Keiren Fitka

Keiren has been working since age 14 and sought out opportunities to connect with his Yupik, Inupiaq, and Athabascan cultures. This includes being an Alaska Native Heritage Center intern, Raise Program intern, and Ilakucaraq program participant. In these settings, Keiren applies himself, builds bonds with other participants, and learns as much as he can. He continues to look for programs to expand his knowledge and is currently taking welding and aviation classes.

Keiren currently lives in Anchorage but stays connected to his family’s home community of Marshall. He understands the challenges of rural Alaska and is actively making a difference by meeting with politicians in Alaska and Washington DC to advocate for foster youth and their medical needs, for sexual assault victims, and for increased quality rural housing. He also serves as a positive role model for and caretaker of his foster siblings. Keiren shows youth voices matter and that involving themselves in their communities can happen in many different ways.

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

Jamie Twitchell

Jamie is a stand-out alum of a year-long Ilakucaraq cohort, a program that brings together Alaska Native youth in 9-12th grades. This program is designed to form friendships, learn and share about Indigenous cultures, and build confidence in their cultural identities. Although Jamie would never call herself this, she is a great example of an “elder-in-training.” Despite her young age, she is already sharing her Yup’ik culture with pride and embracing her Indigenous heritage.

She yuraqs (traditional dances) and has made her own traditional regalia including a qaspeq, nasqerrun (head dress), dance fans, and uyamik (dance necklace). Jamie brought this regalia on an Ilakucaraq trip and shared them with other participants. She designed and developed a uyamik craft kit so that other youth can learn about and make their own uyamiks. Jamie is helping to reclaim cultural activities suppressed by colonization and to counteract the pressure youth sometimes feel to assimilate into mainstream “western” culture. She is a role model to other youth and is contributing to keeping her culture vibrant. 

  • Home Town Kasigluk
  • School District Lower Kuskokwim School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Dreamer

Tristan Evanoff-Stickman

Tristan is a kind and insightful deep thinker. He connects with Elders and learns cultural practices while working at his family’s fish camp in Nondalton. Additionally, he has interned at a culture camp held on indigenous lands in partnership with Lake Clark National Park. He is stand-out alum of the year long Ilakucaraq cohort, a program that brings together teens from around the state to learn and share about their cultures and build confidence in their cultural identity. Tristan serves as a role model to other youth as someone who lives in the Anchorage area embracing his culture. 

  • Home Town Eagle River
  • School District Anchorage School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Dreamer

Lily Gosnell

Lily is a founding member of Ketchikan Youth for Change, a group of youth who are dedicated to substance misuse prevention. Additionally, she serves as the student body president and serves on the school board as the student member. She has volunteered on the Lords Table, a program serving home-cooked meals to community members experiencing homelessness. Lily works as an intern at the Women in Safe Homes Organization and as member of their peer education team.

  • Home Town Ketchikan
  • School District Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Jayden Lampe

Jayden is the Parliamentarian for Barrow High School Student Council. She has been thee Youth Representative for the North Slope at the First Alaskans Elders and Youth Conference. Additionally, Jayden involves herself  heavily in the North Slope Borough Mayors Youth Advisory Council.  She also encourages her peers to do volunteer work and join community projects through the council. She has a vision for her future and the future of the region and is working to pave the way for future success. 

  • Home Town Barrow
  • School District North Slope Borough School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Charlotte Cruickshank

Charlotte has the greatest involvement in two youth led activities, serving as the current President of Partner’s Club at Dimond High School, and the lead facilitator of MHATS (Mental Health Advocacy Through Storytelling). She also plays Varsity softball and volleyball, is President of Zonta International Club and Mu Alpha Theta Math National Honor Society Club and is former President of her Class in Student Government and Model United Nations Club. She has accumulated over 700 community service hours throughout high school.

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

Wally Wallace

Wally, as part of Seward Prevention Coalitions Peer Leader team, created and implemented youth led campaigns to foster connection, highlight resilience and increase help seeking behaviors in their school and community. He works to normalize conversations about struggle. He leads his peers on how to recognize resilience in their own lives and connects them to resources to get the help that they need and deserve through stories of strength. Wally is incredibly strong and is a wonderful public speaker. He takes a leadership role in SPC efforts and draws other kids in with is charisma.

  • Home Town Seward
  • School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
  • Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Bianca Pagel

Bianca is an active player in the Anchorage community. She volunteers with several local organizations like The Arc of Anchorage, Beans Cafe, Food Bank of Alaska and even donates her birthday to a different charity/nonprofit each year. Bianca was a volunTEEN at  Z.J Loussac Library for 4 years. She also won a National Volunteer Service Award in Chicago at Nationals with the Miss Amazing Pageant 2023. Additionally, Bianca was the youth volunteer for Stone Soup Group at Sou per Gaming Night. She created new flyers, promotes in the community and brings zest and positive energy.

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

Nolan Stephen Freeman

Nolan has been a member of the Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership (KPNYL) team way before being an official member, his freshman year. That is, because his Auntie has been the leader for the last 10 years, which allowed Nolan to grow up with what leadership skills. Nolan has been on many sport teams-football, baseball, wresting, swimming. Yet none of the team awards have been a bigger honor for him and his family, then his personal achievements when Nolan chose to help another person in his community. 

Nolan recently had to make a very difficult decision regarding his dog who needed help to move to the Ancestor world. Despite this, he went to his Elders to ask for support making the arrangements with the family Vet. Their relationship and connection to nature is why Nolan made the career choice to become a Wildlife Rescue Law Enforcement Office with the Canine Unit.

