Awards & Recognition
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.
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.
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 Afterschool Conference Planning Committee.
2023 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Julie Wild Curry
Julie started her work in Skagway, Alaska as the Community Education director in 1982. Community education included running after school and summer education programs that were supported by a State a Community School grant. In 1987, Julie and her husband moved to Fairbanks, Alaska with their family and Julie began volunteering at the Resource Center for Parents and Children on the Parent Warm Line, answering parent calls, and supporting the mission of child abuse prevention. Soon after her youngest child turned three, Julie was hired to work part time doing community outreach and home visits eventually becoming full time through 1999. Julie also started volunteering in schools at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. She was part of the first advisory board for the middle school’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grant application. The FNSBSD received this grant and began to apply for a much larger 21st CCLC grant to serve all the schools in the district, which the district received. Julie was encouraged to apply for the position of Community School director, which included Community School programming along with starting all the 21st CCLC programming at schools and became the new director in the fall of 1999. During Julie’s tenure at FNSBSD she expanded afterschool and summer programming for students and fostered the professional growth of hundreds of afterschool educators.
Julie was President of the Alaska Association for Community Education (AACE) and as a volunteer led organization was part of organizing the yearly AACE conference, supporting Community School professionals across the State, which included afterschool programs. Julie was an Afterschool Alliance Afterschool Ambassador and a White-Riley-Peterson Fellow. Her WRP Fellowship project was to help start the Alaska Afterschool Network. Julie was a founding member of the Network’s Advisory Committee and has served on multiple Network workgroups.
Julie is now semi-retired, traveling with her husband of 42 years and enjoying grandchildren and family time!
2022 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Representative Don Young
A true Alaskan legacy, Representative Young spent his life not just as a champion for our state, but also for our children and youth. As a long-time Co-Chair of the Congressional Afterschool Caucus, he was a staunch advocate for afterschool programs and federal child nutrition programs. He frequently joked that he started the first afterschool meal program in Alaska as a teacher in Mountain Village, AK. Representative Young would make biscuits, beard, oatmeal or other warm meals to feed the students before and after the bell rang at his school. His experience teaching and living and Mountain Village drove his years of work in Washington D.C. to ensure Alaska's kids had a safe place to go during Out-of-School times. Through his bipartisan work in congress, the Nita Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center program grew to over $1.3 billion fund.
Whether fighting to increasing access to afterschool and child care, stop child exploitation, raising awareness of teen dating violence, or supporting homeless and foster care youth, Congressman Young’s bipartisan legislation never shied away from addressing the root causes of much-needed change. Despite his many years working in D.C., there was never a question that he carried Alaska, and our kids, in his heart.
2021 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Barbara Pennington
Barbara has been a key source of reliable medical information on best practices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in out-of-school time programs. She provided guidance on the Network’s Statewide Conference Calls by giving updates on prevention strategies, infection rates, vaccination efforts, and addressed providers’ questions and concerns. Barbara was instrumental in reopening programs in the summer and fall of 2020 and also worked very closely with school mitigation efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barbara is the State of Alaska School Health Nurse Consultant and provides consultation and assistance regarding best practices for school nursing and health services statewide. She holds a master's degree in community health nursing and was a school nurse in the Anchorage School District for over 21 years. She offers a number of resources, guidelines, and trainings regarding school health and nursing services. She helps both public and private schools as well as providing resources for after-school programs. She is one of the HUB team members on the weekly school health echo.
2020 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Dr. Karen Gaborik
Superintendent Dr. Karen Gaborik has been a passionate champion for afterschool and summer programing in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District throughout the past 18 years. In 2004, as Assistant Principal at Lathrop High School, she supported the creation of one of the country’s first high school 21st Century Community Learning Center. While Assistant Superintendent, she aided in the expansion of the district’s afterschool offerings to include fee-based programs and the Elementary Academy of Science and Technology (EAST) summer program. As Superintendent, she has ensured that afterschool is at the table during district planning meetings and continues to push for greater access to programs. Dr. Gaborik is truly a Champion for Afterschool for continuously advocating for afterschool in her district and throughout the state and country.
2019 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Rebecca Soza
Rebecca Soza is the Talent Development Manager for the Juneau Economic Development Council where her primary role is directing the FIRST® in Alaska program. Becca is passionate about making high quality STEM experiences accessible to Alaskan students. Through her work at JEDC, Becca supports over 250 robotics teams and a network of approximately 400 volunteers across the state. Becca was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in New Jersey, and then moved to New York City, where she earned her BA in Environmental Science and an MA in Secondary Science Education from Columbia University. She taught middle school science in Harlem, NY prior to making Alaska home 12 years ago. She currently serves on the advisory committee for the Alaska Afterschool Network and is the Co-Chair of the Juneau STEM Coalition.
2018 Alaska Afterschool Champions: Sen. Cathy Giessel & Rep. Matt Claman
In the spring of 2018, Senator Giessel and Representative Claman lead a successful legislative effort to create the Alaska Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund, which established the Positive Youth Development Afterschool Grant Program. This new grant program will expand access to afterschool and summer learning programs for the 45,000 kids in Alaska waiting to be engaged in positive out-of-school-time activities. Research shows that youth engaged in high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs are less likely to engage in risk behaviors, such as substance use.
2017 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Dale Austermuhl
Dale Austermuhl has been publicly sharing his family’s afterschool story to help save federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). Dale has spoken at local events, was featured in national outreach videos, spoke on Capitol Hill, and engaged our federal delegates in Washington D.C. Dale’s daughter, Eva, participated in the 21st CCLC program at Joy Elementary in Fairbanks. In his own words, “This afterschool program has had a phenomenal impact on our family. It’s indescribable.”
