Ashley is a dedicated volunteer at the Heartreach Center. She has been volunteering at least once a week to help us process all donations. She plays a big role in carrying out the boots-on-the-ground work to make sure all items are prepared for distribution to the community of the Mat-Su Borough.
The LDS youth group has donated their time to Family Promise Mat-Su by assisting with yard work, moving office furniture, disassembling and reassembling bunk beds, and deep cleaning the Kari House where guest families stay.
Abby is highly involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Fairbanks and the North Pole High School student council. She goes out of her way to make sure new youth at BGC Fairbanks feel welcome and safe, and despite having faced many challenges throughout her life she always responds by standing up for herself and others.
Shane completed the Native Youth Olympics Coaches-In-Training program and is currently one of the middle school coaches in the Juneau School District. He proudly supports youth in the program and hopes to impart lessons of positive cultural self-identity, respect, teamwork and determination that helped him find his potential.
Nyche is involved in many groups that focus on advocacy for Native students and people. She created and is president of the Indigenous Student Union, the Vice Chairwoman of the Anchorage School District’s Native Advisory Committee, a member of the Equal Opportunities Program and is an intern at Southcentral Foundation’s RAISE program.
Becca recognized how much exercise helped her overcome her depression during the pandemic, so she created a website to raise funds to assist youth in getting outdoors more.
The Ketchikan Youth Alliance improves the quality of life in Ketchikan by providing young people with a platform to have their voices heard and the tools to create change. In addition to providing a source of social interaction and support during the pandemic, they are addressing the use of hate speech and slurs in the Ketchikan community and seeking to better the community through mental health education.
The Teeland Middle School National Junior Honor Society officers organize and lead activities that lead to the enrichment and positive culture of their school community. NJHS officers and members provide positive role models and are key in promoting involvement and a sense of belonging to their school community.
Olivia Mashiana is a powerful civic community service leader. She is an active and involved member of Youth Leaders, attending the annual Youth Leader Retreat and other conferences to brainstorm and plan ways to improve the school climate. She is also involved in Student Council and school leadership. As the 11th Grade Representative, Olivia is a voice for her grade concerning student interests and issues.
Victoria is a powerful civic community service leader. She is an active and involved member of Youth Leaders, attending the annual Youth Leader Retreat and other conferences to brainstorm and plan ways to improve the school climate. She is also involved in Student Council and school leadership. As the Spirit Chair, Victoria promotes a positive climate in school.
Chaleen Mixsooke is a humanitarian throughout her school and community. She volunteers as a classroom aide in Early Childhood Education, reading to and playing games with students. She also supports teams, wishing them luck and cheering them on.
Sheryl was recently involved in saving the lives of three teenagers. She was instrumental in the retrieval of the teenagers and taking action prior to when the paramedics arrived. Due to her quick actions and directions, the outcome of the event was not tragic.
The CVFRD Juniors are a group of motivated, dedicated, and community-minded youth who meet weekly for medical/firefighting/rescue/emergency response training. These youth are spending their personal time to obtain training in emergency response, and some are going so far as to become active responders to emergencies in the Chugiak community. They conduct themselves in a professional manner that is most impressive.
Tucker was voted Volunteer of the Year 2019 by Equine Assisted Therapy Alaska, for his dedication, passion and positive attitude and work ethic. He came to EATA with no knowledge of equine therapy and grew to be the most trusted and looked to volunteer of the summer. Tucker was responsible for horse care and training, working with people with disabilities and mentoring the other volunteers in the program.
Sarah founded Alaska Kids for Kids in 2011 when she was nine years old. Alaska Kids for Kids is a registered non-profit organization which annually selects a youth focused organization to serve for the next calendar year through fund-raising and other donations. Under Sarah’s leadership, the organization, has raised over $20,000 in funds and other donations that directly benefit youth in Alaska. As a youth herself, Sarah understands and empathizes with those challenges at a peer level.
Eli has been a part of a number of youth-led activities including R.O.C.K Mat-Su, and Special Olympics as well as helping in his classroom. Eli has been an assistant coach for Special Olympics snowshoeing for six years. He also worked on a community baby shower to support new parents who may not have the resources necessary to start parenthood off in a good place. Eli is also a teacher’s assistant in the special education/resource room his school. In this classroom he helps coach and mentor students with special needs and abilities. The students in this classroom say that Eli is one the best parts of coming to school.
Derek has learned how to produce professional looking traditional attire. He sews nightly with his aana, spending time with her and passing on traditions. Most of his garments, which are coveted by many in Kotzebue, are given away for free. He takes all his free time and spends it with his family, sewing, learning traditional sewing techniques, spending time learning the language, and simply being a constant companion for an elder.
Shanice has participated in many volunteer activities including packing boxes of food for Alaskan elders, writing thank-you letters to US Veterans, and supporting school district staff at family events at Williwaw and Begich Elementary Schools. She aspires to be a registered nurse to serve her community. Shanice has completed practicum hours in the Alaska Pioneer Home and Providence Hospital, assisting vulnerable populations in completing activities of daily living.
Haley has been a role model for other students at her school with her helpful attitude, leadership qualities, outstanding academics, and leadership of her basketball team.
Alicyn is one of four teens who were inspired to take action due to their personal experiences with climate change in their communities. In their resolution they wrote about the severe impacts climate change is having on Indigenous ways of life and the spiritual and cultural well-being of Alaska Native communities. Their resolution declares a climate emergency and creates a climate action leadership task force to advance Indigenous voices and advocate for strong climate policies that will ensure the survival of future generations.
