Meet the Heroes

Emily is showing us that anyone can be a hero and make a positive and lasting impact in their community.

Emily has met with U.S. senators and representatives on several occasions to advocate on behalf of legislation that would close an insurance loophole and require medical insurance companies to cover treatment for birth defects or congenital anomalies which are currently denied coverage by major insurance providers. Her efforts not only raised awareness about the issue but also influenced legislative action. Thanks in part to her work, Alaska was the first state to have all of its members of Congress co-sponsor the legislation. The bill passed the House of Representatives but was short of the votes needed in the Senate. Emily continues to advocate to get the bill re-introduced and participates in advocacy events to keep up awareness on the issue.

Because of her work on this bill, Emily received the Red Cross Good Samaritan Real Heroes youth award. Beyond her advocacy work, she finds ways to support her community through volunteerism.

As a Girl Scout, Emily helped her troop raise over $1000 to make care kits for those experiencing homelessness in their Anchorage community. She currently serves on the national Girl Scout Advisory Board where she helps make recommendations, contributes to key initiatives, and influences the decision-making processes at the organization’s national office.

Emily plans to continue her volunteer work, advocacy efforts and leadership roles while she attends middle school in Anchorage.

Maya has a heart to serve and help others in her community.

After an injury that put her out of participating in sports, she didn’t give up and instead turned it into an opportunity to support her peers. She volunteered as team manager for her Anchorage high school’s cross country running and skiing teams. From attending early morning practices to hosting team events, Maya has spent many hours supporting her teams and helping others be their best.

Despite being unable to participate in her beloved sports, she doesn’t focus on the negatives. Maya has a positive and selfless attitude, and her work ethic has gained the respect of coaches and peers alike.

It’s not just about sports for Maya. She volunteers and helps in other ways such as leading Sunday school for younger children at her local church.

Maya will be a high school senior this year. After high school, she is considering college to become a nurse or physical therapist to continue in a career field that helps others.

Maya is named a youth hero as part of the Summer of Heroes Employee Program. She is the daughter of Mark Carlson, the Alaska Communications senior director of Business Affairs.

Sara is showing us that youth shouldn’t feel pressure to choose either the arts or the sciences because they can do both. She’s fusing modern science and technology with classic art and design through wearable art.

Sara has donated more than 850 hours producing and sharing her designs to raise funds for Alaskan non-profits. Her work was featured in the 2023 and 2024 Trend Alaska Fashion Shows and directly helped raise more than $400,000 for Alaska non-profits. Sara also was commissioned by the American Heart Association to design the first gown in Alaska’s Red Dress Collection in celebration of the association’s 100th anniversary and will create a second design in 2025.

Sara is a ballet ambassador, helping younger children learn ballet. As their teacher, Sara understands she’s a mentor and a friend to her young students. Her most important lessons are compassion, kindness, physical and mental health, and that ballet is for everyone. She shares a similar message as a member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Wellness Advisory Committee.

Sara strongly believes that no child should ever be excluded from the world of the arts due to financial reasons and started an annual fundraiser to help provide scholarships for young dancers in her community.

In addition to science and arts, Sara is a classic car enthusiast and a member of a classic car club, the Kaknu Kruzers.

Sara is a high school student in Soldotna.

Jillian finds energy, passion and a voice in giving, and uses that to improve the lives of others in her community. She embodies the idea of treating others as you would like to be treated, is a champion of causes important to her and takes the time to contribute to other people’s success. She is a volunteer with Special Olympics and participates in her high school’s Partners Club. She regularly raises funds to support a variety of non-profits, including Standing Together against Rape, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Beans’ Café, Children’s Lunchbox, Salvation Army, American Heart Association, Santa Claus Express, The Clothesline Project, Alaska Injury Prevention Center Bike Helmet Program and more. Not only does she participate, she recruits and inspires many of her friends and classmates to follow her lead.

In addition to supporting the missions of several community organizations, Jillian created her own project called The Phoenix Program. This effort assists victims of house fires by providing totes filled with basic needs to help get victims through the first 24-48 hours after a fire. The kits will be carried and distributed by fire department chief officers. She was inspired to start The Phoenix Program after one of her classmates and sports teammates suffered a fire in her home. She believes we all can do something to contribute to a healthy, strong and successful community.

Jillian is entering her junior year at an Anchorage high school.

Fernando supports his Kodiak community by serving on the Kodiak Teen Court, a program run by teens for the benefit of teens. In this role, he’s a champion for the underdog and also provides service and direction to those seeking help.

As a judge, Fernando is learning how to pass judgment responsibly. It requires knowledge of the law and the impact it has on the client or defendant. He’s building skills related to listening, engaging in conversation and asking the right questions. He also practices patience - for the client, colleagues and adult advisors.

Fernando has served as a teen attorney, a teen judge and as the board’s president. He also served on the United Youth Courts of Alaska board of directors.

According to his nominator, at each level of the program, Fernando has shown maturity beyond his age and great insight in his attempts to help resolve a variety of issues that have come his way. As a judge, Fernando shows great empathy towards defendants but he is not afraid to hold them accountable for their actions.

Fernando further contributes to the Kodiak community by providing educational and legal counsel to both youth and adults.

Fernando is entering his first year of college at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in fall 2024.

Gunnar demonstrates a remarkable sense of generosity and compassion for others, particularly on days where attention should be focused on him.

Through annual birthday donations to his Fairbanks community’s animal shelter, he has raised several thousand dollars to benefit animals in need and help improve living conditions at the shelter. Rather than receiving birthday gifts for himself, he selflessly has been able to provide food, bedding, toys and financial support to the shelter.

Gunnar’s efforts are making a meaningful difference in the lives of shelter animals, and his dedication to helping others demonstrates his willingness to make the world a better place.

Through his contributions, Gunnar is raising awareness about the importance of giving back to the community and encouraging other youth across the state to follow suit to create a ripple effect of kindness and generosity. By inspiring his peers to get involved in charitable activities, Gunnar is fostering a culture of compassion and social responsibility among the younger generation.

This school year, Gunnar is entering seventh grade in Fairbanks.

Gunnar is named a youth hero as part of the Summer of Heroes Employee Program. He is the nephew of Alaska Communications’ Bernadette Giuchici, slope technician and Warren Giuchici, field technician.

Grace finds joy in helping others in her Kodiak community, particularly those with special needs. She gives her time to children and adults through the Special Friends group at a local church where attendees can share meals together, play games, learn together and engage in conversations.

Grace helps teach children's church courses each month, purposefully seeks out people who look like they need a friend or just a listening ear, and jumps in to help with a variety of projects. She takes on tasks she sees needing to be done and completes them, often without the other person knowing she was the one who helped.

Grace is learning American Sign Language and is working toward becoming a deaf interpreter.

This fall, she will attend college and plans to continue supporting the special needs community and pursuing proficiency in ASL. Grace will study graphic design, which she hopes to use for the benefit of special needs communities as she dedicates herself to a lifetime of serving others.