Key takeaways:

• Jagan Timilsina received the 2026 NOLS Alaska Merit Award
• The recognition honours outstanding instructor performance and leadership
• Timilsina began his mountain career as a porter in Nepal in 1998
• The award highlights his decade-long association with NOLS Alaska

KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 6 Nepali adventure tourism professional and outdoor educator Jagan Timilsina has received the 2026 NOLS Alaska Merit Award, a recognition presented to instructors for their performance and contribution to the NOLS Alaska community. Timilsina, founder of Freedom Adventures Pvt Ltd, received the award following a summer season in which NOLS Alaska conducted 74 expeditions, served around 900 students and filled 207 instructor positions. Timiilsina is reportedly the only one from Nepal to receive this award. According to the award announcement, the annual Merit Award is selected through a vote of NOLS Alaska's in-town staff and recognises instructors who distinguish themselves both in the field and within the broader organisation. NOLS Alaska Programme Manager Caio Poletti Romano described Timilsina as a role model for fellow instructors and recognised his contribution to students, colleagues and the wider team. In a message announcing the award, Romano said instructors help students develop confidence and resilience beyond technical outdoor skills, adding that their impact often extends far beyond the field. Timilsina's journey in Nepal's mountain tourism industry began in 1998 when he worked as a porter in the Himalayas. He later transitioned into guiding, climbing, outdoor leadership and instruction. His association with NOLS began in Alaska in 2016, an experience he said played a significant role in his professional and personal development. Reflecting on the recognition, Timilsina said the award carries a responsibility to continue learning and sharing knowledge with others. 'Receiving this Merit Award makes me very proud, but even more than that, it gives me a greater sense of responsibility,' he said. 'I know that I am still learning. There is still so much for me to understand, improve and contribute.' Timilsina said leadership in the outdoor profession extends beyond completing expeditions or reaching mountain summits. 'It is about serving others, continuing to learn, sharing knowledge, taking responsibility and helping the next generation become better outdoor leaders,' he said. The award recognises instructors whose contributions are reflected not only during expeditions but also in their mentorship, professionalism and interactions with students and colleagues. NOLS Alaska thanked Timilsina for the dedication, enthusiasm and hard work he brought to the organisation during the summer season and expressed hope that he would continue contributing to future programmes. The recognition marks a significant milestone in Timilsina's career, which has evolved from mountain porter work in Nepal to international outdoor instruction and leadership, while reinforcing his commitment to mentoring future generations of adventure tourism professionals.