2025 Juniper Award Recipients

Artistic Director, Truckee Community Theater​

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Carrie Haines is originally from Mill Valley, California. She earned her BFA in Acting from the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California and also studied English and Dramatic Arts at Sonoma State University. A proud member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association, Carrie has been directing stage productions at the community and professional level since 1990.

 

Carrie has been part of the Truckee-Tahoe community for 20 years and joined the Truckee Community Theater team in 2017. In 2019, she was named Artistic Director. She is passionate about directing, teaching, coaching, and occasionally—performing. Carrie is a member of the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) and the founder and director of Center Stage Scholars, a theatre enrichment program for elementary and middle school students. She resides in Truckee with her husband, John, and their daughter, Lily. Carrie’s philosophy is that theatre is for everyone—and everyone is welcome to be a part of the experience.

Captain, Truckee Meadows Fire​

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Over 30 years ago a traumatic boating accident nearly took my life.  Firefighters saved my life that day.  That event shifted the trajectory of my life.  Experiencing the magic and joy of life with a commitment to service became my foundation.  Currently I am a Captain with Truckee Meadows Fire.  Firefighter mental health and wellness is near and dear to my heart.  Creating ways for firefighters to fully thrive instead of survive has been a priority in my life.  In my own life I have found that creative outlet is a key component of thriving.  Woodworking, metalworking, and djing electronic music have been that creative outlet.  While continuing my personal path of growth and healing I discovered breathwork.  I was amazed at how physical it was and what this practice has allowed me to release.  Most firefighters were taught to push down the challenging emotions associated with this career.  Through breathwork I experienced these emotions could be fully felt and released from the body.  Providing these breathwork journeys to firefighters, military, veterans, front line workers, law enforcement, and anyone who resonates with my creative approach brings great fulfillment to my life.

Founder and director of Little Bird Music and cofounder of MusicWings 

 

Alice Cotter is a passionate public scholar and music educator in the Truckee-Tahoe region. She is the founder and director of Little Bird Music and co-founder of MusicWings, a nonprofit music scholarship organization. 

 

Alice grew up in Nevada City, CA and went on to study music theory, composition, and piano performance at the University of California at Berkeley, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Music in 2006.

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In 2009, Alice moved from Truckee, where she taught many piano students, to Princeton, NJ to embark on her graduate studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from Princeton University. Alice has presented her research on American minimalism and contemporary American opera at conferences throughout North America, published articles and reviews in several scholarly journals, and is a contributor to Oxford Bibliographies. She has taught in the music departments at Princeton, UC Berkeley, and UNR. A working musicologist, Alice is currently writing a book on the operas of John Coolidge Adams. She is an active member of the American Musicological Society, the Music Teachers' Association of California, the National Guild of Piano Teachers (for which she is our region’s chairperson), and is on the board of directors of the Music Teachers’ Association of California Placer Branch.

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Settled in Truckee, Alice is able to combine her enthusiasm for teaching music with her scholarly interests and love of the mountains. She is respected for her fun, creative approach to teaching and the positive learning environment of her studio.

 

Alice is a mother herself, loving every moment with her family: 11-year-old daughter (Ingrid), nine-year-old son (Cody), and husband (Paul). She also loves rocking out with her fellow bandmates in the all-women’s rock band The Steel Sparrows.

Executive Director, Tahoe Ability Program​

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I started Tahoe Ability Program in September 2020, during the height of the pandemic. It was a challenging time for everyone, especially for the population I work with. I saw that a vital service in our area no longer existed, and I knew I had to do something.

 

Starting a business, let alone a nonprofit serving individuals with special needs, was a completely new experience for me. It took countless hours of research, long days, and a lot of learning along the way. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Those challenges confirmed that I was on the right path, not just for myself, but for those around me and for my community.

Receiving this award is an incredible honor. It fills me with hope for the future and reminds me that there are so many people who choose to meet the challenges and not run away. I’m deeply grateful to be recognized among them. Thank you to Jeff, his family, and to everyone who continues to be movers and shakers in making a difference.

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team​

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My name is Kylie Kariotis, a member of the U.S. Ski Team for moguls. I compete on the World Cup circuit and am working towards my goal of reaching the podium and one day qualifying for the Olympic Games. I grew up skiing out of Olympic Valley, California, and now study finance at Boston College, balancing school with full-time competition.

Supervisor of Patient Care Technicians, Tahoe Forest Hospital

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My Name is Cameron Polic. I am the current Supervisor of Patient Care Technicians at Tahoe Forest Hospital. I started my medical journey in the Central Valley of California circa 2018 as a patient transporter for a local hospital. At this point in time I had little knowledge of the path I was about to go down. Everyday, I remember growing more and more curious about the medical field through my experiences that I had faced. I advanced my career from transporter to cardiac stress technician to Critical Care technician where I worked in an ICU during the Covid pandemic. There, I was able to expand my skills not only as a tech but as a person who is able to connect to their patients and their families needs through compassion, kindness and strength when facing difficult challenges. Even through the rough times I would keep a mantra to get me through my shift: “I am seeing this person on their worst day, I am here to make it better.”  The act of being there just to offer a shoulder to lean on, an ear to vent to or provide a warm blanket goes a lot farther than most people acknowledge. 

 

All of my past experiences have brought me to this point today. Where I have found a community that helps and supports each other regardless of their background. Where everyone is able to voice their opinions and improve upon our processes based on their past experiences. Tahoe Forest has provided me the opportunity to use my experiences as a technician to improve upon our own standards. I could not be more grateful to those I work with for providing such a rewarding environment to grow in. 

 

Programs like the Jeff Hamilton Legacy Fund encourage people like myself to strive for more. To continue what I am doing and know that it does not go unnoticed. I am beyond grateful to be recognized for my work and thankful for people like Jeff who wanted to create something so special for his community. I aim to be just like Jeff in life, and to that, I thank you and your family for making such a wonderful fund to help those who strive to better not only themselves but their community.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team, Slopestyle 

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Skiing has taught me so many important lessons and given me endless opportunities. The sport pushes me to be a better person, athlete, competitor, and skier. Most importantly my love for skiing gives me freedom to shape who I am and will be forever grateful.

HydroFlask U.S. Snowboard Team, Slopestyle

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For as long as I could remember, being in the mountains has been a beautiful escape from the often hectic world around me. When I found snowboarding, the love and passion felt effortless. The list of reasons I love snowboarding is endless, from the small things like chairlift rides with friends and fresh corduroy on a bluebird morning to all the life lessons and opportunities that snowboarding has given me. As for the future, it would be neat to compete at the Olympics, XGames, Laax Open and maybe even win some, but above all, my goal is to love snowboarding just as much as the day I started and snowboard until the day that I die!

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team

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Being the daughter of a ski patrol and a school teacher, I have always felt very connected to the Tahoe community. I have felt the support from all around ever since I was young to follow my dreams of being a ski racer. I am so grateful for everyone who has helped me get to where I am now, and I am so proud to represent a community like Tahoe.

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

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Growing up in Tahoe with our amazing community shaped my love for the outdoors at an early age. Skiing became my ultimate passion along the way and it still is today. I’m fortunate for all that skiing has given me and grateful to everyone who has helped me on this journey. Getting to work at this every day, alongside great teammates and friends, is such a privilege and I won’t forget that!

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team

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I am Allison Mollin, an alpine racer from Truckee CA. I ski downhill and super-g disciplines because for me the best parts of skiing are going fast and getting air. I’m currently attending classes at CU Boulder while I pursue my career on the World Cup.