Teen podcaster awarded scholarship for 'heroic' community impact

A "hero" walks among us.

Junior Mia Wiederspohn has been selected as one of six Alaska teenagers to receive a scholarship through the Summer of Heroes program.

The program each year recognizes teens who are making positive impacts in their communities. Wiederspohn was selected because of her efforts to keep the Tlingit language and culture alive through radio broadcasts and podcasts and for her work in the high school BASE (Building a Supportive Environment) program.

Wiederspohn, 15, was awarded $1,500 to go toward her continuing education, which she has mapped out.

"My plan is my (for) my senior year of high school, I'm going to take college classes, prerequisites and intro classes," she said. "I'm going to have all my high school credentials done by the end of my junior year, and once I graduate I'll probably go to University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau."

Though she has her education mapped out until her first year in college, she's not sure if she wants to pursue a medical degree or something that would give her a career in the outdoors.

The award has motivated Wiederspohn to keep producing podcasts and working on the Tlingit language broadcasts with teacher Virginia Oliver.

"It feels really nice (to be selected), especially not just after I did it but kind of an ongoing thing, which makes me want to continue doing it, of course," she said.

Since her freshman year, Wiederspohn estimates she has helped produce about 20 Tlingit phrase broadcasts and she has produced about five podcasts since starting that endeavor this year. She found out about the award last month.

"I'm not quite sure who told them what I was up to, which is kind of funny because I got anonymously recommended for another award (this year) as well, the Young Leader of the Year award for the (Wrangell) chamber of commerce," she said.

It was retired assistant principal Bob Davis who nominated Wiederspohn for the heroes honor. The award was previously won by another Wrangell High School student, Jade Balansag, who created the BASE program and now attends George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.

Summer of Heroes is in its 12th year, having awarded 74 Alaska teens in 25 different communities in that time. The program is a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club Alaska and Alaska Communications, an internet service provider.

Wiederspohn has a busy year ahead of her with school, work and athletic programs, but she's determined to continue producing her podcast, "Mia's Gift," found at kstk.org.

"There's a lot of material I can still cover," she said. "I can go deeper on the (Wrangell) Institute ... there's Sergief Island and the war that happened there, Old Town, fish camps at Anan. There's lots I can cover. ... I just want to inform the community about place-based history."