Carrissa is an integral part of the Kasilof Boys and Girls Club, assisting staff with activities and ensuring younger members have positive guidance for their time spent at the club.
Cassidy is a member of the youth volunteer team at Kasilof Boys and Girls Club, providing assistance with activities, and acting as a role model for younger club members.
Chloe is a valued staff member of the Kasilof Boys and Girls Club, where she assists with activities and acts as a role model to younger members. Says her nominator, “Kids look up to and respect her.”
Jaeden is an incredible leader and is passionate about spreading the message of inclusion. He is a Special Olympics Alaska athlete and is one of two Special Olympics U.S. Youth Ambassadors representing Alaska. Jaeden takes seriously his role as an inspirational advocate for those with intellectual disabilities.
Honey participated in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, learning about legislative processes, and gained skills in peer-to-peer leadership and community advocacy.
Destiny participated in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ Youth Leadership Institute, gaining skills of community advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and learning about Alaska’s legislative processes.
Deja was a participant in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, and learned valuable skills of community advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and gained an understanding of Alaska’s legislative process.
Sophie participated in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, gaining skills in community advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and an understanding of Alaska’s legislative process.
Dana participated in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, gaining valuable skills of community advocacy and peer-to-peer leadership, and an understanding of Alaska’s legislative processes.
Annie participated in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, learning valuable skills of community advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and an understanding of Alaska’s legislative process.
Olivia was a member of the Youth Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Association of Alaska School Boards. She gained valuable skills of advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and understanding the legislative process.
Ellen took part in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ Youth Leadership Institute, gaining valuable skills of advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and the legislative process.
Preston took part in the Association of Alaska School Boards’ annual Youth Leadership Institute, learning skills of advocacy, peer-to-peer leadership, and legislative process.
Kailene serves on the Anchorage Youth Court with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. She also stepped up to participate in the Pacific Community of Alaska’s “Bridging the Gaps” project, to bring awareness of unique mental health and identity struggles faced by Alaska’s Pacific Islander community.
Living life on the autism spectrum, Espen is a proud representative of his school in varsity soccer, swimming, and basketball; and as a musician, playing the violin. Espen dedicates the majority of his day to school and activities, but also holds down three different after-school jobs, with the hope to create a non-profit organization to support a youth strings program for six to 12th-grade students at Homer Middle and High Schools. With funding raised, music students would be able to access mentorship, lessons, and instruments.
Espen has risen to the challenges social and behavioral disabilities present, but his diligence and tenacity have proven that one can thrive, not just survive, if given the opportunities and tools. His hope is to attend college and become a special education teacher, to pass along the same support he has received over the years.
“Making the impossible, possible” is Hannah’s personal motto, and everything she does comes from this tremendous work ethic. Hannah participates in Lego Challenge events, developing robotic figures that challenge students’ abilities in technology and science. She has assisted younger students with the skills of coding and problem-solving, helping them to develop into worthy members of Lego clubs and competitions.
Hannah also contributes to her community in service-oriented ways, working with homeless youth and traveling to Peru on a humanitarian mission trip. She looks forward to attending a trade school and furthering her interest in technology and science by studying electrical engineering, and applying those skills to a community’s needs.
Sophia Layos-Wagaman is an aspiring circus arts performer from Fairbanks. A competitive gymnast since 2013, Sophia has competed at U.S. Gymnastics invitationals in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. She has spent the last four years adding circus skills to her repertoire including straps, lyra, wire and partner acrobatics. She performed with the Golden Heart Performing Arts Studio in the 2021 Solstice Soiree at Golden Heart Performing Arts. Sophia was also the the first-ever recipient of the $5,000 CSAW Tuition Grant for a U.S. Circus Artist of Color.
Additionally, Sophia has volunteered for events at the Fairbanks Children’s Museum, offering her time and talent to brighten the days of her community’s kids. Sophia’s nominator states “Sophia’s backstory is one of tenacity and perseverance. It’s wonderful to see her blossom and pursue her desire to study and perform circus arts, and even more wonderful to see her contributions to the Fairbanks community and beyond through performance, volunteerism, and athletics.”
Elizabeth is a motivated innovator who loves learning. Her project titled, “Development of Seaweed Bioplastics to Alleviate Environmental Plastic Pollution,” involved testing protypes of a biodegradable bioplastic cup, with the goal of engineering a cup that could be used in place of traditional plastics. With plastic pollution affecting the oceans, this is an Alaskan and global issue. Elizabeth’s project ended up as a finalist in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair where she won the opportunity to represent Alaska.
Additionally, Elizabeth is the president of the Future Women of STEM club, which forms a community of high-school girls interested in pursuing a career in the field of STEM, an area with traditionally fewer women. Together, the club forms a supportive group that reaches out to local experts in STEM fields to meet up with the members so they can learn more about different STEM pathways. The club also volunteers at local elementary schools in an effort to bring STEM events to younger kids.
Sean works hard to improve the community by being a great student, a wonderful teammate, and a great friend to others. He encourages everyone to work hard, and cheers for not only his team, but also for those friends on rival teams. Sean encourages everyone (including adults) to work hard. He is so gregorious and silly that he is extremely loved, with little hockey players and little brothers and sisters who adore him because he talks to them, gets down on their level, and hears them. He knows that children have a voice and he encourages them to use it.
He was chosen to be on Team Alaska Tier 1 hockey, and selected an assistant captain because of his strong leadership skills. Sean also works as a hockey referee in his spare time to help mitigate costs of this expensive sport.
Abigail creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all students at Next Step Dance Kodiak studio as a teacher. She also volunteers at Kodiak High School’s Food Pantry project, working to help alleviate food insecurity among Kodiak youth.
