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Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Social Justice Award for Sophomores & Juniors

The Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Social Justice Award was created in memory of Peter Morgenstern-Clarren who pursued social justice while a student at Wesleyan.  His activism included securing benefits for Wesleyan custodial staff, participating in the United Student and Labor Action Committee, and contributing his leadership to the campus chapter of Amnesty International.  We are grateful to Dr. Hadley Morgenstern-Clarren and The Honorable Pat Morgenstern-Clarren for their generosity in sponsoring this award that honors their son’s activism for the public good.  A committee will select the sophomore or junior who best embodies the pursuit of social justice.  The application process is described below.

Any sophomore or junior in good standing may submit an essay that addresses the following:

Describe in detail the most influential social justice effort in which you played a leadership role that sought to make our local and global communities more equitable (The effort should have a direct affect on the Wesleyan campus and/or on external communities.);

• Explain your level of involvement in the work for example: your role in raising awareness about a particular issue on campus, coordinating events, implementing programming and campaigns in the pursuit of social justice;
• In addition to your essay, you must include a letter of support from a faculty or administrator involved in your effort and submit evidence of impact that the social justice effort had on making our society more just by contributing testimonies from individuals (excluding family and friends) directly involved, artifacts from your social justice effort (e.g., past printed programs, presentations, and articles), and/or your work from courses. You may include non-print items, such as DVDs.

You must include at least four copies of the non-print and printed items and drop them off to Dean Marina J. Melendez, North College, 2^nd floor, Room 215 by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2015.  All essays, letters of support and printed items must be in by the deadline.  By submitting your packet, you agree to allow the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Institutional Partnerships to use it (or excerpts from it) for assessment, archival, and promotion purposes.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Dean Marina J. Melendez, Ph.D., x.2765, mmelendez@wesleyan.edu.

Previous recipients:

2014:  Hailey Sowden, class of 2015 Middletown Food Project/Long Lane Farm

2013:  Joshua Krugman, class of 2014             Long Lane Organic Farm

2012:  Corey Guilmette, class of 2013              Wesleyan Committee for Investor Responsibility

2011:  Ali Chaudry, class of 2012                      Pakistan Flood Relief Initiative

2010:  Allegra Stout, class of 2012                    Disability Issues

2009:  Lily Mandlin, class of 2010                     Facilitator, North End Action Team Teen Dreams Society

2008:  Mu Abeledo, class of 2009                     Founder, Middletown Youth Radio Project (MYRP)

2007: Lashawn Springer, class of 2008            Program Organizer, “Common Struggle for Freedom & Justice”

 

 

 

Selection Committee:  Joseph Matthew Brown ’03; Richard Culliton ; Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students; Derek Vincent Garcia, ’04; Renee Johnson-Thornton, Dean of Equity & Inclusion; Lily Mandlin, 2009 Recipient & Alumna ’10; Marina Melendez, Class Dean 2018 & Chair; Ann Wightman, Professor of History and Latin American Studies.