Spirit of Youth

Lifesaver & Prevention: Serenity is passionate about suicide prevention and promotes anti-bullying at Colony Middle School.

• Home Town Palmer
• School District Mat-Su Borough
• Award Category Lifesaver & Prevention

Lifesaver & Prevention, Service to Community: The Fairbanks Prevention Coalition addresses the problems of underage drinking through digital storytelling, gaming competitions and other youth-oriented projects. They are passionate advocates for the prevention of substance abuse in youth.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Lifesaver & Prevention, Service To Community

Karly and Abbey are active in their church youth group. They participate in fundraisers, projects and outreach to other youth.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Faith-Based Service

Zachary helps manage the North Star Youth Court website. He maintains it regularly to ensure it runs smoothly and is up to date.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Media & Technology

Katie was a volunteer intern at Make-A-Wish in Anchorage. She helped grant wishes to children battling life-threatening medical conditions and assisted with events that raise awareness for Make-A-Wish. As a former recipient of a wish, Katie brought empathy and a passion to help other kids who face steep challenges similar to her own.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Overcoming Challenges

Samuel has a remarkable understanding and empathy for others and is committed to sharing his time and service with groups who work to empower and inspire disadvantaged and disabled youth. He provides reading assistance to blind adults and volunteers with Challenge Alaska, the American Cancer Society’s Camp Goodtimes and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Overcoming Challenges, Service To Community

Lizzie is a JROTC participant and plans on a career in the military.  She is dedicated to her community and her country.  Her kind and self-giving spirit infects everyone she encounters.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Business & Government

Lutfi is active in student government and is head of the 90 Percent by 2020 Peer Outreach Committee. He started a non-profit, The Macedonia Education Movement, to support education in the country from where his family originates.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Business & Government, Service To Community

Brandie is an activist in her small community of Dillingham. Through her participation in several youth-leadership programs she addresses prevention of violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, drug use, alcohol abuse, early tobacco use, suicide and bullying.

• Home Town Dillingham
• School District Dillingham City
• Award Category Overcoming Challenges, Service To Community

Rebekah has completed 600 hours of community service in the past year with organizations across Anchorage such as Dare to Care, the Salvation Army and Food Bank of Alaska. She spends six hours a week helping youth at her church. She is a role model to both youth and adults and is helping to shape the kind of world she wants to grow up in.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Faith-Based Service, Service To Children

Mickey volunteers with the North Star Youth Court, is involved in church activities and has participated in several youth-led projects. She attends college and works three part-time jobs, all while maintaining a strong work ethic and positive attitude.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District
• Award Category Business & Government, Service To Peers

Kate owns and operates Arctic Belle Boutique, a consignment store in Bethel. Her goal is to provide high-quality clothing at a reasonable cost to women and teens of the Yukon-Kuskokwim region and to offer women a much-needed venue for selling their clothing and receiving a portion of the sales.

• Home Town Bethel
• School District Lower Kuskokwim
• Award Category Business & Government

Alaska Geographic’s Youth Leadership Team engages youth by taking them to public lands to complete stewardship projects, learn outdoor skills and develop a lasting connection to Alaska’s outdoors. The team has helped coordinate events for the Alaska Geographic Outdoor Club and recruited their peers to participate in the events.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Various
• Award Category Science & Environment

Fiona is a natural-born leader. She is a star cross-country runner at Bartlett and when her coach left a week before the season started she assisted the new coach in all aspects of getting to know the team. She was instrumental in recruiting new team members and motivates other young women to participate in athletic activities.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Service To Peers

Carson is active as a judge in youth court, where he gives counsel and good advice to clients that help them make better choices.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Overcoming Challenges, Service To Children

Brynn volunteered at Benny Benson Secondary School tutoring math and language arts and designing Social Emotional Learning activities. After getting to know her students she designed and implemented special Change of Heart and Be the Change all-day workshops for students and staff.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Service To Children

Camden is involved in North Star Youth Court and is a member of the Fairbanks Light Opera where he participates in all areas of production. He is also on a robotics team and attended robotics camp last year.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Fine Arts, Media & Technology

Jivan created Kick-It-Kids for Change where he uses martial arts training to inspire youth to make a difference in their communities. He is president of the North Star Youth Court bar and volunteers throughout the community.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District
• Award Category Service To Community, Service To Peers

Christian cares deeply about the health and well-being of her peers. She is a student advocate for Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence and is a member of Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska. She raised funds and organized a special event that brought community youth and safe adults together to work on a project while exploring and learning about Unalaska’s environment and local resources.

• Home Town Dutch Harbor
• School District Unalaska School District
• Award Category Service To Community, Service To Peers

Triston and Dillon are lifelong hunters, trappers, and commercial and subsistence fisherman who provide for their families and elders. They actively lobby officials and representatives in State and Federal governments to protect their home environment and future ability to commercial fish and subsist in Bristol Bay.

• Home Town Dillingham
• School District Dillingham City
• Award Category Science & Environment