Emmanuel Edwards

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 Anderson

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

Olivia Okeahialam

Olivia Okeahialam has demonstrated strong leadership and community engagement through a wide range of youth-led initiatives focused on education, preparedness, and wellbeing. Through the Youth Preparedness Council, she designed and led an interactive earthquake and volcano safety game, created classroom kits for continued instruction, and facilitated STEM workshops in local schools. Olivia also served as a 2025 Flight Crew Ambassador tutoring students in math, participated in mentorship and leadership workshops, and contributed to the Climate Change Youth Group at the Anchorage Museum. In addition, her service on the Anchorage Youth Court and her mental health advocacy, through guiding Girl Scouts in financial literacy and producing a film on dance and mental health, reflect her commitment to accountability, resilience, and community wellbeing.

  • Home Town Anchorage
  • School District Anchorage
  • Award Category Innovator, Visionary

Yedidia Diboue

Yedidia is a highly driven, thoughtful, and kind youth leader who combines entrepreneurship, innovation, and service to create meaningful community impact. At just 11 years old, she founded YY Sweets, independently managing all aspects of the business while donating 10% of her profits to causes such as St. Jude’s, Sandy Hook Promise, and Women LISTEN, raising over $200 through fundraising and personal contributions. She also led a CRISPR-based cancer treatment concept for the Arctic Innovation Competition, earning the Fan Favorite Award for her forward-thinking approach to making cancer treatment less invasive and more effective. Alongside her projects, Yedidia maintains a 4.0 GPA and remains deeply engaged in public health and civic service through organizations including Anchorage Youth Court, Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska, and the Boys and Girls Club.

  • Home Town Anchorage
  • School District Anchorage School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Innovator, Life Saver, Visionary, Role Model, Discovery

Brayden-Kai Tucker

Brayden-Kai demonstrates exceptional leadership, resilience, and dedication to service as a senior at Petersburg High School. A National Honor Society member and state-level athlete in basketball and track, he balances academic excellence with teamwork and a strong interest in marine biology. Despite the loss of his father, Brayden-Kai has remained a pillar of strength, giving back through youth coaching, officiating, fundraising, and leadership with the Tide Turners youth team, and he was selected to attend the 2025 Lead On youth conference. His global perspective, compassion, and commitment to uplifting others make him a positive role model and advocate for change in his community.

  • Home Town Petersburg
  • School District Petersburg
  • Award Category Phoenix, Role Model, Discovery

Emily Brubaker

Emily Brubaker is an exceptional young leader who turns complex ideas into meaningful, lasting policy change at the local, state, and national levels. She led the BioGlitter Initiative, resulting in a unanimous Anchorage School Board vote to end future purchases of plastic glitter and address microplastics as an environmental and public health issue. As Alaska’s State Lead and Advocacy Chair for the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), Emily has worked directly with legislators and families, helping advance Alaska Senate Joint Resolution 16 and making Alaska the first state whose full congressional delegation repeatedly cosponsored the bill. Through public speaking, writing, and youth-led civic engagement, including winning the National Civics Bee, Emily empowers others to understand systems, participate in democracy, and believe their voices can create real change.

Miley Kakaruck

Miley has served as president of the Indigenous Leadership and Culture Club at West High School for the past three years, demonstrating sustained and impactful student leadership. In this role, she leads club meetings, facilitates discussions around issues important to students, and creates a supportive environment where Indigenous students are encouraged to embrace their identities and recognize their potential. Miley actively deepens her own cultural understanding while helping others learn about and reconnect with their cultures, fostering pride, belonging, and respect within the school community. Her commitment and leadership are consistently recognized, with her contributions acknowledged on a weekly basis.

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

Janissa Noongwook

Janissa is a committed and values-driven student whose leadership is rooted in cultural pride, perseverance, and civic responsibility. She worked alongside journalists from Alaska Public Media and KNOM to produce a radio story celebrating the Siberian Yupik drum and dance tradition, Atuq, which was later featured on National Native News. Janissa actively engages in academics, athletics, and cultural life, including performing at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in October 2025 before a statewide audience of Alaska Native leaders and partners. She showed remarkable determination by staying on her high school basketball team despite limited participation, playing full games without rest to preserve team continuity, inspire younger students, and demonstrate the power of commitment, curiosity, and service to one’s community.

