ABOUT US | AFTERSCHOOL SUPERHEROES & CHAMPIONS
Afterschool Superheroes
& Champions
Afterschool programs can’t do it alone! Learn about the individuals creating lasting change for youth across the region with their dedication, innovation, and leadership.
Alaska Afterschool Champion
The Alaska Afterschool Champion Award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure access to high-quality afterschool programing. This individual exemplifies extraordinary dedication to our field and was selected by the Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference Planning Committee.
2025 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Tyler Healy
Tyler is a lifelong Alaskan who has dedicated his career to working with youth and youth program providers across educational, therapeutic, and afterschool settings. He grew up in Haines and Skagway, where he experienced firsthand the benefits that close-knit Alaskan communities can provide for their youth.
As a young adult, Tyler worked in various roles including fishing and tour boat deckhand, lumber yard worker, substitute teacher, and English tutor. He eventually found his calling in community-based youth behavioral health in the Mat-Su Valley. His experiences working with children facing mental and behavioral health challenges built a foundation for understanding the importance of relationships and healthy support systems for young people. Tyler designed and led various youth behavioral health programs in Mat-Su and Anchorage before becoming the director of Youth 360, a brand-new Mat-Su youth initiative, in 2019. Read more here.
Alaska Afterschool Superheroes
The Afterschool Superheroes Award recognizes outstanding afterschool professionals who step forward every day to help children in need, support academic growth, provide healthy snacks and meals, and serve as role models.
2025 Afterschool Superheroes
Renee Veldman - Project GRAD Academic Coach at Voznesenka School/Kachemak Selo School, Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula, Fox River, AK.
Kaili Watkins - Lead Kinder Skog Mentor at Petersburg Medical Center, Kinder Skog Program, and Dance Instructor at Mitkof Dance Troupe, Petersburg, AK.
Karen Donavon - Rally Assistant Site Manager, Harborview Elementary School, Juneau School District
Vanessa West - Special Education Teacher & GAP Coordinator, AK Gateway Afterschool Program, Tok, AK.
Michelle Crow -Director of Denali Arts Council, Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, Talkeetna, AK.
Click Here to learn more about our 2025 Superheroes
Past Awardees
Learn more about our past afterschool awardees!
Afterschool Champion Award
2023 - Julie Wild Curry. Read more about our 2023 Afterschool Champion here.
2022 - Representative Don Young. Read more about our 2022 Afterschool Champion here.
2021 - Barbara Pennington. Read more about our 2021 Afterschool Champion here.
2020 - Dr. Karen Gaborik. Read more about our 2020 Afterschool Champion here.
2019 - Rebecca Soza. Read more about our 2019 Afterschool Champion here.
2018 - Sen. Cathy Giessel & Rep. Matt Claman. Read more about our 2018 Afterschool Champion here.
2017 - Dale Austermuhl. Read more about our 2017 Afterschool Champion here.
2016 - Barb Dubovich. Read more about our 2016 Afterschool Champion here.
2016 - Kevin Ritchie. Read more about our 2016 Afterschool Champion here.
Afterschool Superhero Award
2024 - Madeline Emmi, Eric Heil, Shellie Worsfold, Victoria Merritt, and Elizabeth Castillo.
Read about the 2024 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2023 - Meghan Boltz, Chris Etzwiler, Becky Turland, Jennifer Wienke, Karina Marette, and Cindy Tapia-Ruiz.
Read about the 2023 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2022 - Becca Madsen, Valarie Jackson, Connor Tetlow, Shirley Craig, Katie Holmlund, and Lea Hood.
Read about the 2022 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2021 - Mo Dart, Pam Gingue, Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell, Sierra Moskios, and Julie Johnson.
Read about the 2021 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2020 - Billy Smith, Pauline Mejia, Wendi Raygor, Karla Horner Raffaele, and Chong Vue.
Read about the 2020 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2019 - Kristina Rush, Drasida Basargin, Lynette Ortolano, Kristy Peterson, and Kiara Kearns.
Read about the 2019 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2018 - Deanna Baier, Jorden Nigro, Kyla Dammann, Marilyn Eggleston, and Brad Fidel.
Read about the 2018 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.
2017 - Tracey Hupe, Missy Odsather, Janice Hadley, Thomas Burek, and Courtney Havrilek.
Read about the 2017 Alaska Afterschool Superheroes here.