Spirit of Youth

• Home Town
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Lifesaver

Bergen is constantly seeking out those who are under-served and finds ways to meet their needs. From early childhood, he has donated a portion of his income. He contributes 20 percent of every paycheck to buying fresh produce for the Glory Hall Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen.

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

Talia is active in the community-driven youth and sled dog program in her community. She is responsible for the health of her family dog team, which involves a commitment to care and exercise of puppies and adult dogs. She also organizes bake sales to raise money for prizes for village youth races.

• Home Town
• School District Yukon-Koyukuk School District
• Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Mickinzie is active in and has lettered in several school sports and activities. She has participated in swimming, concert choir and cross country skiing. She was an alternate on Kenai Central High School’s state team and she performed American Sign Language at her school’s spring concert.

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

Maren’s dad was diagnosed with MS three years before she was born. She spent much of her time caring for him and promoting MS awareness. Last fall, her dad passed away. Since then, Maren has shared memories and photos from of him on social media and in person.

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

Jessica’s dad volunteered her for the Yukon Quest, a 1,000 mile international sled dog race. She brought puppies from their kennel to share with summer visitors. She also volunteers at the Helping Hooves Program, a horse riding service for people with special needs.

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

Olivia is a straight-A student in honors and AP classes, president of the National Honor Society, a company dancer at Alaska Dance Theater, and a soloist and member of Da Capo Community Choir. She also holds the title of Miss Alaska High School 2018, and is an American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructor.

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

Zero-Landfill Ambassador Program (ZLAP) Council is run by a group of middle and high school students at Tri-Valley School in the Denali Borough School District. This program was created to tackle sustainability issues at the school and in the Healy/McKinley Village area.

• Home Town Healy
• School District Denali Borough School District
• Award Category Discovery

The 9th and 10th graders of Naknek participated in and led the 2018 Youth Digital Storytelling Workshop. Each student created a documentary film on topics related to local culture and the historic Alaska Packers Association NN Cannery located in South Naknek.

• Home Town Naknek
• School District Bristol Bay Borough School District
• Award Category Dreamer

Natalie founded a new organization called Mental Health Advocacy which uses storytelling to de-stigmatize mental health issues. She has been actively involved in suicide prevention.

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

Mary is involved in a school organization called AYEA that is working with the Qawalangin Tribe to get recycling started in their community and help protect the environment. Mary is a also the Daisy Girl Scout leader, she works with and mentors girls in kindergarten and 1st grade.

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

In the summer of 2017, 3 people almost perished in Eklutna Lake when their Kayak flipped over. The freezing water gave them hypothermia. Will ran all over the beach to find drift wood and started a fire to keep the victims warm until Emergency Services came. His brave efforts and quick action helped save lives.

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

In the summer of 2017, 3 people almost perished in Eklutna Lake when their Kayak flipped over. The freezing water gave them hypothermia. Cole ran all over the beach to find drift wood and started a fire to keep the victims warm until Emergency Services came. His brave efforts and quick action helped save lives.

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

In the summer of 2017, 3 people almost perished in Eklutna Lake when their Kayak flipped over. The freezing water gave them hypothermia. Jordan ran all over the beach to find drift wood and started a fire to keep the victims warm until Emergency Services came. His brave efforts and quick action helped save lives.

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

Sayora is a Peer Educator at the Rec Room, and involved in Sources of Strength Peer group and Promoting Health Among Teens (PHAT), in partnership with the State of Alaska. She has organized the yearbook club, managed the timelines and themes, and is the reason the project is such a success.

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

Student guardians own a sign company called Be Original Signs. Using resources at home, students created stickers for the school and staff for a strive to “Go Higher.” Additionally, Mariah always goes out of her way to help, if she is asked to assist she is right there with a smile on her face.

• Home Town Wasilla
• School District MSBSD
• Award Category Visionary

Blake is a metalworker who both forges and welds projects as an entrepreneurial business. In addition, he has helped many people in the community jobs such as splitting firewood, construction projects and remodels, trail building, and metalworking, to name a few.

• Home Town Sitka
• School District Yukon-Koyukuk School District
• Award Category Discovery

Kalah is part of Sources of Strength, a group of students that helps to build a positive school climate. She is also a part of the Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership Club which fosters interconnection, collaboration and leadership between Native students throughout the school district.

• Home Town Ninilchik
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Phoenix

Man Choir performs concerts for the community. They inspire other students to become involved with music, and they set a great example of a positive outcome from working hard, learning a new skill and developing human potentials.

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

Colten uses his raps to bring people together and build community. He shares his talents and assists students by teaching them to write lyrics and produce new beats. In this way, Colten provides a needed creative outlet for young people in Homer.

• Home Town Anchor Point
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Dreamer