How families can open doors for Alaska’s next generation

One of the joys of my work at Alaska 529 is getting to witness the moment when someone learns they have been selected for our annual $25,000 scholarship account. It is a moment filled with surprise and hope for what comes next.

Every winner comes with a unique story. This year, the moment belonged to the Guevin family in Sitka. Their son Arlo was selected at random from a pool of more than 13,000 Alaskans who chose to automatically contribute at least half of their 2025 Permanent Fund Dividend to an Alaska 529 account.

The Guevins are an education family in every sense. Arlo’s mother, Lauren Havens, is the conditions for learning deputy director at the Association of Alaska School Boards. His father, Tristan Guevin, teaches English at Pacific High School. They come from a long line of educators who believe a strong education for all students helps level the playing field.

When Arlo, a student at Xóots Elementary School in Sitka, learned he was awarded the scholarship, he reacted the way many five year olds might: with pure excitement. His parents explained that only one child in the entire state receives this award each year and that he will be able to use the money when he is older to study whatever sparks his interest. Arlo already has a vision for his future; he says he wants to be an “inventor engineer.”

Arlo’s parents encourage that curiosity. At home, Arlo enjoys building with Legos and laughing at Garfield comics, interests that feed his imagination. They talk with him about using that curiosity to help his community, whether by studying how things work, helping others or choosing kindness. Like many parents, they want their children to pursue education after high school without financial barriers shaping the decision.

Lauren describes education as the most important investment their family can make for their kids and their community. She and Tristan remember the challenge of working through college while taking on student loans, so they started saving early for Arlo by checking the box on the PFD application each year. She says receiving this scholarship eases the pressure of saving for two kids and gives Arlo a sense of pride about what lies ahead.

Their story shows how the paths children take, whether college, technical programs, apprenticeships or other postsecondary training, grow stronger when families feel supported to save early. Small contributions add up over time. Something as simple as checking a box on the PFD application can open doors years later.

It also highlights the lasting influence of Alaska’s education families. They teach, mentor, coach and encourage young people every day. Their work in and out of the classroom shapes the future of communities across the state.

When the 2026 PFD application period opens Jan. 1, I encourage families to contribute all or part of their PFD to an Alaska 529 account. Whether your child spends afternoons sketching inventions, sorting Legos or laughing at Garfield, saving early helps make sure they have room to dream big.

As we celebrate this year’s scholarship recipient, I hope Arlo’s story inspires other families to contribute to an Alaska 529 account. Starting small can make a real difference and help ensure that a child’s ambitions guide their next steps without the added worry of cost.

Lael Oldmixon is the Executive Director Alaska 529.