Spirit of Youth

Congratulations to the 2025 Spirit of Youth Awardees and Runners-up!

We will celebrate this year’s amazing honorees at the 27th Annual Spirit of Youth Awards, Saturday, April 26, 6:00pm at the Heritage Theatre at 49th State (717 W 3rd, Anchorage, Alaska).

The Spirit of Youth Awards will recognize 16 teens and youth groups from across Alaska who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their communities. The ceremony is an opportunity to share their stories of courage, inspiration, and innovation.

Tickets to the event are now available and can be purchased here:

Individuals and groups will be honored by category:

PHOENIX AWARD
The Phoenix Award celebrates youth who display exceptional determination and perseverance as they overcome significant life challenges.

Raedyn Keeling-Masuhara (Anchorage) is a dedicated leader at the Alaska Theatre of Youth, where he volunteers and helps organize activities. He is part of the team producing Alaska’s first youth-led theater production and chairs the Public Relations committee. Despite being neurodivergent and legally blind, he remains positive and hardworking. Raedyn also volunteers at the Downtown Hope Center, organizes food drives, serves on the Steller Secondary School Student Council, and trains in voice and ballet, enriching the arts community.

Runner-Up: Daniel Brown (Anchorage) is an extraordinary youth leader making a significant impact in his community. He has spearheaded initiatives like reforesting the Amazon and volunteering at soup kitchens while serving as a pro-bono dialect coach for Anchorage community theatre actors. His most inspiring work involves supporting neurodivergent youth in theatre, where he mentors a young actor with autism, enabling him to overcome challenges and perform confidently.

DREAMER AWARD
The Dreamer Award recognizes teens who are actively engaging in their community through the preservation of cultural practices and arts, those who share personal expression through visual or performing arts, and those who cultivate youth voice through media and digital art forms.

Arianna Leuer (Anchorage) is a talented artist and advocate using cultural crafts to address social and mental health issues. As a Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska member, they offer insights to enhance public health programs for Alaskan youth. Arianna’s beaded earrings, symbolizing suicide prevention, were featured in the 988Create campaign to raise awareness about the hotline. They contributed to the campaign’s theme and materials to encourage Native youth participation. Additionally, their earrings for the missing and murdered Indigenous women cause were displayed at the U.S. Department of the Interior. At the 2024 Lead On! summit, Arianna inspired peers to engage in mental health discussions.

Runner-Up: Angel Jack (Angoon) participates in Student Council, Angoon Youth Stewards, basketball, and works at Eagle Espresso while maintaining top grades. Her leadership shines through her commitment to projects like creating films for Angoon’s community, including one about the 1882 bombardment and its healing process. Angel has traveled to Hawaii and Texas for internships and conferences, completing a college-level course on community mapping.

HUMANITARIAN AWARD 
The Humanitarian Award recognizes youth who have put forth efforts to make their community a better place or are active in local or state government.

Jayden Lampe (Utqiagvik), as a Youth Organizer with Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, has led campaigns on food security and climate action, helping youth across Alaska call for a climate emergency. In her hometown of Utqiagvik, she serves as class president, an executive board member of the Alaska Association of Student Governments, and a youth representative for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. She has also advocated for increased state funding for public schools and motivated peers through her work on climate change and education, empowering rural and Indigenous youth as a role model.

Runner-Up: The Wrangell T3 (Wrangell) student group collaborated with inventor Brian Ashton for the Capitol Christmas Tree project. Together, they designed a life support system using salmon incubation technology to keep the 80-foot Sitka spruce alive during its 4,000-mile journey to Washington, D.C. The project addressed a complex challenge while fostering community pride and collaboration, inspiring other students to engage in local initiatives. The students’ adaptability and teamwork resulted in the healthiest Capitol Christmas tree ever, demonstrating how youth can make a meaningful impact with community support.

VISIONARY AWARD
The Visionary Award recognizes youth who have turned their creativity and knowledge into an entrepreneurial or economic venture.

Jusse’ll Watkins-Roberton (Anchorage) Despite social anxiety, Jusse’ll has participated in the Disability Awareness Art Show and her high school’s winter bazaar, confidently selling her original crochet art. Her thoughtful pricing and customer engagement showcase her maturity and determination. Using creativity for emotional regulation, Jusse’ll repurposes yarn, including materials from her great-grandmother to craft unique and imaginative pieces. By sharing her art and discussing her anxiety challenges, she inspires others to take risks and embrace growth. With plans to establish an online shop and save for the future, Jusse’ll embodies grit, resilience, and authentic living.

Runner-Up: Splish Splash Productions (SSP) (Anchorage) a youth-led group within the Alaska Theatre of Youth, has taken on the challenge of producing “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” In eleven months, SSP raised over $10,000, secured production rights, hired key staff, and found a venue at the UAA Fine Arts Building. Their leadership includes youth-driven decisions from casting to production policies, aiming to engage as many youth as possible and even double-cast roles for backup performers. They aim to tour the show across Alaska, promoting the arts and literacy while inspiring other young people to believe in their potential.

