The NYO Scholarship started in 2020 to encourage athletes to keep practicing and to provide an incentive to participate in the virtual statewide NYO Games. Today, the scholarship provides financial support to senior high school students and athletes pursing higher education. For the fifth consecutive year, this support will once again be available for one male and one female senior athlete for post-secondary education. The NYO scholarships typically range from $1,500 to $1,000 (depending on funds raised) and will be awarded to high school seniors across Alaska actively participating with a Native Youth Olympics team and who are planning to attend a vocational school or college.
The application period for the 2025 NYO Scholarship and Continuing Education Scholarship is closed and will reopen in spring 2026.
Winners are chosen by the Education Scholarship Committee and announced during the Senior NYO Games Celebration of Graduates and on the NYO Games Alaska Facebook page. Applicants do not need to be present at the Senior NYO Games to win.
NYO Academic Scholarship Prior Recipients:
- 2025: Thea Brantley, Anchorage —Service High School, Naveah George, Mertarvik (formerly Newtok) Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Naomi Jones, Tyonek –Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Josiah Gordon, Homer –Connections Homeschool, Leif Richards, Juneau –Juneau Douglas High School
- 2024: Tessa Anderson, Sitka & Andrew Jackson, Sand Point
- 2023: Dennis Hoffman, Galena Interior Learning Academy in Galena, AK & Lydia Alverts, Ya Ne Dah Ah School in Chickaloon, AK
- 2022: Mia Anderson, Mount Edgecumbe High School (originally from Sitka)
- 2021: Naatanii Mayo, Fairbanks (originally from Stevens Village)
- 2020: Ajey Moses, Chevak, and Bridget Savage, Unalaska
How to Help
The NYO Scholarship is totally funded through donations. If you are interested in learning more about investment opportunities for this program, please contact Kelly Hurd at (907) 793-3272. To donate, please visit our donation form.
