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NYO GAMES ALASKA SCHOLARSHIP

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 pursuing higher education. For the sixth consecutive year, this support will once again be available to NYO athletes for post-secondary education. The NYO scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,000 (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.

To date, CITC has given out NYO Scholarships to 13 students equating to $13,000 to help students achieve their academic and vocational goals.

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NATIVE GAMES SCHOLARSHIP

In 2024, the Continuing Education for Native Games Scholarship was introduced to provide financial support to dedicated NYO athletes who are advancing their education in college or vocational schools while actively working to promote and sustain the NYO Games. Whether through establishing NYO clubs, volunteering at events, or integrating the NYO Games into their academic endeavors, these individuals play a pivotal role in ensuring the continued growth and relevance of NYO Games. Continuing Education for Native Games Scholarships of varying amounts are awarded to between one and four athletes who have proven participation in NYO Games and have made active efforts to promote the Games.

 

The application period for the 2026 NYO Scholarship and Continuing Education Scholarship is now open. The deadline is April 1, 2026

 

Scholarship recipients are announced at the Senior NYO Games.

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:
  • 2022:
    • Mia Anderson, Mount Edgecumbe High School (originally from Sitka)
  • 2021:
    • Naatanii Mayo, Fairbanks (originally from Stevens Village)
  • 2020:
    • Ajey Moses, Chevak
    • Bridget Savage, Unalaska

 

NYO Continuing Education Native Games Scholarship Prior Recipients:

  • 2025:
    • Holly Davis, Anchorage: University of Alaska Anchorage
    • Leah Evans, Homer: University of Alaska, Fairbanks
    • Braeden John, Anchorage, Cantwell, Copper Center and Kodiak: University of Alaska Anchorage
    • Autumn Nanouk, Unalakleet: University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Jade Wren, Anchorage, Kotzebue and Dillingham: University of Alaska Anchorage
  • 2024:
    • Parker Kenick, Nome
    • Melvin Pavala
    • Leah Evans, Homer
    • Jade Wren, Anchorage

Thank you to our generous sponsors who make the 2025 scholarships possible!

Corporate Partners:

  • The Eyak Corporation
  • Native American Bank
  • Trickster Company

Individual Donors

  • Jared Cure
  • Marcy Herman
  • Kelly Hurd
  • Beth Rose & John Levy
  • Charles Smythe
  • Maria Williams
  • Crystal Worl
  • Kyle Worl
  • Lillian & Ricardo Worl
  • Rosita Worl

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.

How the NYO scholarship started:

Kyle Worl a long-time athlete of the Traditional Games (also called Arctic Sports and Native Youth Olympics) was building and growing a base of dedicated athletes and coaches in southeast Alaska. The Traditional Games had given him strength of mind, body and spirit as a young man during challenging years.  He wanted to share the spirit of the games – building community, working hard, doing your best. In 2020, all the momentum stopped when the pandemic cancelled all the events including Arctic Winter Games that was scheduled the next week.

 

He was heart-broken for his students especially the seniors, that would miss out on their last in-person NYO due to the pandemic cancelling all events. He reached out to his family for help. The Worl Family and Eyak Corporation funded the first scholarship that year, and continue to support the scholarship fund. Kyle wanted to give light and hope to students at home that were continuing to jump, kick and reach in their bedrooms and garages during the pandemic. He wanted the students to keep pursuing their dreams of education after high school and for us as a community to support NYO as a mainstream sport.

 

Kyle has a dream that NYO will expand with more athletes across Alaska and the nation to the university level and even internationally. To date, $7,000 has been donated to six high school graduating seniors attending universities or technical schools.

NYO Scholarship Story: Lydia Alverts

HOW-TO VIDEOS

HOW-TO VIDEOS

HOW-TO VIDEOS
SENIOR RESULTS

SENIOR RESULTS

SENIOR RESULTS
JUNIOR RESULTS

JUNIOR RESULTS

JUNIOR RESULTS
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