Student Leadership Conferences
The Diversity Council offers two student leadership conferences during the academic year that engage students in discussions on diversity, inclusivity, social justice, being an up-stander, and more. Our High School Leadership Conference is held in November and our Middle/Elementary Leadership Conference is held in March, both of which take place at the main Kean University campus. At each program, students hear from a keynote speaker and have the opportunity to ask questions and consider their personal connections to the keynote theme. In addition, participants work collaboratively with students from different school districts to learn about the experiences of others and to promote equity, inclusion, and understanding in their school districts and communities. To learn more about these conferences and to bring your students, please email Sarah Coykendall, Managing Assistant Director, at coykends@kean.edu.
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award was established by the Holocaust Resource Center and Council on Global Education and Citizenship to honor Joy Prescott, a beloved Kean University employee, upon her retirement. Ms. Prescott dedicated more than 30 years of service to students and educators through her passion for diversity training, community building, and Holocaust education.
The Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award for Student Leadership and Dedication is presented at our High School Student Leadership Conference. The award is presented to a student leader committed to diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of social justice.
Nominees must be a student at a Diversity Council member site and have demonstrated evidence of leadership roles, community involvement, or activism. Click here for the nomination form
"Rahway High School Student Receives Prestigious Humanitarian Award"
Joy Prescott Humanitarian Award Winners
Congratulations to all of the 2024 Recipients!
Angelise Benimadho - Woodbridge High School, Tyler Boelhower - Woodbridge High School, Kacey Burd - Delaware Valley Regional High School, Mia Cardenas - Colonia High School, Ihaab Kashmiri - John F. Kennedy Memorial High School, Anais King - Montclair High School, Maya Larkey - Montclair High School/ Center for Social Justice, Leeana Lucas - Woodbridge High School, Selena Luong - Edison Township Public School, Grace Malanowski - Westfield High School/ No Place for Hate Committee, and Newark Vocational High School Student Council - Newark Vocational High School!
The 2023-24 Fritz Jonach Upstander Award
Fritz Jonach was a dedicated humanitarian, teacher and coach from Millburn High
School who was an active member of the Kean University Diversity Council. After
his sudden passing, a memorial award was established in his name. The award
criteria is based on implementing the Diversity Council on Global Education and
Citizenship’s mission statement into a project that encouraged civic engagement
and worked to create a culture of upstanders in their school.