  • Home Town Gambell
  • School District Bering Strait School District
  • Award Category Dreamer, Role Model

Josephine Ungott

Josephine exemplifies youth leadership through her dedication to cultural preservation, academic engagement, and service to her community. She collaborated with journalists from Alaska Public Media and KNOM to help produce a radio story amplifying the Siberian Yupik drum and dance tradition, Atuq, which was later shared nationally through National Native News. Josephine is deeply involved in academics, athletics, and cultural events, including performing at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in October 2025 before Alaska Native leaders and statewide stakeholders. She also demonstrated exceptional perseverance by remaining on her high school basketball team during a difficult season, playing entire games without substitutions to uphold school pride and model resilience for younger students, while consistently seeking learning opportunities that benefit her community.

  • Home Town Gambell
  • School District Bering Strait School District
  • Award Category Dreamer, Role Model

East High School Interact Club

The East High School Interact Club, sponsored by Anchorage East Rotary since 2013, has spent 12 years leading meaningful service projects at the local, national, and international levels. Current Interactors operate the T-Bird Boutique, a free in-school clothing shop, and manage donations, hygiene kits, and shower bags to support students and youth facing basic needs insecurity. They also partner with Anchorage East Rotarians on ongoing efforts such as mobile food pantry distributions and student-led fundraisers that benefit community nonprofits. Guided by dedicated teacher sponsors, the club empowers a diverse group of students to meet immediate community needs while building leadership skills, social responsibility, and a strong culture of giving back.

  • Home Town Anchorage
  • School District Anchorage School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Life Saver

Tehani Samoa Taugofie

Tehani Samoa Taugofie is a highly involved youth contributing her time and energy to Color Your Mine: Art Youth Activity, Youth Court Summit, Multicultural Youth Educational Summit, and Community Cricket Culture. Tehani was a leader in the Color Your Mine: Art Youth project, which is a project that focuses on helping youth with mental disabilities express themselves. She helped youth with disabilities create art projects that represented what emotions they were feeling. Additionally, in the Youth Court Summit, Miss Samoa is the representative for the Pacific Island students and presented about cultural awareness about child abuse, neglect, and disciplines, helping those have a better understanding of Pacific Island family culture.

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

Mazelle Joseph

Mazelle is a youth organizer with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA). She is someone who cares deeply about her community and her culture, and she is a role model to other youth, especially Alaska Native youth, when it comes to learning her traditional language and being proud of her identity. This year as part of AYEA’s youth-led climate and storytelling project, Mazelle made a beautiful Tlingit-language short film that shows her connection to the land and her culture, and includes a call to action to protect our lands against pollution and climate change. Mazelle’s film is a beautiful and vulnerable testament to her own journey in learning her traditional language, Tlingit, and is a great example of the importance and power of language revitalization and has a strong environmental message, tying together the issues of climate change and pollution, and how they are impacting communities like Juneau.

 

Wesley Hewson-Lastimosa

Wesley has been an active member of Ketchikan Youth for Change for three years, contributing to youth-led advocacy focused on substance use prevention and homelessness awareness. He has helped develop and implement multiple school- and community-based programs, including Red Ribbon Week, Your Choice Carnival, Ghost Out, and Sleep-Out, reaching elementary, middle, and high school students across Ketchikan. Through both structured programming and informal peer conversations, Wesley works to reduce stigma, educate youth about substance use, and create safe spaces for honest discussion. Drawing from his own lived experiences, he brings authenticity and leadership that has made a meaningful impact on his peers and the broader community.

