Derek is a first responder at every community event in Nenana. He has volunteered with the fire department for more than two years and devotes more than 50 hours a month to his EMT work.
Elizabeth is one of the students at Gusty Michael School that opened a grocery store in her small village of Stony River. She volunteered to be the spokesperson for the store and spoke at the Elders and Youth Conference and the Calista annual meeting. Her efforts have kept her school going and her culture alive.
Luke has been actively involved in the Alaska Greek Festival for 13 years, performing with the youth dance group and volunteering on the management team. He has invested countless hours preparing the grounds, raising tents, assisting the dancers, preparing food and cleaning up after the festival.
Taylee traveled to Slovakia to work at an English camp where she developed lesson plans about mentorship, team building, mission work and oral English skills.
Dao was born in Thailand and spent her early childhood in a refugee camp before moving to the United States when she was 10. She spoke no English but has come a long way since then. She volunteers for Muldoon Elementary School where she helps students with their homework and spelling. She is committed to her education and family.
Pippin uses his technological skills to empower and engage young people in Alaska. He has worked on creating educational computer games that meet science standards in an effort to get young people interested in science.
Grayson is an avid outdoorsman and used his experiences and innovation to design a paracord survival bracelet that incorporates everything you need to start a fire. He sells them locally and teaches young children how to make a simple survival bracelet that can be used for repairing a shoelace, making a snare or creating a shelter.
Erica is passionate about the issues facing homeless teens in Anchorage. She works with the youth at Covenant House and performed at their “Night of Broadway Stars” fundraiser. She also performs at their open houses and private benefit concerts.
Raymond is part of a whaling crew in Barrow. He hunts for his family and community year round and is part of the young generation that wants to keep the Inupiaq tradition alive. He takes younger children camping, boating, whaling and hunting to teach them to be safe and to survive. Raymond improves the quality of life by showing everyone in the community that it is still possible to live off the land.
Donald is an experienced fisherman. On two occasions he has responded to distress calls from other boats, once instructing the passengers to put on life vests before their vessel capsized where he later pulled them to shore. His keen observation skills, clear thinking and spirit of helpfulness proves he is a strong young man willing to risk his own life to save other families from the heartache of loss.
Teck John Baker Youth Leaders prevent suicide and promote well-being through interventions, role modeling, classroom presentations and sponsoring healthy activities. This student-led and directed program teaches youth in their small community about suicide, bullying, sexual assault, domestic violence and substance abuse prevention.
Trinity is active in the traditional way of life. She hunts and also prepares the meat, renders oil and shares her catch with other people in her community. She participates in monthly community potlucks where she helps elders enjoy traditional foods. She is passionate about passing on her cultural skills.
Trinity is dedicated to helping young people in her small community of Tyonek. She is a member of Native Youth Leadership and represented her village at Juneau Close Up 2013. Whether she’s babysitting, helping kids with their homework, or teaching respect in school, Trinity is a positive role model and leader.
Shanelle began an initiative at Mount Edgecumbe High School to get local seafood into the school meal program. She created an outreach campaign to educate students on the importance of local eating. Once local food was secured in her own school she took her campaign to the legislative session to further educate Alaskans about food security and preserving culture.
Gabrielle is committed to serving her community. She volunteers for several local causes and spends time with young children at her church and a local elementary school. She created the Miss Snowflake Pageant, specifically designed to spotlight girls with special needs and their abilities.
Christian is a film maker in Anchorage. Recently he produced a short film called “Skateboarding in Alaska,” which was featured at the “After School Special ” youth film screening put on by the Bear Tooth Theater and Alaska Teen Media Institute. His films provide an opportunity for young Alaska skaters to have a voice and showcase their talents.
Brooke was passionate about children and science. She volunteered for six years at the STARBASE Program, which helps at-risk youth with science, technology, engineering and math. She also volunteered more than 400 hours at the Children’s Lunchbox. She is responsible for helping students recognize the value of volunteerism.
The Anchorage Youth Development Coalition LGBTQ Youth Interns engaged in youth-led community assessments and developed an interactive training for adults to support the equality of LGBTQ teen experiences in youth-serving agencies. They surveyed queer and allied youth at Anchorage’s Pride Prom and the Alaska Pride Festival and used the information gathered to host LGBTQ youth speak-outs and talking circles.
Jezzroy is active in the North Star Youth Court. As a prosecuting attorney he influences his peers to make positive life choices. He also tutors for the Literacy Council of Alaska and volunteers with the Food Bank and the local library.
Samuel has battled a rare kidney disease since he was a toddler and created the non-profit organization Project Comfort that makes travel-sized pillows and distributes them to hospitalized children all over the United States. During the past three years he and his community have made more than 3,000 pillows. He is also the author of “Opening Hearts,” a book that aims to provide hope and encouragement for kids who are chronically ill