2018 Recipient of the Princeton Prize In Race Relations.
On April 27 and 28, 2018, I participated in the Princeton Prize Symposium on Race that took place on the Princeton University campus in New Jersey. This trip was included as part of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations I was given for my work in helping introduce an Ethnic Studies elective course at my school, High Tech High Chula Vista (HTHCV).
As described on the Princeton Prize website, “the Princeton Prize in Race Relations recognizes and rewards high school students who have had a significant positive effect on race relations in their schools or communities through their volunteer efforts… Prize recipients receive a cash prize of $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid weekend to a national symposium on race at Princeton University… Prize recipients are recognized at ceremonies in their local regions by Princeton alumni.” This year the Prize was awarded to 28 high school students from around the United States.
The weekend I spent visiting Princeton University was amazing. The relationships that I developed with young people from all over the nation touched my heart and reaffirmed the value of my community work. I saw my own passion and dedication reflected in each of unique projects shared by the other prize winners. When we talked about why we do the work that we do, I felt the love I had was also being shared with me. Never before had I experienced such pride in being a young activist scholar, and I know that we will be the generation to demand change and not be intimidated by the difficulties that will come from our work. Being at Princeton not only made me feel at home in a community of people, it made me feel as though I had also contributed something to the Princeton campus community and legacy.
My trip to Princeton was followed by the 4th annual San Diego Princeton Prize in Race Relations Award Ceremony that took place in Point Loma on May6, 2018. It was a beautiful sunny day in San Diego, a perfect addition to the wonderful honor of receiving this award. I was one of four local San Diego students who were honored with the opportunity to attend a ceremony that was organized by the Princeton Prize Committee of San Diego. This event was especially for our families, Princeton Alumni, and local leaders such as the amazing keynote speaker, San Diego Superior Court Judge Sharon L. Kalemkiarian.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that the alumni have provided me with with this award, and feel the need to personally thank the members of the selection committee of San Diego: Javier Hernandez (Chair), Marie-Line Allen, Bernardo Ferdman, Carol Hasson, Gabriela Kovats, Beverly Randez, Tony Rodriguez, and Mary Slattery Johnson. I also have to thank my parents, family and friends who attended an after-ceremony “tardeada” that included carne asada and my grandmother’s tamales.
Education has always been one of the most important things to my family. Both my parents are first generation college graduates, and they made sure that when the time came for me to start thinking about universities I knew that I had access to all the necessary resources to build upon their legacies of academic achievement and community service. They always wanted me to at least match what they had done. With this prize and through my visit to Princeton University, for the first time I was able to visualize myself attending an Ivy League school. I am truly grateful for having been chosen for this prize because it not only provided me access to a totally new experience, but my visit to Princeton has allowed me to expand my horizons in terms of what I see as being possible for in future.
“How We Get There” – Princeton Prize in Race Relations from Evelyn Tu on Vimeo.