Veronica (Ronnie) Garrett

Ronnie is a dedicated youth leader who dedicates her time to Partners Club, an inclusive high school club that celebrates people with and without disabilities. Ronnie supports students in life skills classes as a peer mentor by offering guidance, encouragement, and positive interaction. She also serves as a peer partner in Unified Track and volunteers at Special Olympics events, while leading fundraising efforts that inspire her peers to support athletes with disabilities. Through three years of consistent leadership, empathy, and advocacy, Ronnie has helped break down barriers, promote understanding, and create a more inclusive and connected community.

  • Home Town Chugiak
  • School District Anchorage School District
  • Award Category Phoenix, Role Model

Danielle Faith Nilo

Danielle Faith Nilo plays a key leadership role in strengthening cultural identity and youth voice in Sitka through her work with the Sitka Barkadas Filipino Club Salo-Salo. She helped organize and lead the Filipino Heritage Month Celebration, an entirely youth-driven event featuring traditional dances, songs, cultural presentations, and shared food that brought together roughly 200 community members. Through her guidance and support of young performers and planners, Danielle creates inclusive spaces where youth can celebrate their heritage, build confidence, and foster meaningful community connection.

  • Home Town Sitka
  • School District Sitka
  • Award Category Visionary, Dreamer

Sean Middleton

Sean Middleton demonstrates exceptional youth leadership in Fairbanks by organizing hockey training sessions, mentoring younger athletes, and promoting healthy living through fitness programs he designs at the Hockey Club Fairbanks (HCF) gym. He fosters teamwork, discipline, and positive community culture while also volunteering for events like the HCF Christmas party to bring joy to younger children. Through his humility, dedication, and consistent encouragement, Sean inspires peers and community members alike, building a healthier, more connected, and supportive environment for youth.

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

Jillian A. Dolph

Jillian has been committed to community service since childhood, contributing to a wide range of efforts, from supporting Anchorage Firefighters to volunteering with Special Olympics and Dimond High’s Partners Club. She has led major philanthropic projects, including organizing a blood drive that collected 30 units of blood, enough to save up to 66 lives, and coordinating a community food drive with a goal of providing nearly 2,500 meals to Alaskans. Jillian consistently steps up to meet community needs, whether cleaning veterans’ headstones, raising awareness for important causes, or motivating peers to get involved in service. Her compassion, leadership, and unwavering dedication make her an inspiring example of how one person’s efforts can meaningfully strengthen their community.

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

Sofia Jordan

Sofia is a highly engaged student leader who holds elected positions in multiple organizations, including PR Officer for Student Government and National Technical Honor Society and President of HOSA. She revitalized her school’s Holiday Craft Fair after years of unsuccessful attempts, coordinating student groups and community outreach to bring more than 20 activities to life. As a lead Student Ambassador and tour guide, she helps incoming students feel welcomed and informed, playing a key role in orientation events and school outreach. With a strong academic record, national-level HOSA involvement, and a clear commitment to a future in healthcare, Sofia demonstrates exceptional leadership, initiative, and compassion.

  • Home Town Palmer
  • School District Matsu Borough School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Isabel Eden Machos

Isabel has been a dedicated volunteer since early childhood, playing a key role in low-cost spay/neuter clinics and offering calm, compassionate support to both animals and stressed pet owners. She helps rehabilitate cats and kittens in need, assists with humane trapping efforts, and is involved daily in caring for rescued animals, even in harsh weather. Isabelle also contributes to her local hockey community through consistent, dependable volunteer work. Her maturity, empathy, and commitment to serving others make her an exceptional young leader and a vital part of her community.

  • Home Town Fairbanks
  • School District FNSB
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Kinsey Shepard

As Nanuk Lodge Chief, Kinsey Shepard leads every aspect of the Great Alaska Council’s youth-driven Order of the Arrow program, guiding teens in planning inductions, organizing service projects, and shaping lodge operations. She strengthens Alaska’s Scouting community by coordinating major youth-led events, improving camp facilities through hands-on service, and fostering inclusive fellowship and training opportunities for younger Scouts. Kinsey is also a dedicated mentor, helping emerging youth leaders build confidence and develop real leadership skills. Through her collaborative, service-minded approach, she has created a stronger, more connected, and more youth-empowered lodge.