JA Educator and Volunteer of the Year: Celebrating two of many dedicated to educating Alaska's next workforce.

• Position: JUNIOR ACHIEVMENT SPECIAL SECTION

Junior Achievement of Alaska Educator of the Year

Sand Lake Elementary Principal Linson Thompson has been selected as the Junior Achievement of Alaska Educator of the Year. Thompson has been a strong supporter of Junior Achievement's mission to encourage entrepreneurship and help Alaska's youth build workforce readiness and financial literacy skills.

Through the annual JA in a Day event at Sand Lake Elementary School, in partnership with ExxonMobil, students are given the opportunity to interact with professionals from the business community while participating in hands-on, experiential learning activities that will prepare them for the future.

For the past severalyears, Thompson's support of community partnership and collaboration has been inspiring. "The teachers and principal at Sand Lake go above and beyond for their students to insure they will be prepared for future success," says Flora Teo, president of Junior Achievement of Alaska. "Every year we look forward to working with their students in this really beautiful collaboration of educators and business professionals. Principal Thompson makes it a point to come to welcome all the volunteers and thank them all for taking time off for the students at Sand Lake. People remember that, and we appreciate his dedication and support."

Junior Achievement of Alaska Volunteer of the Year

Jenna Compehos, a compliance specialist for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, has been selected as the Junior Achievement of Alaska Volunteer of the Year. Compehos serves as the community committee chair in Valdez. As such, she works with members of the...