Spirit of Youth

Elizabeth is a motivated innovator who loves learning. Her project titled, “Development of Seaweed Bioplastics to Alleviate Environmental Plastic Pollution,” involved testing protypes of a biodegradable bioplastic cup, with the goal of engineering a cup that could be used in place of traditional plastics. With plastic pollution affecting the oceans, this is an Alaskan and global issue. Elizabeth’s project ended up as a finalist in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair where she won the opportunity to represent Alaska.

Additionally, Elizabeth is the president of the Future Women of STEM club, which forms a community of high-school girls interested in pursuing a career in the field of STEM, an area with traditionally fewer women. Together, the club forms a supportive group that reaches out to local experts in STEM fields to meet up with the members so they can learn more about different STEM pathways. The club also volunteers at local elementary schools in an effort to bring STEM events to younger kids.

• Home Town Juneau
• School District Juneau School District
• Award Category Innovator, Discovery

Sean works hard to improve the community by being a great student, a wonderful teammate, and a great friend to others. He encourages everyone to work hard, and cheers for not only his team, but also for those friends on rival teams. Sean encourages everyone (including adults) to work hard. He is so gregorious and silly that he is extremely loved, with little hockey players and little brothers and sisters who adore him because he talks to them, gets down on their level, and hears them. He knows that children have a voice and he encourages them to use it.

He was chosen to be on Team Alaska Tier 1 hockey, and selected an assistant captain because of his strong leadership skills. Sean also works as a hockey referee in his spare time to help mitigate costs of this expensive sport.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough
• Award Category Dreamer, Role Model

Abigail creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all students at Next Step Dance Kodiak studio as a teacher. She also volunteers at Kodiak High School’s Food Pantry project, working to help alleviate food insecurity among Kodiak youth.

• Home Town Kodiak
• School District Kodiak Island Borough School District
• Award Category Role Model

Yedidia embodies the spirit of fine arts, with a love of singing, violin, and drawing as her primary interests, using these media to express her feelings in a positive way. She also serves as an officer of the Anchorage Youth Court, and created her own business called “YY Sweets,” donating profits to charity.

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

Jeff overcame personal obstacles to become a peer mentor and role model at the Fairbanks Boys and Girls Club. His nominators say “In the face of adversity, Jeff has consistently persevered and channeled the challenges he has faced to work in his favor.”

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
• Award Category Phoenix, Role Model

In 2020 Rebecca started her own non-profit organization, Big Air Becca, dedicated to providing opportunities for underserved youth to experience the outdoors. An avid free-skier, Rebecca brings skills of advocacy, fundraising, and leadership to her sessions teaching kids to ski, climb, and enjoy Alaska’s outside spaces.

• Home Town Girdwood
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Visionary

Aaron is an intuitive, natural leader as a longtime member of the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club, working to set up activities and events for younger members. A gifted student of music and video production, Aaron is a valued member of his high school and neighborhood community.

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

Luke is a longtime volunteer in the Alaska Youth Stewards program, addressing the issues of local littering and regional marine debris  across the Southeast Alaska region. Additionally, Luke serves his fellow classmates through a small school cafe’, managing all aspects of the business himself.

• Home Town Angoon
• School District Chatham School District
• Award Category Visionary, Discovery

Catey is a member of National Honor Society, South High School’s yearbook staff, and acts as the Community Relations/Service Projects Commissioner for South’s Student Government. She also has mentored other students with Cerebral Palsy at her school and online through a website called CHASA (Childhood Hemiplegia and Stroke Association).

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District ASD
• Award Category Phoenix
• Radio Story Listen to Catey's story here

Briley is a mentor, volunteer, and advocate for those less fortunate. She donates her time to help empower young girls to set goals for themselves, improve their self-confidence, and become stewards of their own communities.

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

Says their nominator: “Samantha and Pauline are the students who keep this school running.” These Stellar Secondary School students are involved in their student government as the Vice President and Social Media liaison, making sure events and activities run smoothly through their modeling and leadership.

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

Sycely is a student leader with a passion for student mental health advocacy. Over the past year, Sycely has dedicated significant time and energy to raising public awareness of student mental health issues, and she has sought to improve conditions for young people in our state.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Life Saver
• Radio Story Listen to Sycely's story here

Serenity is a high school sophomore who focuses on life’s bigger picture while working hard to advocate for others in her community. She is a member of the Eagle River Boys and Girls Club, and volunteers with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women events each year.

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

Alora, Trista and Harmony, as 5th graders, began an initiative to change the derogatory name of a local creek in Dillingham after learning the origins of the name at a presentation at the Curyung Tribal Council. The girls discussed the slur amongst themselves and came to the conclusion that a change needed to be made, and got it done.

• Home Town Dillingham
• School District Dillingham City School District
• Award Category Humanitarian
• Radio Story Listen to their story here

Cheyenne is dedicated to her Tlingit heritage, taking advantage of all learning opportunities, including formline design, beading, dancing and singing, and talking with community elders. As a young woman invested in learning about and preserving her Tlingit culture, she invites and normalizes this level of cultural engagement amongst her peers.

• Home Town Angoon
• School District Chatham School District
• Award Category Dreamer, Role Model

Lauryn is addressing problems like renewable energy and sustainability for rural Alaskans, and is focused on the bigger picture of helping remote communities regarding environmental issues, renewable energies, and gathering people together.

• Home Town Unalakleet
• School District Bering Straits School District, Mt. Edgecumbe High School Alumni
• Award Category Discovery
• Radio Story Listen to Lauryn's story here

Catriona’s selfless commitment to local and global humanitarian needs is a stellar example of youth leadership. A Ketchikan High School student, Catriona’s efforts have reached as far away as Tanzania, and as close as the Pioneer Home.

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

Ayla is committed to helping her peers gain a larger understanding of Indigenous cultures, practices, and issues as a president of Chugiak High School’s Indigenous Club. She is also a leader within the school’s Key Club, dedicating her spare time toward service of the community.

• Home Town Eagle River
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Bianca is a teen volunteering powerhouse. Involved with activities in the greater Anchorage area for years, Bianca fills volunteering roles for community organizations. She is respected for her various responsibilities, and takes on these tasks with pride, diligence, a positive attitude, and serious commitment.

Bianca is a highly-recruited volunteer. One of her regular activities is spending time at a local non-profit organization that supports parents of children living with special needs. The organization depends on Bianca to volunteer for events as a positive example to other youth and their families. Bianca truly enjoys sharing her love of volunteerism with peers, encouraging other teens in the community to give back of their time and talents.

Bianca’s nominator says “She is a joy and inspiration to be around and as an agency we have come to rely on Bianca for her support, energy, ideas, influence and support.”

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District Raven Homeschool - YK School District

Shannon McCarty lives in Metlakatla in Southeast Alaska, a small community where Tsimshian traditions are a foundation of daily life. Shannon is a well-respected caregiver for local children, even encouraging her peers to become babysitters so that other families of Metlakatla will have safe, responsible childcare services for their youngsters. Shannon is also a student-teacher leader for the community’s Vacation Bible School each summer, sharing her compassion and faith with local kids. A member of her high school’s dance group Fourth Generation, Shannon performs regularly as a proud member of the Tsimshian, modeling always the values of respect and caring for others.

• Home Town Metlakatla
• School District Annette Island School District
• Award Category Dreamer