Fair Increases Student Support with $10,000 in Scholarship Awards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine Alaska high school students recognized in 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palmer, Alaska \u2013 The Alaska State Fair is expanding its investment in Alaska\u2019s next generation, awarding $10,000 in scholarships to nine high school students from across the state, up from $8,000 awarded to six students last year. Applicants submitted a cover letter, extracurricular resume, letter of recommendation, photo, and a written essay or creative project responding to a Fair-provided prompt about the Alaska State Fair or agriculture in Alaska. This year, the Fair received 70 applications. Every student who submitted a completed application will also receive two free admissions to the 2026 Fair, scheduled for August 21 \u2013 September 7 at the fairgrounds in Palmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First place – $3,000: Iris Clarice Wilson of Ester<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iris Clarice Wilson, a senior at North Star College in Fairbanks, will attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks and plans to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree, and eventually a master\u2019s degree. A singer-songwriter and guitarist, Wilson has performed locally since age 13, participated in choir for three years, was accepted into All-State Choir and Solo and Ensemble twice, and volunteers with Our 2 Cents Fairbanks. For her creative project, Wilson wrote \u201cFour Days,\u201d an original song celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Alaska State Fair. The song honors the families of the Matanuska Valley farming colony and reflects on the first Alaska State Fair as a four-day showcase of resilience, community and Alaska\u2019s agricultural roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Second place – $2,000: Ethan Stanis of Anchorage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ethan Stanis, a junior from Anchorage who earned his GED after attending Dimond High School, will attend Alaska Vocational Technical College to study information technology. Stanis has built a strong work ethic through jobs in food service and as an elementary school cafeteria assistant, while also pursuing his interest in technology by building and reselling custom PC systems locally. In his creative project video, Stanis reflected on taking the train to the Fair last year, spending a full day at the fairgrounds and seeing one of his favorite electronic music artists, Zedd, in concert. His video captured how that experience became more than a concert, ending with a message of gratitude to the Fair \u201cfor helping me find my community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Third place – $1,500: Claire Elizabeth Saltzman of Anchorage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claire Elizabeth Saltzman, a senior at Dimond High School in Anchorage, will attend the University of Wyoming to study speech-language pathology. A 4.0 student, athlete, volunteer, artist and farm hand, Saltzman has worked three consecutive summers on a ranch, where she learned animal husbandry, irrigation, machinery operation, calving, haying and livestock care. For her creative project, Saltzman proposed \u201cThe Farmyard Frenzy,\u201d an agriculture-themed obstacle course designed to introduce fairgoers to different aspects of farming through hands-on challenges, local partnerships and low-cost activities. Inspired by her own experience as a young woman entering agriculture with no prior background, the project aims to encourage more young people\u2014especially women\u2014to get involved in Alaska agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4H\/FFA\/Vendor Award – $1,000: Daisy Christiansen of Palmer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daisy Christiansen, a senior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School in Wasilla, will attend Utah State University and plans to return to Alaska after graduation to contribute to her home community. Christiansen is completing the CNA program through her school\u2019s health pathway and has been involved in 4-H, soccer, church youth leadership and community service. A lifelong Fair attendee, 4-H member and former Fair employee, Christiansen has entered the giant cabbage competition and shown 4-H market animals at the Fair. For her creative project, she proposed a free \u201cAlaska passport\u201d activity for children, with educational booths and hands-on activities highlighting Alaska industries and resources including agriculture, mining, fishing, aviation, forestry, and oil and natural gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Special Recognition – $500: Emerson Claire Kapp of Soldotna<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emerson Claire Kapp, a senior at Soldotna High School, will attend the University of Idaho to study business and entrepreneurship. A lifelong Alaskan, Kapp has been active in student leadership, community theater, volunteer work and school service, including serving as student representative to the school board and helping launch her school\u2019s Community Broadcast media initiative. In her creative project, Kapp proposed \u201cAlaska Maze Boards,\u201d an interactive, educational activity that would invite fairgoers\u2014especially children and families\u2014to explore Alaska through themed maze boards placed around the fairgrounds. Her project emphasized accessibility, low cost and sponsorship potential while creating a fun way for visitors to learn more about Alaska\u2019s