Spirit of Youth

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 Dreamer

Gabrielle Morton leads with purpose and heart. She created Color Them with Kindness to help kids stand up to bullying and grow in faith. Through this platform, she shares her story, teaches confidence, and spreads kindness. Gabrielle has reached over 2,000 people in Alaska and other states, giving out handmade crayons, scripture cards, and bracelets. She volunteers over 500 hours each year, serving veterans, first responders, and local groups. Her work earned her several awards and a feature on the cover of Uplift Universe Magazine.

• Home Town Eagle River
• School District NA
• Award Category Role Model

Gavin is a caring and curious leader in Petersburg who spent the summer assisting as a youth mentor in our local Kinderskog program, an outdoor education-based childcare program. Gavin assisted in providing knowledge on local flora and fauna, safety protocols, and emotional support to younger peers. Gavin was also one of the early members of the local Skeet Shooting Team, Devils Thumb Shooters. Kinderskog and Devil’s Thumb Shooters both support families by providing a healthy, outdoor, supportive community for the youth in our small town, which is something Petersburg has been lacking. Gavin has been a leader in these activities, creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for others to share in the enjoyment that the activities have to offer.

• Home Town Petersburg
• School District Petersburg High School
• Award Category Role Model

Isabelle 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

Isaiah stepped out of his comfort zone by participating in the Tlingit & Haida YES Program, which helped lead him to his dream of becoming a diesel and heavy equipment mechanic. The YES Program gives youth employment skills and training in their preferred type of work, allowing them to gain experience and explore possible career paths. Isaiah also supports his friends by helping them process their feelings and frustrations in the best way he knows how.

• Home Town Juneau
• School District AVTEC
• Award Category Dreamer

Jacoby took on his first job last summer as a grocery bagger and was quickly promoted to cashier. He has received numerous compliments on his smile, his engaging interactions with customers in the community, and his exceptional performance of job duties. Jacoby has also been selling garnets in his community for several years and has become very educated on managing money. Jacoby has encountered problems along the way, but considers everyone involved when solving them, leaving people content and happy.

• Home Town Wrangell
• School District Wrangell High School
• Award Category Role Model

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

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.

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

Lola Swanson is a dedicated young leader from Seward, Alaska, who created and operates a year-round dance program to bring high-quality arts opportunities to her rural community. Through her program, over 100 local youth have gained access to dance instruction and scholarships that make participation possible for all families. Lola’s commitment, creativity, and leadership have transformed Seward’s arts landscape, proving how one teen’s vision can inspire lasting community impact.

• Home Town Seward
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Visionary, Dreamer

Makena Desermia approached Seward Arts Council in the spring of 2025 because she had a vision of bringing a music camp back to Seward for community students. For six months she worked with Seward Arts Council arts and music programming coordinators to connect with Alaskan musicians, write grants, network with music programs across the state, and find enough instruments to put on a full-scale music camp for our community. The camp hosted seven musicians and 43 students for five days of instruction, community music performances, one community dance and a standing-room-only parent concert. Makena created something much bigger than just a music camp, she brought people together.

• Home Town Seward
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Innovator, Visionary, Dreamer

Mason has shown extraordinary strength and perseverance after losing both his biological father and, more recently, his grandfather, carrying their memory with him as he pours his heart into wrestling and continues to grow through new athletic challenges. As an Alaska Native youth, he doesn’t often see himself reflected in many of the sports he participates in, yet he shows up with confidence, determination, and pride, turning grief into motivation and proving that he belongs wherever he chooses to be. Through his resilience, kindness, and commitment to volunteering at youth wrestling events, Mason continues to inspire others by transforming hardship into purpose and uplifting the community around him.

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

Olivia leads with creativity and purpose, using her talents to amplify youth voices. She co-developed a teen wellness video by organizing a student team, setting a timeline, and guiding the creative process from start to finish. She took an active role in spoken word, photography, music, and video editing to deliver content that supports mental health and self-expression. Olivia also produced a 90-second video for the NBCU Academy, offering teens simple, effective tools to manage stress. Through her leadership and vision, she empowers others to share their stories and build confidence.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Dreamer

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

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

Sophia has led transformative youth-focused initiatives in Ketchikan, securing $3.5M to launch the community’s first low-barrier youth center and creating a free lunch program serving more than 300 young people. As a leader in Rotary Interact and Ketchikan Youth for Change, she has mobilized her peers in service, raised over $10K annually for local causes, and delivered drug-prevention education to hundreds of students through more than ten events each year. A dedicated advocate and volunteer, Sophia’s impact reflects exceptional vision, leadership, and a profound commitment to improving life for youth across her community.

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

The Teaching Through Technology Alaska program (T3 Alliance) is a collaborative effort among students, educators, and community partners devoted to creating opportunities for students to become innovative leaders in their communities. Across Alaska, T3 students gain access to training workshops, career and internship opportunities, peer and professional networks, and STEAM technology. In Wrangell, the T3 Alliance helped repair and reconstruct items at Anan, a Bear Wildlife Observatory, benefiting the younger generation.

• Home Town Wrangell
• School District Wrangell High School
• Award Category Innovator, Role Model, Discovery

The Lynx Initiative (TLI) is a youth-run robotics program created by Anchorage teens who saw that too many students, especially in Title I schools, had no access to STEM opportunities. In just two years, TLI built Anchorage’s first K–12 robotics pathway, growing from 2 teams to 13 and serving students from 23 schools, including Alaska’s only public-school FTC program. Their teen leaders have volunteered over 1,750 hours, traveled nearly 10,000 miles, and launched innovative outreach projects that brought STEM to hospitals, refugee families, and schools hosting their first science fairs. By prioritizing access, equity, and youth leadership, TLI is redefining what’s possible for Anchorage youth and ensuring every student has a place to belong in STEM.

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

Wayne has made a significant impact on the Gruening Middle School debate program through his dedication, leadership, and passion for debate. Over the past three years, he volunteered as a judge and recently joined the coaching team—organizing scrimmages, leading weekly practices, and presenting complex topics in an engaging way for students. Under his mentorship, the team won two Junior Varsity titles, reached the Varsity Semifinals three times, and earned several best speaker awards. Wayne earned the 2024 ASAA State Policy Speaker Award, qualified for NSDA Nationals, and now serves as Director of Recruitment for the Outreach Debate nonprofit. His commitment to fostering respectful, informed dialogue inspires younger students and strengthens civil discourse in today’s world.

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District ASD
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model