Spirit of Youth

The Homer Middle School Student Council participated in the National Pennies for Patients Leukemia & Lymphoma Fundraiser. Their goal was to raise $200, but due to their competitive strategy they were able to collect more than $700 for the cause. The group has also put on a “Think Pink” breast cancer awareness campaign, Share the Spirit community event and they organize activity nights for students to have fun in a safe environment on Fridays.

• Home Town Homer
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Service To Community

Camden Galvin started the group Souper Steller, which makes fresh batches of soup once a week to feed to the students of Steller Secondary School. Souper Steller has contributed to the school’s climate in immeasurable ways. Not only are students eating well, but student volunteers are also learning how to make healthy meals.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Service To Community

Tyra volunteers twice a week during the winter bowling season to help younger kids develop the skills and enjoyment of a sport she loves. Tyra is on the bowling team at South Anchorage High School and in addition to the time she spends at the alley honing her own skills, she dedicates more time to work with little kids.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Service To Children

Carl was selected as one of very few international finalists to perform at Carnegie Hall for the Honors Performance Series in March 2014.  His commitment to music is an inspiration for all.

• Home Town Cordova
• School District Cordova School District
• Award Category Fine Arts

Annie was selected as one of very few international finalists to sing at Carnegie Hall for the Honors Performance Series in March 2014.  Her commitment to music and singing is an inspiration for all.

• Home Town Cordova
• School District Cordova School District
• Award Category Fine Arts

The Cooper Landing Youth Action Group creates service projects to engage their community. For two years they hosted an annual recycled fashion show that educates people about the use of materials and the potential of what is otherwise considered garbage.

• Home Town Cooper Landing
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Science & Environment

Devlin helps keep his Yakutat culture thriving by participating in Native dance and cultural activities such as drawing, carving and language restoration. In 2013 he participated in a three-day historical canoe journey from Juneau to Wrangell to represent the history and culture of Yakutat.

• Home Town Yakutat
• School District Yakutat School District
• Award Category Cultural Pursuits

Derek is a first responder at every community event in Nenana. He has volunteered with the fire department for more than two years and devotes more than 50 hours a month to his EMT work.

• Home Town Nenana
• School District Nenana City Public School District
• Award Category Lifesaver & Prevention

Elizabeth is one of the students at Gusty Michael School that opened a grocery store in her small village of Stony River. She volunteered to be the spokesperson for the store and spoke at the Elders and Youth Conference and the Calista annual meeting. Her efforts have kept her school going and her culture alive.

• Home Town Stony River
• School District Kuspuk School District
• Award Category Service To Peers

Luke has been actively involved in the Alaska Greek Festival for 13 years, performing with the youth dance group and volunteering on the management team. He has invested countless hours preparing the grounds, raising tents, assisting the dancers, preparing food and cleaning up after the festival.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Faith-Based Service

Taylee traveled to Slovakia to work at an English camp where she developed lesson plans about mentorship, team building, mission work and oral English skills.

• Home Town Thorne Bay
• School District Southeast Island School District
• Award Category Service To Children

Dao was born in Thailand and spent her early childhood in a refugee camp before moving to the United States when she was 10. She spoke no English but has come a long way since then. She volunteers for Muldoon Elementary School where she helps students with their homework and spelling. She is committed to her education and family.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Overcoming Challenges

Pippin uses his technological skills to empower and engage young people in Alaska. He has worked on creating educational computer games that meet science standards in an effort to get young people interested in science.

• Home Town Fairbanks
• School District Homeschool
• Award Category Media & Technology

Grayson is an avid outdoorsman and used his experiences and innovation to design a paracord survival bracelet that incorporates everything you need to start a fire. He sells them locally and teaches young children how to make a simple survival bracelet that can be used for repairing a shoelace, making a snare or creating a shelter.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Business & Government

Erica is passionate about the issues facing homeless teens in Anchorage. She works with the youth at Covenant House and performed at their “Night of Broadway Stars” fundraiser. She also performs at their open houses and private benefit concerts.

• Home Town Anchorage
• School District Anchorage School District
• Award Category Fine Arts

Raymond is part of a whaling crew in Barrow. He hunts for his family and community year round and is part of the young generation that wants to keep the Inupiaq tradition alive. He takes younger children camping, boating, whaling and hunting to teach them to be safe and to survive. Raymond improves the quality of life by showing everyone in the community that it is still possible to live off the land.

• Home Town Barrow
• School District North Slope Borough School District
• Award Category Cultural Pursuits

Donald is an experienced fisherman. On two occasions he has responded to distress calls from other boats, once instructing the passengers to put on life vests before their vessel capsized where he later pulled them to shore. His keen observation skills, clear thinking and spirit of helpfulness proves he is a strong young man willing to risk his own life to save other families from the heartache of loss.

• Home Town Shaktoolik
• School District Bering Strait School District
• Award Category Lifesaver & Prevention

Teck John Baker Youth Leaders prevent suicide and promote well-being through interventions, role modeling, classroom presentations and sponsoring healthy activities. This student-led and directed program teaches youth in their small community about suicide, bullying, sexual assault, domestic violence and substance abuse prevention.

• Home Town Kotzebue
• School District Northwest Arctic Borough School District
• Award Category Lifesaver & Prevention

Trinity is active in the traditional way of life. She hunts and also prepares the meat, renders oil and shares her catch with other people in her community. She participates in monthly community potlucks where she helps elders enjoy traditional foods. She is passionate about passing on her cultural skills.

• Home Town Kotzebue
• School District Northwest Arctic Borough School District
• Award Category Cultural Pursuits

Trinity is dedicated to helping young people in her small community of Tyonek. She is a member of Native Youth Leadership and represented her village at Juneau Close Up 2013. Whether she’s babysitting, helping kids with their homework, or teaching respect in school, Trinity is a positive role model and leader.

• Home Town Tyonek
• School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Award Category Service To Children