, but Adreanna works hard to advocate for the power of the arts while also setting an example of what can happen when a youth is given the right opportunities to flourish and motivate others.