2016 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Barb Dubovich
Barb Dubovich began her career as an elementary school teacher in rural Alaska. Just 35 short years ago she started at Camp Fire Alaska as a site director at one of the first afterschool programs the agency offered. Barb spent more than 20 years growing Camp Fire’s programs and has for the last 13 years provided leadership as the agency’s CEO.
She holds a Master of Arts in Education, with a concentration in youth development, and is a recognized YWCA Woman of Achievement. In past years, she served on the National Afterschool Alliance Board of Directors and has held both local and national leadership professional roles. As a strong advocate and voice for children and their families in Alaska, she has worked passionately to ensure all youth have access to nurturing and supportive out-of-school time environments.
2016 Alaska Afterschool Champion: Kevin Ritchie
Kevin Ritchie has been a tireless advocate for Juneau’s youth. He has actively served at the director of the Juneau Afterschool Coalition, which launched the BAM (Body and Mind) afterschool programs at Floyd Dryden Middle School and Dzantiki’ Heeni Middle School. He is passionate about expanding access to afterschool and early childhood programs throughout Juneau. Kevin was a founding member of the Alaska Afterschool Network’s leadership team.
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.
2023 Afterschool Superheroes
Meghan Boltz | Program Coordinator Camp Fire Alaska (Eagle River, AK)
Chris Etzwiler | Site Coordinator, STEAM Team and CHILL Time, Project GRAD, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (Homer, AK)
Becky Turland | Community Wellness Specialist, Community of Petersburg (Petersburg, AK)
Jennifer Wienke | Program Development Coordinator, 21st CCLC, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (Homer, AK)
Karina Marette | Academic Coach, CHILL Time, Project GRAD, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (Kenai Peninsula, AK)
Cindy Tapia-Ruiz | Director, Trailside Discovery Camp, The Alaska Center Education Fund (Eagle River, AK)
Click Here to learn more about our 2023 Superheroes
2022 Afterschool Superheroes
Becca Madsen | Program Teacher, KinderSkog Nature Program (Petersburg, AK)
Valarie Jackson | Afterschool Specialist, Lathrop After the Bell - 21st CCLC, North Star Borough School District (Fairbanks, AK)
Connor Tetlow | Site Director, Chester Valley Camp Fire, Camp Fire (Anchorage, AK)
Shirley Craig | Site Coordinator, Gateway Afterschool Program - Mentasta Lake Katie John School, Alaska Gateway School District (Mentasta Lake, AK)
Katie Holmlund | Director and Program Teacher, KinderSkog Nature Program (Petersburg, AK)
Lea Hood | Program Coordinator, Anne Wien Elementary 21st CCLC, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (Fairbanks, AK)
Click Here to learn more about our 2022 Superheroes
2021 Afterschool Superheroes
Mo Dart | Teen Program Coordinator, Boys and Girls Club of Fairbanks (Fairbanks, AK)
Pam Gingue | Program Coordinator of Gateway After-school Programs (GAP), Alaska Gateway School District (Tok, AK)
Jazzanne Gordon-Fretwell | Executive Director, North Star Youth Court (Fairbanks, AK)
Sierra Moskios | R.E.C. Room Coordinator, Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic R.E.C. Room, (Homer, Alaska)
Julie Johnson | Environmental Educator, US Bureau of Land Management Campbell Creek Science Center (Anchorage, AK)
Click Here to learn more about our 2021 Superheroes
2020 Afterschool Superheroes
Billy Smith | Afterschool Coordinator, FNSBSD
Pauline Mejia | Program Staff, Camp Fire Alaska
Wendi Raygor | Afterschool Coordinator, FNSBSD
Karla Horner Raffaele | Director, The PEAK Program
Chong Vue | Site Director, Scenic Park Camp Fire Alaska
Click Here to read more about our 2020 Superheroes
2019 Afterschool Superheroes
Kristina Rush | ASP Coordinator at Ticasuk Brown Elementary School in Fairbanks North Star
Drasida Basargin | STEAM TEAM Academic Coaching Assistant
Lynette Ortolano | Executive Director at Kids Kupboard
Kristy Peterson | 4-H Leader at Hope 4-H
Kiara Kearns | Child Development Leader with Campfire Alaska at Spring Hill Elementary
Click Here to read more about our 2019 Superheroes
2018 Afterschool Superheroes
Deanna Baier | Bristol Bay 4H Coordinator & Tribal ICWA Worker at UAF Cooperative Extension Service & Bristol Bay Native Association
Jorden Nigro | Youth Development and Services Manager at City of Juneau Park and Recreation Department
Kyla Dammann | REC Room Coordinator at Kachemack Bay Planning Clinic
Marilyn Eggleston | Joy Elementary 21st CCLC Coordinator at Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
Brad Fidel | Science Instructor at Bureau of Land Management Campbell Creek Science Center
Click Here to read more about our 2018 Superheroes.
2017 Afterschool Superheroes
Tracey Hupe | Club Manager at Boys & Girls Club of Eagle River, Eagle River
Missy Odsather | Afterschool Program Coordinator at Barnette Magnet School, Fairbanks
Janice Hadley | Onsite Coordinator at SERRC 21st Century Community Learning Center, Kotzebue
Thomas Burek | Executive Director at Trailside Discovery, Anchorage
Courtney Havrilek | Lead Afterschool Coordinator at Lathrop High School, Fairbanks
Click Here to read more about our 2017 Superheroes.
