2025 June Nelson Scholarship Winners!

AASB is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 June Nelson Memorial Scholarship! Named in honor of long-time Kotzebue school board member and education advocate, the June Nelson Memorial Scholarship is an annual AASB tradition.

Each year, association members, students, and district superintendents gather to raise money to award to Alaskan students to support their post-high school education pursuits. This year’s successful fundraising efforts have allowed AASB to award fifteen $1,500 scholarships, which may be applied toward the student’s choice of a business, trade, or college institution.

Of this year’s applicants, fourteen graduating Alaska high school seniors, and one college sophomore, were selected to receive June Nelson scholarships.

Our 2025 winners and their winning essays!

This year’s essay prompt:

“Who or what in your educational or life experience has influenced your direction in life?”

Aliyah Merculief

Sitka

Essay

Bailey Roguska

Juneau

Essay

Carter Amundson

Ketchikan

Essay

Eleanor Kandoll

Petersburg

Essay

Gillian Rosario

Kodiak

Essay

Joanna Suewing

Juneau

Essay

Maggie Cothron

Anchorage

Essay

Saelah Berns

Kodiak

Essay

Savanna Morriseau

Anchorage

Essay

Talia Schlosser Aparezuk

Juneau

Essay

Carlie Vanbuskirk

Valdez

Essay

Rex Adres

Sitka

Essay

Monica Weston

Juneau

Essay

Kelsey Prax

Valdez

Essay

Nick Luois Amora

Unalaska,

2nd Year Recipient, UAA

Essay