Spirit of Youth

2016 Spirit of Youth Award Winners- Videos Online Now

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“Teens are often painted in a negative light, but so many kids are doing outstanding and important work. This needs to be noticed and encouraged as an incentive for teens to keep on achieving and helping their communities.” -Spirit of Youth Teen Advisory Council Member

Help make a difference in the lives of Alaska teens and consider Spirit of Youth when you Pick.Click.Give. When you Pick Click Give to Spirit of Youth you are helping create, promote and recognize youth involvement in communities across Alaska.

Enter the Pick.Click.Give Double Your Dividend Sweepstakes when you give a portion of your PFD to Spirit of Youth by March 31!

If you’ve already filed, it’s easy to log on again and choose a cause that matters to you. A small donation can make a big impact.

Hundreds of youth get more involved in their communities each year through Spirit of Youth’s programs. Spirit of Youth helps teens prepare for careers, earn respect from people in their community and stay motivated to work hard to achieve their goals.

Just as importantly, adults touched by our programs have a higher opinion of teens and their contribution to our communities.

Spirit of Youth relies on support from individuals like you in order to make our programs possible. Shrinking grant dollars mean we need your help to accomplish our mission. Please consider donating a portion of your dividend when you apply online.

Thank you for your support and involvement!

There’s still time to nominate!

Nominations are still being accepted for the 2016 Spirit of Youth Awards. If you know any amazing Alaska youth, age 12-19, please tell us about them! It only takes a few minutes to nominate. Nominees are eligible to receive a $2,000 scholarship from the UA College Savings Plan. The deadline to nominate is December 31.

Teens: Help out the Anchorage Museum

The Anchorage Museum is looking for creative and curious elementary through high school students who love technology to inform, inspire and engage the museum regarding digital and technological topics. The Youth Digital Board of Directors (YDB) is composed of students from the Digital Generation, the first generation to grow up without knowledge of life before the Internet. Visit bit.ly/PolarLab for more information.

2015 Spirit of Youth Awards

The 2015 Spirit of Youth Awards highlights 11 dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska.

This year’s Award recipients hail from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Juneau, Soldotna, Toksook Bay and Wasilla. We invite you to honor them March 28 at the Anchorage Museum at 7 p.m. as they share their inspirational stories.

West High students form spoken word club

Nora Herzog and Madelyn Taylor found their voice through spoken word poetry. They started a club at West High School where they inspire others to reach into their souls and speak from the heart. KTUU’s Corey Allen Young has a full report on Nora and Medlyn’s passion for words in his monthly Spirit of Youth “Spotlight on Youth” series. ===> http://bit.ly/SOYSpotlightJan

Juneau dancer featured in The New York Times

Alaskans aren’t the only ones who are impressed by our youth. The New York Times wrote a feature about Máire New, a Spirit of Youth nominee from Juneau, and her experience going to school at the Bolshoi Ballet academy in Moscow. 

Click here to read about her daily life at her multicultural dance school.

Shana Sheehy sat down with Máire  last year to discuss her achievements. Listen to the story here.

Wasilla teens open steampunk shop

MyHouse, a youth homelessness outreach center in Wasilla, is getting ready to open its steampunk thrift store in early September. Kyra Hoenack, a Spirit of Youth nominee, has been prepping the store all summer with other teens from the center.

Check out the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s story about Steam Driven and how teens put it all together.

And listen to Kyra’s Spirit of Youth story at http://bit.ly/Hoenack

Anchorage teens lead suicide prevention initiative

Anchorage high school students Kathryn Casello and Katherine Murray discussed suicide prevention awareness on Channel 2 News, KTUU.com August 21. 

Kathryn, a Spirit of Youth nominee, is a member of the Governor’s Statewide Suicide Prevention Council and is a leader in Anchorage for educating peers about the recognizing the warning signs of suicide and how to get help. She has led talks with Anchorage School District students and helped organize a peer training at the Boys and Girls Club.

Both Kathryn and Katherine encourage others to not sit by while a peer struggles with life, but to stand up and do something about it.

Click here to learn about how these teens are directly contributing to their community.

Western Alaska teens gather for leadership camp

Youth from seven western Alaska communities met with Bethel’s Teens Acting Against Violence in June for the fourth annual Teens Lead Ahead workshop. Teens spent four days discussing the theme “Keep the Cycle Positive,” while celebrating Yup’ik culture.

