Spirit of Youth

Alana is the President of the National Honor Society chapter at Steller, and she is also leading a Youth Volunteers program that involves delivering food monthly to Fairview Recreation Center. Additionally, she is a peer mentor at STARR, which reaches out to teens who are battling depression and suicide);  and she is involved in GRIT (Girls Riding Into Tomorrow), which helps to promote healthy habits and self-confidence.

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

Michael was involved in every aspect of the virtual history of the veterans 4th of July parade that was broadcast on PBS on July 4 at 11am. He set up and interviewed politicians for the presentation, edited footage from the archives and helped to create narration for the production.

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

Naomi made items and sold them at the Saturday and Sunday market this summer to raise money for dogs and cats with cancer. She used the money raised ($700) to create 57 baskets to be distributed to families in coordination with the Pet Stop.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District ASD
• Award Category Humanitarian, Phoenix

Ashley has taken on a number of leadership roles within her school and community, including student council. She also competed in last year’s Caring for the Kenai competition, where students from around the Kenai Peninsula create, design and implement an idea to better care for their community. Her project was called “Wonderfully Worn Wardrobe,” and students could donate used or unwanted clothing for students in need.

• Home Town Soldotna
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Humanitarian

Denise was involved in renaming East High School to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School, and was the only young person that testified at a school board meeting in support of the name change. Additionally, she has become a leader in her church choir, is very involved in the trio Upward Bound and participated in the Uganda and Alaska PenPal Project.

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

While involved in the PenPal Program, which connected students from Alaska with students from Uganda, Ron emotionally supported his penpal who had been  a victim of police brutality at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer. Ron also created a supportive and safe space for other students to process this story and the events taking place.

• Home Town Kodiak
• School District Kodiak Island Borough School District
• Award Category Phoenix, Visionary, Dreamer

Baily led the Nikiski Children’s Fund, and raised money to help children and families with basic needs such as new clothing items or paying utility bills. She raised money through a variety of ways, such as auctioning off a calf and community baseball games.

• Home Town Nikiski
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough
• Award Category Humanitarian

Sage had planned on going to Canada to compete in the Arctic Winter Games, but was unable to because of the Covid-19 pandemic. He participated in several online native games challenges and was able to represent Team Anchorage, medalling in several events this fall and winter. Additionally, Sage joined practice to mentor a younger athlete.

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

Anchorage Youth Court is a program run by youth for youth. Members are required to take classes, pass a bar exam and be sworn in. They volunteer their time as attorneys, bailiffs and judges. They hear cases from other youth offenders.

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

Jade Balansag helped create BASE (Building A Supportive Environment), a youth-led organization that aims to improve the social-emotional environment of their school. BASE has provided back-t0-school gift bags for students, fundraised money to improve their school, and developed a staff recognition program, among other things.

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

Through his participation at Boys and Girls Club Fairbanks, Tajhrel took the lead in launching the BeYou campaign, which promotes that 78% of Alaska teens do not drink alcohol. With the guidance of an adult advisor, Tajhrel led a group of his peers in creating media and hosting events that promoted the organization’s mission.

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

Joy invests many hours each week at the front line: she connects with the homeless on a deeper level.  She serves them, helps the homeless see value in themselves, and she is making a real difference in the lives of  many homeless people—members of our community many have a hard time even seeing.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Abeka Academy

Anna Bierma has worked as an employee of Beacon Hill Boutique for two years. She is kind and considerate with customers, always helpful and willing to go the extra mile for anyone in need. She lives a life of giving, not just at work but wherever she goes.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage

David has been a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for all of his life. He participates in the youth ministry and serves on the media team, operating the camera each Sunday. He also helps with Church Food Pantry. He has served on the Mayor’s Anchorage Youth Advisory Commission for 5 years. He gives input on city programs and partnerships to help empower youth in the Anchorage community.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage

In March of 2019 Daisy lost her dad to cancer. To continue his legacy, Daisy has decided to help someone in the community each year as a way to celebrate his life. Daisy asked Odyssey Family Practice to team up with her to raise money for the Food Bank. Daisy and friends held signs, sold drinks, collected money and donations, and made sure everything ran smoothly.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Kenai

Layla serves with the Royal Family Kids Camp which serves youth in foster care. She also volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club and the Downtown Soup Kitchen. She’s also the captain of several sports teams.

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District Chugiak

Ben is an active member and serves as treasurer of the Service High School Partners Club. He is also a youth leader for the Special Olympics Alaska Unified Champion Schools Program. He has volunteered hundreds of hours over the course of his involvement the last four years.

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

Dakoma is the lead youth advisor for Build Them Up Alaska, an organization focused on Alaskans helping Alaskan youth participate in community service and finance youth involvement in sport and recreational activities. Dakoma has volunteered over 100 hours as a chair with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

• Home Town Big Lake
• School District Denali Peak
• Award Category Humanitarian

Baylee is a camper, volunteer turned seasonal Instructor at Trailside Discovery Camp. She is positive and inspires youth to get outside and safely participate in outdoor recreation. She is passionate about art and photography and leads multiple projects and sessions for younger kids. During summer of 2020, she also participated in building kits to be delivered to families. These kits had tangible items that could be taught via Zoom.

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

Janny is a member of Kodiak Teen Court. As a Judge with the program, she has mentored new youth attorneys and assisted them in case preparation and presentation. She is able to listen to all sides of an argument before making a decision. As a judge, she uses the restorative justice model in fashioning sentences appropriate to the offender, the victim and our community.

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