Spirit of Youth

Ethan’s contribution to the Anchorage music community is significant. He is involved in numerous performing ensembles throughout Anchorage. He has contributed heavily to the Eagle River High School Band, Jazz Band, and other specialty ensembles. Additionally, he’s been an integral part of the Robert Arms Jazz program and the Youth Symphony. Ethan has also started his own band and has received recognition and competed in national competitions. He even sat in as a warmup drummer with Portugal. The Man at a performance last year.

• Home Town Eagle River
• School District
• Award Category Dreamer

Viktor started working at the Alaska Rock Gym when he was 14 as an Assistant Rock Climbing Coach. He has since worked his way into a Lead Instructor role, becoming the youngest ever to do so in the organization. He teaches youth, ages 4 to 13, the basics of rock climbing as well as the social and emotional skills needed to build resilient youth in his community. Viktor also volunteers for the Special Olympics climbing events held at the gym.

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

Last year, Levi was determined to help the current music teacher build up the music program. Thanks to his recruiting efforts numbers in choir and band increased. He also helped a local fundraiser by leading a group of dancers from his school in a musical number. Overall, he has reinvigorated the entire music department and is bringing his enthusiasm to the entire community.

• Home Town Kenai
• School District KPBSD
• Award Category Phoenix
• Radio Story Listen to Levi Anderson's story here

Slater is very giving and willing to help others. He collected several hundred pounds of food for donations to the Food Bank this winter. He is also part of Scouts, where he organized a troop meeting and invited local government leaders to talk about air quality and how they can help.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District FNSBSD
• Award Category Role Model

Damon ran an after school game club at Howard Valentine School in Coffman Cove. He organized the games and taught children how to play them. He also helps provide fresh vegetables to his community through his work with the gardens, greenhouses and livestock at his school. The school is then able to offer these healthy, fresh options to its students through the breakfast and lunch program.

• Home Town Coffman Cove
• School District Craig
• Award Category Innovator, Discovery

Isabelle is a talented actress and has performed in almost every school and community theater production in Sitka for the past four years. The performances she’s involved in help share important social, emotional and intellectual messages. They also entertain and help viewers escape from their daily challenges.

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

Deszerei has started and continues to grow her baking business in Sitka called Deszerei’s Delights. She makes home baked sweets like cookies, cakes and macarons. She recently expanded her business to include weekend sandwich specials like a turkey wrap layered with cream cheese, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka School District
• Award Category Visionary

During Tyler’s sophomore year of high school he became very sick. He was life flighted down to Seattle with a life threatening disease. He battled for his life in intensive care for many weeks. This did not slow him down academically or socially. He worked from home to catch up on his missed school work and ended the year with all A’s and one B in his classes.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka School District
• Award Category Phoenix

Dylan has provided social and emotional support through his participation in the arts and as a caring young adult. Several students at Sitka High School have been impacted positively by Dylan when they were at a low point in life.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka School District
• Award Category Life Saver

Darby runs the group Youth for a Sustainable Future. They are currently looking at removing plastic silverware from the school. This has been an ongoing issue that Darby has been deeply passionate about. Darby has given school-wide speeches to educate and create awareness around the issues of climate change.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka School District
• Award Category Innovator

Stephen is one of two students who were on the Sitka School District Smart Start Task Force, a group created to formulate a plan to safely reopen schools after the Covid-19 pandemic started. His input and perspective helped the group create and continue to form guidelines needed to safely reopen schools in his district.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Sitka School District
• Award Category Life Saver

Ben is the Student Advisory Representative on the Mat-Su Borough School District school board in Wasilla. He’s an advocate for youth in his home community and in the state of Alaska.  He looks for the good in people, the science in issues facing young people in Alaska and manages his workload with level-headedness and modesty. He also recently started a podcast called “Real Talk with Real Youth” that aims to host thoughtful conversations about the pandemic.

• Home Town Wasilla
• School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
• Award Category Role Model

Dakota is a natural leader. She is caring and helpful. She often helps with younger youth at Youth 360. She assists them with science projects and cooking projects, among others. Overall, she helps keep an atmosphere of respect and harmony.

• Home Town Wasilla
• School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
• Award Category Role Model

Despite a family tragedy, Hannah remains a positive force at Youth 360. When Covid-19 hit, she stayed positive from afar and joined many virtual chats. If she notices someone struggling, she lends a helping hand by inviting them to chat or play online games. When she’s out in public, she politely reminds others of the seriousness of Covid-19 and why wearing a mask right now is important.

• Home Town Wasilla
• School District
• Award Category Phoenix

Suella is a facilitator and communicator of powerful and important social issues. Most recently, she has been focusing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MAMIP) epidemic, bringing outreach to her community through her projects, participation in community events, and social networking. Suella is an ambassador of Alaska Native issues. She testifies at committees on Native children, works on podcasts with the community and keeps a dedicated presence of how we can all help.

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Innovator
• Radio Story Listen to Shandiin "Suella" Wendell's story here

Mia is working with KSTK 101.7 FM in Wrangell, Alaska to create a podcast series about the Tlingit language. By broadcasting Tlingit phrases and their English translations, she is helping to preserve the language Indigenous to her community.

• Home Town Wrangell
• School District Wrangell School District
• Award Category Dreamer
• Radio Story Listen to Mia Wiederspohn's story here

Michael is actively involved in his community. He is the youngest member of The Veterans 4th of July Parade Council, Inc., a member of Anchorage Youth Court, a volunteer at Mobile Food Bank, a member of the Model UN, and a founding member of the National Honor Society at Steller Secondary School.

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

Arnan is president of Student Council, leads several school clubs, is deeply involved with band and made it to all school state a few times. As president of Student Council, he takes time to help better his school and those around him, and as a leader of several other clubs helps inspire joy and excitement. He takes time to help students with their homework and is there for them when they need him.

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

Hawwah Taylor flagged down an Anchorage Police Officer to report a woman being attacked and directed him down a bike path. The officer reported that the male suspect could have seriously injured or possibly killed the female if not for the quick reactions of Hawwah.

• Home Town
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Life Saver

Muhammad Taylor flagged down an Anchorage Police Officer to report a woman being attacked and directed him down a bike path. The officer reported that the male suspect could have seriously injured or possibly killed the female if not for the quick reactions of Muhammad.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Life Saver