Bianca Pagel

Bianca is an active player in the Anchorage community. She volunteers with several local organizations like The Arc of Anchorage, Beans Cafe, Food Bank of Alaska and even donates her birthday to a different charity/nonprofit each year. Bianca was a volunTEEN at  Z.J Loussac Library for 4 years. She also won a National Volunteer Service Award in Chicago at Nationals with the Miss Amazing Pageant 2023. Additionally, Bianca was the youth volunteer for Stone Soup Group at Sou per Gaming Night. She created new flyers, promotes in the community and brings zest and positive energy.

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

Nolan Stephen Freeman

Nolan has been a member of the Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leadership (KPNYL) team way before being an official member, his freshman year. That is, because his Auntie has been the leader for the last 10 years, which allowed Nolan to grow up with what leadership skills. Nolan has been on many sport teams-football, baseball, wresting, swimming. Yet none of the team awards have been a bigger honor for him and his family, then his personal achievements when Nolan chose to help another person in his community. 

Nolan recently had to make a very difficult decision regarding his dog who needed help to move to the Ancestor world. Despite this, he went to his Elders to ask for support making the arrangements with the family Vet. Their relationship and connection to nature is why Nolan made the career choice to become a Wildlife Rescue Law Enforcement Office with the Canine Unit.

  • Home Town Sterling
  • School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
  • Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Anamanu Tu’uholoaki

Anamanu is an exceptional young person. She currently works with children at the Hmoob Cultural Center of Alaska. Anamanu has volunteered by cleaning Anchorage, contsructing a blessing box to feed homeless. She’s spent time volunteering with Clare House, Beans Cafe, Food Bank of Alaska and Suicide Prevention Awareness. Additionally, Anamanu has gone on two missions, one to clean up ocean waste in kodiak and another to serve those living on Navajo Land.

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

JaZara Ivanoff

JaZara is a young Alaska Native woman who is actively involved in her hometown of Unakaleet. She is readily is available to substitute at her local school. She also used to be an open-gym supervisor for the community of Unalakleet. Eldest sister to her three brothers, she has shown them to keep one foot in front of the other and to stay abstinent of any mind-altering substance. JaZara will be completing her generals for her Associates Degree through U.A.A. Once JaZara sets foot into a field of service of her own, she will excel. She loves any challenges that may arise and helping youth whose families have been affected by substance use disorders.

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

Preston Maes

Preston is an engaged member of Service High Schools Partners Club serving as a peer teacher and community volunteer. He embodies the principles of inclusion, demonstrating acceptance and respect for the differences and inherent dignity of individuals experiencing disabilities. Preston takes a “see a need, meet a need” approach. His coaches honored him with the Deputy Coach Award, and led his teammates to elect him to the role of Team Captain, two years in a row.

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

Adeline Perry

Adeline is president of National Honor Society and leads many community service projects. She also serves in AWANA clubs as a leader for the kindergarten-second grade room. She serves at church in multiple capacities which have huge impact to quality of life for the people in our community. Adeline helps run a thrift store that benefits abused women and children’s shelter. She also serves food at the homeless shelter and a Supper Club Program. Adeline also launched a successful fundraising campaign to help a community member facing unjust legal matters around immigration status.

  • Home Town BETHEL
  • School District Lower Kuskokwim School District
  • Award Category Role Model

Dustty Heckel

Dustty consistently connects with his community and helps no matter what he has going on. He has spent time volunteering at Scout Camp for 3 weeks teaching youth about branding, welding, archery, and survival skills. He also volunteered with Salvation Army in the summer to build food boxes and in the winter wrapping gifts. Dustty is also Fur Rondy Royalty with Fur Ronda and Alaska State Fair. He always has a smile on his face and puts his community first.

  • Home Town Eagle River
  • School District Denali PEAK
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Shanella Kashatok

Shanella Kashatok is an outgoing and peachy student in Eek, AK. She attended a CPR class this summer in the efforts to further provide for her community.

  • Home Town Eek
  • School District Lower Kuskokwim School District
  • Award Category Life Saver

Alondra Resto

Alondra is an active member of Ketchikan Youth Peer Education and Ketchikan Youth for Change (KYFC), as well as being a member of the Ketchikan High School Honors Band. Alondra has been an integral part of this KYFC group, furthering its mission by authoring many of the group’s presentations and facilitating group discussions. Through this growth, Alondra and the group are allowing students a safe place to share ideas and experiences in substance use prevention. Alondra has been a catalyst in helping create this change and has introduced many new activities that students enjoy including Mario Kart tournaments, art contests, and Waffle Wednesdays.