communities, resources and Fair traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Special Recognition – $500: Faith Lauren Salima of Anchorage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faith Lauren Salima, a senior at Grace Christian School in Anchorage, is considering Texas State University and other colleges as she prepares for her next step after graduation. A multi-sport athlete, student council member and volunteer, Salima has been active in basketball, volleyball, track and field, church service, student mentoring, and mission work in rural Alaska and Italy. Salima\u2019s family has a long connection to the Alaska State Fair through her grandfather\u2019s Fair booth, and she has grown up attending the Fair, visiting the barns, concerts, rides, food vendors and exhibits with family and friends. In her scholarship essay, Salima proposed several low-cost ways to celebrate the Fair\u2019s 90th anniversary, including a historic Fair photo contest, a social media story challenge and a hands-on planting activity to help young children learn about agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Special Recognition – $500: Hedya Whitaker of Unalaska<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hedya Whitaker, a senior at IDEA Homeschool in Unalaska, will attend THE Beauty School in Wasilla and plans to become a certified hair stylist before returning home to serve her island community. Whitaker has been active in volleyball, archery, theater, community events and volunteer service, and has also worked as a commercial fishing deckhand, barista, housemaid, babysitter and stocker\/clerk. In her creative project, Whitaker proposed using a 12-foot by 12-foot booth at the Alaska State Fair to offer hair services such as braiding, tinsel and haircuts, giving her valuable hands-on experience while providing a fun service for fairgoers. Her video ended with a montage of before-and-after hair transformations, reflecting her goal of bringing confidence, creativity and reliable hairstyling services to Unalaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special Recognition – $500: Pagan Ally Kate Lester of Iliamna<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pagan Ally Kate Lester, a senior at Newhalen School in Newhalen, will attend Ottawa University in Kansas to study exercise science with a concentration in allied health before applying to a nursing program. Lester is also earning her Associate of Science through the University of Alaska Fairbanks while completing high school, and plans to wrestle at the collegiate level before eventually returning to Alaska to work in health care. A student government president, athlete, youth coach, peer mentor and community volunteer, Lester has been active in wrestling, basketball, cross-country, Native Youth Olympics and youth wellness programming. In her scholarship project, \u201cLet\u2019s Hunt YoYo Style,\u201d Lester proposed a Fair booth that would turn traditional Indigenous practices into an interactive carnival-style game using traditional Alaska Native yoyos, creating a fun way for fairgoers to learn about regional cultures, community and Alaska Native history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Honorable Mention – $500: Morgan McCoy Carlson-Kelly of Anchor Point<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morgan McCoy Carlson-Kelly, a senior with Connections Homeschool Program in Homer, will attend Richmond American University London to study international relations, with plans to return to Alaska and work in public service. An active member of 4-H and FFA, Carlson-Kelly is serving as the 2025-2026 Alaska FFA State Secretary and has also held leadership roles with Educators Rising Alaska, Girl Scouts, student government and 4-H Youth in Governance. In her essay, Carlson-Kelly wrote about the Alaska State Fair\u2019s role in supporting the next generation of farmers through youth education, mentorship and agricultural innovation. Her video creative project celebrated the Fair\u2019s 90-year history as a place where Alaskans gather to honor agriculture, community and \u201cthe people who keep Alaska growing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n About the Fair Scholarship Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n The annual scholarship program is an important component of the Fair\u2019s mission to educate as well as entertain. Alaska junior and senior high school students who plan to attend college or vocational school are eligible to apply. The application window typically runs from January through March, with recipients announced each spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, the Fair awarded $8,000 in scholarships to six deserving students: Katherine Deering of Palmer, Grace Cook of Palmer, Jordan Hartman of Seward, Liam Wade of North Pole, Evangeline Newkirk of Eagle River and Cagney Davis of Juneau.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fair Increases Student Support with $10,000 in Scholarship Awards Nine Alaska high school students recognized in 2026 Palmer, Alaska \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":59861,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44,5],"tags":[],"sp_smart_badges":[],"class_list":["post-59860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fairgrounds-features","category-features"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.alaskastatefair.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-Scholarship-Winners_FeatureBox.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Melissa Keefe","author_link":"https:\/\/www.alaskastatefair.org\/site\/author\/mk\/"},"yoast_head":"\n