LIFESAVER AWARD
The Lifesaver Award celebrates youth who have gone above and beyond “the call of duty” by preventing injuries and illness and saving lives.

The STAR Team (Palmer) comprised of grades 6-8, promotes mental health awareness and suicide prevention among middle school students. STAR stands for Saving Teens at Risk and encourages students to Share, Tell, Ask, and Reach out for help. Throughout the year, the team presents suicide prevention slideshows in homerooms, teaching peers to recognize warning signs and seek assistance. Eighth-grade STAR members also give anti-bullying presentations to 5th graders, helping them prepare for middle school. Additionally, STAR students promote a drug-free lifestyle during Red Ribbon Week and set an example of positive citizenship for their peers.

Runner-Up: Matthew Wilson (Palmer), is a passionate young leader who brought the American Heart Challenge program to Colony Middle School, raising over $1,500 for heart research and education. Motivated by his father’s passing from heart disease in 2020, Matthew served as the liaison between his school and the American Heart Association, promoting skills like Hands-Only CPR and recognizing signs of stroke. Additionally, he organized a successful Italian Soda fundraiser during track meets, showcasing his creativity and dedication. As a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the Colony Middle Tri-M Music Honor Society, Matthew actively seeks service opportunities to support his community.

ROLE MODEL AWARD
Teens nominated for the Role-Model Award lend a helping hand to peers and younger youth in their community.

Joshua Pak (Anchorage) is an active member of various youth-led organizations. He currently serves as the Student Advisory Board President, representing all students on the Anchorage School District School Board. Additionally, he is the Bar President of Anchorage Youth Court and the Section 8 Representative on the National Federation of High Schools National Student Advisory Council, among other roles. Joshua’s impressive resume reflects his strong commitment to community and civic engagement, providing leadership and representation for students across the Anchorage School District and throughout the State of Alaska.

Runner-Up: Dalton Ante (Anchorage) Since he was 10, Dalton has volunteered weekly with The Alaska Humane Society to clean the shelter and care for the cats, raising over $6,000 to support their needs and assisting in building individual cat apartments. Additionally, Dalton helps at his former school, Bear Valley, supporting teachers and advocating against its closure. He has forgone birthday presents for shelter donations, led holiday efforts for the animals, and is planning a 2025 food drive.

INNOVATOR AWARD
The Innovator Award shines the spotlight on the efforts of youth who have shown excellence in the fields of math, science and engineering through research, study, or improvement in their community.

Ander Edens (Wrangell) is a talented and dedicated youth leader, skilled musician, and has a passion for engineering. He is actively involved in his school and community, serving as King in the 2023 4th of July royalty competition and starring as the Prince in a local production of “Cinderella.” As a member of the T3 tech club, Ander helped design and install the remote wildlife camera system at Annan, supported the 2024 Capitol Christmas Tree selection with drone technology, and contributed to the tree misting system. Ander sings in the school choir and plays saxophone in the band and pep band. He volunteers in the Harbor Light media booth, co-hosts radio programs on KSTK, and works with Alaska Vistas during the summer. His participation in the Annan wildlife cameras, benefited Wrangell’s tourism and promoted national exposure for the region’s wildlife.

Runner-Up: Hunter Hayden (Anchorage) president of Dimond Robotics, has expanded STEM access for Anchorage youth. He volunteered over 120 hours in 2024, mentoring multiple FIRST LEGO League teams. Hunter co-founded The Lynx Initiative (TLI) to create robotics programs for underserved students. As the youngest board member of the Alaska Museum of Science & Nature, he champions youth-led initiatives in STEM.

DISCOVERY AWARD
The Discovery Award highlights accomplishments made by youth in science with a specific focus on the environment.

Josiah Jackson (Kake) has dedicated three summers to the Kake Alaska Youth Steward (AYS) crew as both a crew member and assistant leader. Since 2022, he has contributed to environmental restoration, ancestral land stewardship, and cultural projects. His work includes restoring fish habitats, building the first traditional shellfish garden in Southeast Alaska, and addressing invasive species. Josiah stands out for his commitment to supporting his team and community—uplifting others, assisting elders at gatherings, and making everyone feel included. His contributions to local food security, environmental preservation, and cultural continuity have made a meaningful impact on Kake.

Runner-Up: Girl Scout Troop 436 (Anchorage) is addressing microplastic pollution by advocating for a ban on plastic glitter in the Anchorage School District. Through their BioGlitter Initiative, the troop is raising awareness about the harmful effects of traditional glitter on health and the environment. They’ve created a survey for art teachers, launched an informative website, started a petition, and produced a compelling video. Each member contributes to the project, showcasing teamwork and leadership. Their goal is to present their findings to the school board and promote biodegradable glitter as an eco-friendly alternative, inspiring others to make small changes for big environmental impacts.

Sponsors of the Spirit of Youth Awards include: Alaska 529; Alaska Children’s Trust; Altman, Rogers and Co; Atwood Foundation; Enstar; Nick Begich Scholarship Intern Fund; Rasmuson Foundation; and Recover Alaska.