Shannyn Bird has led statewide youth campaigns to fight climate change, protect wild salmon, and advocate for local food. She is a Youth Organizer with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action and has galvanized youth in the interior to stand up for a sustainable future for Alaska.
Bunno is the President of the Cup’ik Qissunamiut Youth Group in Chevak, which helps out the community and focuses on bullying and suicide prevention. She is also an active member of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action and attended the 2015 Youth Organizer Summit.
Caleb is recovering from brain tumor surgery. Despite his medical struggles, he has put in more than 100 hours of community service and has been involved in band, choir, football, wrestling, and many other school activities.
Alexandra is planning a project to educate others about children who have Dyslexia. She’s working on creating a film, survey and website so users may learn what it is like to live with this disability and teach those who are diagnosed so they can build relationships and promote growth for students.
Janette participates in the Unangam Tunuu Revitalization Project where she helps preserve her Aleut heritage. She also works with her community to enhance language and connections to elders in St. Paul and Anchorage.
Collin regularly volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club of Metlakatla and assists in special youth events. He helps provide a fun and safe environment for youth outside of school. He encourages and uplifts youth around him.
Teens at Gustavus school have started the first student government in several years. They created a new recycling system, set up hall monitors for school safety and regularly lead pep rallies. The group has started reshaping the community’s attitude toward teens.
PaKou led her peers in developing school-wide peer education programs on seat belt safety and anti-texting. She’s a role model to her Hmong peers and encourages fellow students to be involved in their community.
Esau is helping his community of Shishmaref and all of Alaska through his advocacy on behalf of his village and his culture. His actions have helped share the story of a village that is disappearing and will need to relocate because of rising sea levels and erosion. In addition to his environmental endeavors, Esau is also a subsistence hunter, Native Youth Olympics participant, and deeply involved in his Inupiaq culture.
Naomi was president of Future Educators of Alaska and a youth tribal council member on St. Paul Island. She is currently a campus senator at University of Alaska Southeast.
Sofia is passionate about climate change issues. She is an active member of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action. She has been involved with habitat restoration and resource monitoring efforts in Prince William Sound and in the Chugach National Forest.
Cephas is the CEO of Second to None Café, which serves food and beverages to students at the King Career Center. He has also spent eight years helping his mom with her assisted living businesses. Through his entrepreneurial experiences he has learned to work well with others and be a problem solver.
Leah is an active member of her community. She plays several sports and is on student council. She is committed to helping her peers who are dealing with loneliness.
Fiona is dedicated to helping others in her community. She is involved in activities at her church and is committed to helping her peers with any problems they may have.
Lydia has a passion for learning and spends extra time in the classroom helping other students. She wants to become a teacher so she can stay in the village of Gambell and help young people thrive.
Emily participates in the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Salmon in the Classroom where students raise salmon from eggs and learn about ways to protect Alaska’s valuable wild salmon stocks for future generations.
Jillian is a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor in Sand Point. She assists elders with water aerobics classes and gives swim lessons to youth.
Stacia is an Alutiiq language learner who is passionate about passing on her culture. She teaches Alutiiq to seven different elementary school classes in Kodiak.
