Spirit of Youth

The Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) Youth Salmon Fellows (YSFs) are a group of young Alaskans who worked on the issue of salmon habitat in their communities. Jennifer McCumber focused on collecting stories, hosting events, and canvassing in both Utqiagvik and around the state. Over the summer, Jennifer tabled at the Inuit Circumpolar Council and spoke to prominent arctic leaders about the importance of salmon. Jennifer ended her fellowship by hosting a salmon-making art party for the kids in Utqiagvik.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District The North Slope Borough School District
• Award Category Discovery

The Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA) Youth Salmon Fellows (YSFs) are a group of young Alaskans who worked on the issue of salmon habitat in their communities. Julia Scully hosted a successful stream clean-up at Eklutna and capped her fellowship with an open mic, where Alaskans were invited to share why they believe salmon is important to them using anything from song to speech. She also wrote an op-ed, canvassed businesses for support, and canvassed Palmer residents about ballot measure 1.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
• Award Category Discovery

No More Mat-Su is a youth-led organization whose goal is to end domestic violence and sexual assault in the Mat-Su Valley. NMMS is in its 5th and last year, students organized an event at the Glenn Massey Theater called Rock the Resilience. They are currently working on the second annual Rock the Resilience.

• Home Town Wasilla
• School District Mat-Su Borough School District
• Award Category Lifesaver

Matt Davis and Jared Heaston saw a woman get hit by a vehicle. They rushed to help her, performed CPR and all life saving efforts prior to the arrival of the paramedics. The female driver was unable to be saved. They have shared their story with students and the community, while advocating for safe driving and helping those in need.

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Lifesaver

Chugiak Fire and Rescue members arrived to find Michael Wheatley home alone valiantly performing CPR on his 18 year-old brother Tristen, with whom he was rough housing just moments before. Michael’s recognition of cardiac arrest, notification of EMS and treatment played a significant role in Tristen’s survival.

• Home Town Chugiak
• School District Anchorage
• Award Category Lifesaver

Natalia’s involvement in learning the Alutiiq language, using the language, working with the Alutiiq immersion preschool, being an Alutiiq dancer as well as her involvement with Native Youth Olympics is an inspiration to the other youth to be proud of their Alutiiq culture.

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

In December 2017, Angela was diagnosed with FASD. Anchorage FASD Diagnostic Team thought that she would be an excellent spokesperson and financially supported her to attend an international conference in Canada.

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

Ashley was born with a rare genetic disorder called Turner Syndrome. To bring awareness, she reached out to the Governor of Alaska and the Mayor of Anchorage to get a proclamation signed to have Turner Syndrome added to rare disease day and declare February as Turner Syndrome Awareness month.

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

The Innoko River School middle and secondary students worked together with adults to find a young girl who was missing. This act of heroism and bravery epitomizes a tradition that we have in our village: to never leave anyone behind.

• Home Town Shageluk
• School District Iditarod Area School District
• Award Category Lifesaver

Maddie continues to lead boating safety education community outreach events. Alaska has one of the highest recreational boating fatality rates in the nation and the outreach Maddie does is aimed at educating and addressing the problem.

• Home Town Palmer
• School District Mat-Su School District
• Award Category Lifesaver

Darius has participated in numerous Alaska Geographic, Chugach Children’s Forest, and Student Conservation Association conservation projects. He has acted as a steward to public lands and encourages others to get outside, be healthy, and take action to enjoy and preserve public spaces.

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

Jordyn has been a youth leader for a bully prevention project at Stone Soup Group. Her work includes talking with Partner Clubs throughout Anchorage to learn about the challenges students face. By creating an understanding of bullying, she helps teachers support students with disabilities. She helped guide the project, and is now on the video project team through Alaska Teen Media Institute.

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

Despite physical challenges, Jiabao is one of the key leaders in a summer soccer program that reaches underprivileged native youth. He’s also been involved in the Alaska Republican Party, being a guest speaker at the Alaska Republican Party State Convention back in March.

• Home Town Kenai
• School District Private
• Award Category Phoenix

The Native Student Leadership Council (NLC) at East High School is an active group of Alaska Native and American Indian students who want to share their pride, cultural values and traditions with the community. NLC has initiated and led several activities this year, such as coordinating and carrying out a meeting each semester for Indian Education students at East High School, sharing cultural activities with 3rd and 4th grade students at Russian Jack Elementary, and helping new-to-Anchorage Alaska Native and American Indian Students transition to East High School.

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

Charlie has been a volunteer coach every Sunday afternoon for the youngest hockey players of the Homer Hockey Association for four years. He is also a strong leader of Homer High School’s Student Council and Peer Mentor Program.

• Home Town Homer
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Role Model

Jordan runs her own non-profit organization called Jordan’s Junk for Joy. Her organization helps raise money for Special Santa and helps bring Christmas to over 300,000 families in need. Last year she raised over $800 and was awarded the spirit of Christmas award.

• Home Town wasilla
• School District Matsu
• Award Category Visionary

To encourage their classmates to engage in a more significant way in the 2018 Chains of Caring Campaign at South High School, sisters Molly and Lauren challenged the student body to raise $5,000. The campaign spread like wildfire throughout the school and on social media, ultimately raising more than $10,000, which was donated directly to the Children’s Hospital at Providence.

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

All the current community recycling efforts done in the community of Unalaska are only possible through the hardworking volunteer hands of this youth group. They advertise, collect, sort, pack, and prepare for shipment all of the recyclables.

• Home Town Unalaska
• School District Unalaska City School District
• Award Category Discovery

Will is avidly involved in science including groundbreaking research and supporting youth STEM activities.  One of his scientific endeavors was the development of synthetic honey that can be used in medical procedures which prevents bacterial growth.  Wills unique ideas solve real world problems.

• Home Town
• School District IDEA Homeschool
• Award Category Innovator

George has been involved in the Woodland Park Boys & Girls Club since he was seven. Because of his involvement, he has grown both academically and socially and radiates positivity. He’s a strong, natural leader and noticeably raises spirits when he’s around his basketball team.

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