Maximus Wheat

December 15, 2020

Max is the Southeast Alaska representative for the Youth Alaska Action Board on Housing and Homelessness. He heard about this group and immediately asked how he could join and within a short amount of time was speaking at school board meetings, going to state-wide action meetings and encouraging Juneau youth with lived-expereince of homelessness to […]

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Ashley Perry

December 13, 2020

Ashley was born with a genetic disorder, with a one percent chance of survival, that requires monthly infusions. Despite her condition, she focuses on giving back to her community providing those in need with blessing boxes. She believes that there is so much to worry about already and the basic necessities of food and drink […]

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Abby Sochocki

December 4, 2020

Abby is highly involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Fairbanks and the North Pole High School student council. She goes out of her way to make sure new youth at BGC Fairbanks feel welcome and safe, and despite having faced many challenges throughout her life she always responds by standing up for herself […]

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Shane Paul

Shane completed the Native Youth Olympics Coaches-In-Training program and is currently one of the middle school coaches in the Juneau School District. He proudly supports youth in the program and hopes to impart lessons of positive cultural self-identity, respect, teamwork and determination that helped him find his potential.

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Adrian Reinhardt

December 20, 2019

Adrian has been an active volunteer at Stone Soup Group for several years. In addition to helping out around the office, he is the youth leader for SSG’s Bullying Prevention work, and has helped in the re-design of the Souper Gaming Night activity. Adrian continues to volunteer for SSG each month by charging all of […]

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Shaelene Swanson

Shaelene has had a turbulent upbringing, but despite everything she’s been through, she has remained resilient. Throughout her experiences, she has stayed positive. She continues to keep in contact with her friends and family back home, and is part of a group of young teens where she shares her story and provides them with resources.

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Autumn Marie Carlson

December 2, 2019

Autumn Carlson is currently the school president of Sources of Strength, a group dedicated to helping with suicide awareness and prevention, as well as mental health issues like anxiety and depression. In addition, she has volunteered at her school, Coastal Studies, Pratt Museum, and the local Foodbank.

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Kevin Grimes

November 21, 2019

Kevin is a strong member of Facing Foster Care in Alaska. He mentors youth from all ages ranging from 13-25. Kevin fights hard to help foster youth around Alaska. While he is only 18, he has worked with political members like City Mayor Jim Matherly, Vice-Chancellor Keith Champagne, Former Governor Bill Walker, and others to […]

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Ashley Caroline Perry

November 4, 2019

Despite being born with a rare genetic disorder Ashley thrives on finding ways to give back. She started the Blessing Box program with the Anchorage School District. She was invited by the Superintendent to speak to all the principals in the district, the Mayor of Anchorage and the Governor to get her program going.

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Macy Smith

December 21, 2018

This last year, for medical reasons, Macy faced some very serious challenges. Instead of becoming discouraged, Macy found ways to grow, shine, and thrive.

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Nyamiiri Biel

Nyamiiri is a student leader at Bartlett High School where she mentors others. She overcame the obstacle of experiencing homelessness and now volunteers to provide food at shelters both locally and internationally.

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Shelby Moore

December 18, 2018

Shelby joined Colony Middle School during a tough time in her life, but she has made many friends and is actively involved in many school activities.

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Angela Stewart

November 14, 2018

In December 2017, Angela was diagnosed with FASD. Anchorage FASD Diagnostic Team thought that she would be an excellent spokesperson and financially supported her to attend an international conference in Canada.

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Ashley Perry

Ashley was born with a rare genetic disorder called Turner Syndrome. To bring awareness, she reached out to the Governor of Alaska and the Mayor of Anchorage to get a proclamation signed to have Turner Syndrome added to rare disease day and declare February as Turner Syndrome Awareness month.

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Jiabao Leaf

August 9, 2018

Despite physical challenges, Jiabao is one of the key leaders in a summer soccer program that reaches underprivileged native youth. He’s also been involved in the Alaska Republican Party, being a guest speaker at the Alaska Republican Party State Convention back in March.

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Lauren McCabe

April 4, 2018

To encourage their classmates to engage in a more significant way in the 2018 Chains of Caring Campaign at South High School, sisters Molly and Lauren challenged the student body to raise $5,000. The campaign spread like wildfire throughout the school and on social media, ultimately raising more than $10,000, which was donated directly to […]

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Maren Buma

January 16, 2018

Maren’s dad was diagnosed with MS three years before she was born. She spent much of her time caring for him and promoting MS awareness. Last fall, her dad passed away. Since then, Maren has shared memories and photos from of him on social media and in person.

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Kalah Cuddy

January 15, 2018

Kalah is part of Sources of Strength, a group of students that helps to build a positive school climate. She is also a part of the Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership Club which fosters interconnection, collaboration and leadership between Native students throughout the school district.

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Bai Thao

January 9, 2018

Bai’s parents came to Alaska as Hmong refugees. She is the eldest of nine children and Bai is responsible for taking care of her siblings and supporting her parents as they navigate their new state and country.

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Vanessa Lopez

December 30, 2017

Vanessa has many leadership qualities. She is creative in her ideas to solve problems in her community, she is self-motivated , dedicated, and hard working.  Vanessa organized, planned, and implemented the first homeschool prom in May of 2017.  She was able to secure a facility, delegate duties to the other student volunteers,  and held cookie sales […]

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