  • Home Town Sterling
  • School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
  • Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Anamanu Tu’uholoaki

Anamanu is an exceptional young person. She currently works with children at the Hmoob Cultural Center of Alaska. Anamanu has volunteered by cleaning Anchorage, contsructing a blessing box to feed homeless. She’s spent time volunteering with Clare House, Beans Cafe, Food Bank of Alaska and Suicide Prevention Awareness. Additionally, Anamanu has gone on two missions, one to clean up ocean waste in kodiak and another to serve those living on Navajo Land.

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

JaZara Ivanoff

JaZara is a young Alaska Native woman who is actively involved in her hometown of Unakaleet. She is readily is available to substitute at her local school. She also used to be an open-gym supervisor for the community of Unalakleet. Eldest sister to her three brothers, she has shown them to keep one foot in front of the other and to stay abstinent of any mind-altering substance. JaZara will be completing her generals for her Associates Degree through U.A.A. Once JaZara sets foot into a field of service of her own, she will excel. She loves any challenges that may arise and helping youth whose families have been affected by substance use disorders.

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

Preston Maes

Preston is an engaged member of Service High Schools Partners Club serving as a peer teacher and community volunteer. He embodies the principles of inclusion, demonstrating acceptance and respect for the differences and inherent dignity of individuals experiencing disabilities. Preston takes a “see a need, meet a need” approach. His coaches honored him with the Deputy Coach Award, and led his teammates to elect him to the role of Team Captain, two years in a row.

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

Adeline Perry

Adeline is president of National Honor Society and leads many community service projects. She also serves in AWANA clubs as a leader for the kindergarten-second grade room. She serves at church in multiple capacities which have huge impact to quality of life for the people in our community. Adeline helps run a thrift store that benefits abused women and children’s shelter. She also serves food at the homeless shelter and a Supper Club Program. Adeline also launched a successful fundraising campaign to help a community member facing unjust legal matters around immigration status.

  • Home Town BETHEL
  • School District Lower Kuskokwim School District
  • Award Category Role Model

Dustty Heckel

Dustty consistently connects with his community and helps no matter what he has going on. He has spent time volunteering at Scout Camp for 3 weeks teaching youth about branding, welding, archery, and survival skills. He also volunteered with Salvation Army in the summer to build food boxes and in the winter wrapping gifts. Dustty is also Fur Rondy Royalty with Fur Ronda and Alaska State Fair. He always has a smile on his face and puts his community first.

  • Home Town Eagle River
  • School District Denali PEAK
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Shanella Kashatok

Shanella Kashatok is an outgoing and peachy student in Eek, AK. She attended a CPR class this summer in the efforts to further provide for her community.

  • Home Town Eek
  • School District Lower Kuskokwim School District
  • Award Category Life Saver

Alondra Resto

Alondra is an active member of Ketchikan Youth Peer Education and Ketchikan Youth for Change (KYFC), as well as being a member of the Ketchikan High School Honors Band. Alondra has been an integral part of this KYFC group, furthering its mission by authoring many of the group’s presentations and facilitating group discussions. Through this growth, Alondra and the group are allowing students a safe place to share ideas and experiences in substance use prevention. Alondra has been a catalyst in helping create this change and has introduced many new activities that students enjoy including Mario Kart tournaments, art contests, and Waffle Wednesdays.

  • Home Town Ketchikan
  • School District Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District
  • Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Sahara Brentor

Sahara joined the Trapper Creek Community Council in 2022-2023 to represent the youth of the community and participate in local governmental activities. Sahara developed summer Saturday sports that hosted both youth and adults to engage in physical activities such as softball, frisbee, and volleyball. In addition, Sahara and family baked or purchased items to sell to participants. With this money, Sahara started a youth fund under the Trapper Creek Community Council to use in the future for youth activities. The Trapper Creek community does not have sports or youth programs; without Sahara’s efforts locals would need to travel to Talkeetna or Wasilla for youth opportunities.

  • Home Town Trapper Creek
  • School District Matanuska Susitna Borough
  • Award Category Innovator, Visionary, Role Model

Jack Boelens

Jack has identified a need in his community and has helped fill it. In the rural community of Aniak he secured a coffee machine and sells espressos, lattes, and breves along with food, starting his own entrepreneurial venture to reach his financial goals. He taught other students how to run the espresso machine as well as consumer math, profit margins and customer service. Community members look forward to hot lattes at morning athletic events or hot breakfast items to pick up on busy work days, along with great customer service.

  • Home Town Aniak
  • School District Kuspuk School District
  • Award Category Visionary

Anika Biss

Anika has been a very active member of her church and her community. She helped form a teen volunteer program where teens spend time helping teach Sunday School to elementary-aged children and toddlers. Anika also uses her gift of music to play keyboard for worship at her church and school. She encourages young musicians to pursue their passions and inspires young pianists. Anika has been a part of American Heritage Girls for the past five years where she has hosted caroling nights in her neighborhood and participated in other events. She has also made items and set up her own entrepreneur booth to display and sell her items, donating a portion of her proceeds to charity.

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

Jackson Vincent

Jackson Vincent is a champion of justice, leadership, and spirit! Proudly serving on the Valdez Youth Court, leading as President of the Student Council, and even bringing that vibrant energy as the spirited mascot for his schools cheerleading squad.  Additionally, he finds time to involve himself in his schools theater production, Annie. He completed the season as a member of the cross country team. His dedication and determination enable him to conquer any challenge that crosses his path.

  • Home Town Valdez
  • School District Valdez City Schools
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model