Awards

John Blasco, shown coaching the Thunder Mountain High School basketball team during the state tournament in March of this year, was honored as the Juneau Greater Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year at the organization’s annual awards gala at Centennial Hall last Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Double take: John Blasco wins local Citizen of the Year award months after state coach of the year honor

Chamber of Commerce also honors Bullwinkle’s, Juneau Bach Society’s Bruce Simonson at annual gala

 

This combination photo shows University of Alaska Southeast senior Stephanie Harasim and UAS freshman A.J. Schultz tied for first place in the spring history writing contest sponsored by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. (Courtesy Photos)

UAS students tie for first place in history writing contest

Each took a moment in local history and developed a fictional character who experienced that event.

 

Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island in this picture from the fall of 2022 that won first prize for best feature photo from the Alaska Press Club during its annual awards banquet in April. It was the main photo for a Planet Alaska feature published in the Capital City Weekly in October of 2022. (Photo by Elleana Elliott)

Empire staff and contributors earn 11 Alaska Press Club awards

The Juneau Empire won 11 Alaska Press Club awards at its annual banquet, which took place five days after the newspaper announced a cutback in… Continue reading

 

City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt and Mayor Beth Weldon smile for a photo at the Alaska Municipal League luncheon Thursday afternoon. Watt was named AML’s municipal official of the year at the event. (Courtesy / CBJ)

Watt receives statewide municipal official of the year award

Can I get a Watt Watt?

City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt and Mayor Beth Weldon smile for a photo at the Alaska Municipal League luncheon Thursday afternoon. Watt was named AML’s municipal official of the year at the event. (Courtesy / CBJ)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Chief Ed Mercer presents community service officer Sarah Dolan with the Jackie Renninger Community Policing Award during the Juneau Police Department’s annual award ceremony on June 9, 2022.

Police deliver annual awards for officers, community members

Citizens were recognized for their bravery over the last year.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Chief Ed Mercer presents community service officer Sarah Dolan with the Jackie Renninger Community Policing Award during the Juneau Police Department’s annual award ceremony on June 9, 2022.
Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

JDHS senior named National Merit Scholar

She is Alaska’s only 2021 recipient

Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.
City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)

Raising the Barr: Library chief picked for deputy city manager job

He also won a national award for his work through the pandemic.

City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)
This composite of courtesy images shows Juneau artists and art by Juneauites who recently earned Rasmuson Foundation awards. (Top left) a still from “This Place/This Sound”, (top middle) Crystal Worl, (top right) Corinna Cook, (bottom left) Annie Bartholomew, (bottom middle) Christy NaMee Eriksen, (bottom right) painting by Lily Hope. (Courtesy Photos)

Lesser-heard voices from the past sing loud for Alaska art awards

Projects range from huge public murals to albums to dances and more.

This composite of courtesy images shows Juneau artists and art by Juneauites who recently earned Rasmuson Foundation awards. (Top left) a still from “This Place/This Sound”, (top middle) Crystal Worl, (top right) Corinna Cook, (bottom left) Annie Bartholomew, (bottom middle) Christy NaMee Eriksen, (bottom right) painting by Lily Hope. (Courtesy Photos)
Dzantiki Heeni Middle School principal Molly Yerkes was named Region 5 Principal of the Year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals for 2020. (Courtesy photo | Molly Yerkes)

Look who was named region’s principal of the year

She’s been at the middle school for 16 years now.

Dzantiki Heeni Middle School principal Molly Yerkes was named Region 5 Principal of the Year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals for 2020. (Courtesy photo | Molly Yerkes)
Jorden Nigro speaks during the Woman of Distinction 2019 Celebration Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Centennial Hall. During her speech she advocated for seeing humanity in others and the value of showing up. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Women of Distiction event celebrates people who make a difference in Juneau

Raising AWARE-ness for Juneau’s wonder women.

Jorden Nigro speaks during the Woman of Distinction 2019 Celebration Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Centennial Hall. During her speech she advocated for seeing humanity in others and the value of showing up. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)