Six students from the Central High School District were publicly honored for their efforts in building bridges across communities and creating a more civil society.
On April 15, Amritha Jacob, Joan Mesy and Jordan Novak of Calhoun High School along with Rachel Nossen, Samantha Einbinder and Layla Schechner of Kennedy High School were recognized at Nassau County’s Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) program hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island.
“Each student was designated as a recipient of the Students Building Bridges Award and received a citation from an elected official and a certificate from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island,” explained Christina Cone, a district social studies chairperson.
Jacob is active in Model Congress and is a member of International Buddy Club and TedEd clubs. She did a TEDed talk about implicit bias - highlights of which she delivered again in a speech to the Calhoun community during its first “Colture Day.” She is also a vocal member of Long Island’s Erase Racism Student Task Force, providing training to students, teachers and administrators at conferences and gatherings all across the island.
Mesy is president of the International Buddy Club and has helped the club to familiarize members with various world cultures. As IBC president and member of Long Island’s Erase Racism Student Task Force, Joan has also aided in the development of workshops and trainings regarding culture, racism and discrimination for staff and students, K-12.
Novak created a program where students assist students with everyday challenges to ease the stress and anxiety that some feel as they transition from middle school into high school. She has also worked with her temple and school to introduce The Cinderella Project which brings together all of the resources needed to help underprivileged students in Brooklyn prepare for a prom: dresses, makeup, hair products, etc.
Nossen, Einbinder and Schechner are all part of the Kennedy School and Community Leadership program.
Nossen worked diligently to persuade the press to stop using the term “Lady Cougars” when referencing Kennedy's female athletes as the term perpetuates bias.
Einbinder is a dedicated student ambassador who works toward improving society for others by raising money for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society and the district’s very own community cupboard. In addition, she devotes much of her time to the Nassau Youth Council where she works to promote issues important to young people.
Schechner devoted time to set up a Virtual Turkey Trot to raise money for Sunrise Day Camp. This organization hosts summer camp at no cost for children who are going through chemo and their siblings.