  • Home Town Ketchikan
  • School District Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District
  • Award Category Life Saver, Role Model

Sahara Brentor

Sahara joined the Trapper Creek Community Council in 2022-2023 to represent the youth of the community and participate in local governmental activities. Sahara developed summer Saturday sports that hosted both youth and adults to engage in physical activities such as softball, frisbee, and volleyball. In addition, Sahara and family baked or purchased items to sell to participants. With this money, Sahara started a youth fund under the Trapper Creek Community Council to use in the future for youth activities. The Trapper Creek community does not have sports or youth programs; without Sahara’s efforts locals would need to travel to Talkeetna or Wasilla for youth opportunities.

  • Home Town Trapper Creek
  • School District Matanuska Susitna Borough
  • Award Category Innovator, Visionary, Role Model

Jack Boelens

Jack has identified a need in his community and has helped fill it. In the rural community of Aniak he secured a coffee machine and sells espressos, lattes, and breves along with food, starting his own entrepreneurial venture to reach his financial goals. He taught other students how to run the espresso machine as well as consumer math, profit margins and customer service. Community members look forward to hot lattes at morning athletic events or hot breakfast items to pick up on busy work days, along with great customer service.

Anika Biss

Anika has been a very active member of her church and her community. She helped form a teen volunteer program where teens spend time helping teach Sunday School to elementary-aged children and toddlers. Anika also uses her gift of music to play keyboard for worship at her church and school. She encourages young musicians to pursue their passions and inspires young pianists. Anika has been a part of American Heritage Girls for the past five years where she has hosted caroling nights in her neighborhood and participated in other events. She has also made items and set up her own entrepreneur booth to display and sell her items, donating a portion of her proceeds to charity.

Jackson Vincent

Jackson Vincent is a champion of justice, leadership, and spirit! Proudly serving on the Valdez Youth Court, leading as President of the Student Council, and even bringing that vibrant energy as the spirited mascot for his schools cheerleading squad.  Additionally, he finds time to involve himself in his schools theater production, Annie. He completed the season as a member of the cross country team. His dedication and determination enable him to conquer any challenge that crosses his path.

  • Home Town Valdez
  • School District Valdez City Schools
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Role Model

Isaac Setian

Isaac is a coach at the Alaska Rock Gym. He is an outstanding listener and mentor, working with young climbers and encouraging them to solve problems independently. Issac exemplifies allowing kids to climb as they are and meeting them where they are. He is empathetic to his students and creates a safe space for them to take risks, overcome fear and deal with emotional distress. Isaac is outstanding at what he does in the climbing community. 

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

Evelyn Mills

Evelyn is an avid chess player in Fairbanks, AK.  Her passion for chess drove her to approach her teacher and ask if she would be the sponsor to start a club at her school.  The chess club is now incredibly active, hosting tournaments for the school and the community at large.  Most recently, Evelyn worked with UAF and coordinated a tournament on an even larger scale. Evelyn is a quiet leader who leads by positive example. She is incredibly respectful and works with the appropriate parties to allow for her idea to come a reality. This activity encourages individuals to stay off of technology and utilize their brains! 

Troy Sheldon

Troy has been a member of OPT-In Kiana for six years, starting as an OPT-In Kiana, Jr. Member.  He now serves as an intern with their youth group. He has participated in the LeadOn Summer Planning Group and last year attended LeadON, as he did this year. Troy jumps in to help within the community as well.

  • Home Town KIANA
  • School District NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
  • Award Category Role Model

Innoko River Middle and High School

Shageluk has a three-mile road between the village and the runway which is under construction. There are ancient pit houses of Shageluk ancestors along the road. This spring, students at Innoko River School ensured their community’s history was being preserved while a construction company came in to resurface the road. Students put markers out that identified the pit houses, which the company honored and left the area alone. They are learning how to own their history including the land, lifestyle and beliefs.

  • Home Town Shageluk
  • School District Iditarod Area School District
  • Award Category Humanitarian, Dreamer

Josephine “Josie” Herbert

Josie has been heavily involved in her community by volunteering for multiple fundraising efforts across Southcentral Alaska. Josie does not allow anything to hold her back, despite a traumatic start in life, and recently won the title of Miss Alaska High School.

Josie wants to be a pillar of hope to girls who might feel alone as they navigate through the emotions of being a teenager or subjected to a bad situation.

Kaycie Nelson

Kaycie is a student from Metlakatla who excels in school and at the Metlakatla Boys and Girls Club teen events. She was recently accepted into the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth class and looks forward to her goal of attending an Ivy League university.

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

Jamie Allain

Jamie participated in AASB Youth on Boards, where they provided feedback and insight to their School Boards. This took courage and heart on the part of the students, and they spoke about issues like mental health supports, suicide, the need for caring adults and best ways to support students in leadership roles.

  • Home Town
  • School District Yupiit School District