Spirit of Youth award finalists, winners announced

The Spirit of Youth Foundation is hosting its annual awards banquet March 13, and several Valley teens are finalists.

The foundation honors students who make a difference in their communities, in a number of categories ranging from fine arts to government and businesses. The students will receive their awards during the banquet at the Fourth Avenue Theatre. There are two award winners for each of 10 categories.

Alaska DigiTel's Science, Technology & Media

1. The Mt. Edgecumbe High School Genetics Group is the first team to study DNA samples from humpback whales in Southeast Alaska to determine the relatedness among the mammals. 2. Nathaniel James Smith teaches preschoolers to seniors how to use computers in a community school class.

Alaska Laser Printing and Mailing Service's Fine Arts

1. The Alaska Mastas, four Mat-Su Valley teens were disgusted at the way mainstream rap was going and produced their own "Homegrown" CD about what its like growing up in Alaska. 2. Owen Barrington is the only Alaskan ever to qualify for the World's Irish Dance Championship.

CIRI's Cultural Activities

1. Klawock Tlingit Totem Carvers Emily Nelson and Harry Jackson Jr. inspire other youth while serving as apprentices to re-carve and preserve the story of the Tlingit totem poles. 2. Debra Dommek is the president of Aglaaluk, the native culture club at Bartlett High that works to promote understanding and appreciation of the Alaska Natives.

Wells Fargo Bank's Government & Business

1. Erik Braund created and operates his very own GNP recording studios. 2. Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins is the top "dean-linker" on the national presidential candidate's Web site.

Alyeska Pipeline's Overcoming Challenges

1. Michelle Palmer is a cancer survivor who has taken her overwhelming circumstances and turned them into a positive experience. She is working hard to become a specialist who helps children deal with illness. 2. Wasilla's Codie Walker took on the responsibility of caring for her family when they had no one else. She has struggled with some very difficult life challenges but she has chosen to work toward making a positive difference.

Firefighter Local 1264's Lifesavers

1. Zachary Miller, Paul Morrison, and Wes March heroically pulled two Alaska tourists from the rapids of Eagle River and treated them for hypothermia, which ultimately saved their lives. 2. Palmer's Brittany Heck has organized two major efforts to increase bone marrow donations; particularly Natives.

IBEW Local 1547

Service to Peers

1. Tanalian Youth Group members of Port Alsworth travel throughout the Lake and Penn Borough to organize and lead weekend activities for teens in surrounding villages. 2. Denali Kerr is a volunteer EMT who encouraged other students to sign up with the Organ Donor Bank. She is a founding member of the Chugiak GSA, a member of the AYEA.

Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority's Service to Community

1. Scott Lockwood takes the time to visit St. Michael elders in their homes every day after school. 2. The Kali Crew at Point Lay School volunteer their services to build and repair everything from dog houses to steps for the elderly and disabled members.

FedEx's Service to Children

1. Matthew Mund, Lt. Governor of the Alaska Yukon North Key Club, has taken the leadership role in providing volunteer services to Stevie's Place, a child advocacy center. 2. Kathryn Renee Petros designed and developed "Harps for Hearts." She plays her harp in the waiting room of the children's wing at Providence Hospital to help sooth patients and family members.

Alaska Airline's Environmental

1. Carrie Dykes started a recycling program in Sitka and initiated a media campaign to educate folks about the benefits of composting. 2. Kaitlin Vadla designed a Web site about floodplain awareness and mitigation, to inform property owners about hazards.

Tickets to the banquet are available for $35, and $20 for students organizers said. For more information, call (907) 566-7676.

In addition to the finalists, many Valley students earned nominations for the awards.

According to the Spirit of Youth Foundation's Web site, here are the Valley nominees, along with what why they earned their nominations: Erin Higgins, of Wasilla, has Down syndrome but has shown her passion for animals and recycling by taking her school newspapers to the shelter. Crissy Foldenauer, of Wasilla, volunteer teaches firearms safety, ethics and responsibility, and conservation to other young persons. Rachel Kenley, of Palmer, is involved in subscription farming. Every week she delivers baskets of homegrown veggies, fruits and flowers to a dozen customers around the Valley. Nicolai Tykalsky, of Wasilla, volunteered five hours every day as an Emergency Trauma Technician and is now enrolled in Wasilla's Police Department Explorer Program. Lauren Guinotte, of Palmer, is an inspiration through her hard work and perseverance in facing adversity and challenges. Vandals destroyed cabbages she was raising for the fair. Amber Sawyer, of Wasilla, is a SERVEnet ambassador at Colony High School that posts volunteer opportunities on the Internet and she volunteered 91 hours at the local library this past summer. Katelyn Baldwin, of Palmer shared her African trip experiences through local newspaper series. She is also the student advisory rep to the Mat-Su School Board. Sasha Sawyer, of Palmer, is a full time advocate for Clean Indoor Air and Tobacco use prevention. She promotes a healthy lifestyle to her peers through education and example. Marshall Carter and Levi Lutz, both of Palmer, have unofficially set the new Guinness World Record for the "longest continuous drum roll by a group." They played for 12 hours and 30 minutes.