The Tundra Drums has the full story.

Youth Leaders Needed for Lead On! 2014

Are you between the ages of 13-18?  Are you a youth leader that wants to make positive changes happen in your community? Apply to Lead On 2014 and join other Alaskan teen leaders in making a difference. Click here to apply.

At Lead On, national and local speakers engage youth from all regions of the state through presentations on various topics, including healthy relationships, non-violence, leadership, positive choices and community involvement. Youth plan and lead much of the conference.

The next deadline to apply is August 15.

Submit to Fresh Film Northwest

The Northwest Film Center’s annual Fresh Film NW (formerly the Young People’s Film Festival) celebrates the next generation of regional filmmakers by showcasing their work and circulating it around the region and beyond. 

Submissions are judged by a jury panel of professional filmmakers and educators. Individual and group submissions from youth ages 13 to 19 are accepted. 

The deadline to submit a film is August 1.

Click here for more information.

ICOAA Scholarship

The Imperial Court of All Alaska College of Emperors and Empresses (ICOAA) is pleased to open the 2014 ICOAA Scholarship Program process. Scholarship awards are granted for the 2014/2015 academic year. 

Awards are based on economic need, scholastic achievement, leadership ability and contributions to the Lesbian/Gay community. Application is offered to Alaska residents with preference given to members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied community. 

Download the application here. 

The deadline is July 31.

YSA Summer of Service Awards

Are you working on an ongoing service project? Apply for a Summer of Service Award. Winners receive a $1,000 award to help make a lasting, positive change in the world.

If you are a young person already involved in volunteering, Youth Service America wants to hear your story!

The Summer of Service Awards recognize young change-makers and help them on their mission to help others.

For more information and to apply, click here.

The deadline to apply is July 31.

Alaska Space Scholarship

Interested in studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics? The Alaska Space Grant Program (ASGP) is offering stipends to students attending Alaska institutions of higher education.

While all qualified students are encouraged to apply, women and individuals from underrepresented groups, specifically, Alaska Natives, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information click here or contact Rebecca Lees at rblees@alaska.edu or (907) 474-6833.

The deadline to apply is September 12.

UAA Summer Youth Courses

Take fun classes at UAA this summer! UAA’s Continuing Education Department is offering youth courses in topics ranging from culinary arts to hoop dancing. Courses are $99-249.

To view descriptions of all the awesome courses click here.

You can register up to the day before each class.

AOOS Film Contest

Attention filmmakers! Show off your skills and love for the ocean by entering the Alaska Ocean Observing System’s film contest. You could win $1,000! Submit a film about any genre relating to the ocean, such as people using the ocean and coast, marine research, marine wildlife and ocean-related policy issues. Films must be 10 minutes or less. You don’t need to be a professional to submit a film!

The deadline to submit is September 15. For more information click here.

Neal O. Thorpe Memorial Scholarship

The Neal O. Thorpe Memorial Scholarship supports Alaska students who are the first in their immediate family to attend post-secondary school. This scholarship awards successful applicants $7,500 per year for up to five years. Qualified applicants must be an Alaska resident, be a graduate of a high school or equivalent program located in Alaska, must be the first in their immediate family to pursue a post-secondary degree, and must be enrolled in one of 15 specific schools, one of which is Alaska Pacific University.

To learn more about this scholarship, click here.

The deadline to apply is May 23.

Youth Service Ambassadors Needed

Do you have a passion for community service? Have you worked hard to solve a local problem, and now want to do more? Apply for the National Child Awareness Month (NCAM) Youth Ambassador Program, a year-long program helps young leaders (ages 16-22) create change around critical issues facing youth today.

One ambassador from each state will be selected and will receive an all-expense paid, three-day leadership training on Capitol Hill, a $1,000 grant from Festival of Children Foundation and more!

For more information, click here.

The deadline to apply is June 19.

Enroll in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a year-long program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses.

If you are creative, innovative, determined, enthusiastic and committed to your community and family, apply for the YEA program. Prior experience in business is not required.

YEA guides students through the process of starting and running a legitimate business or social movement over the course of a full academic year.

For more information, click here.