JEFFERSON AWARDS NATIONAL CEREMONY, Washington DC

It was a proud day for us at Benedictine Academy to receive the 2013 National Jefferson Awards Ambassador Gold Medal in Washington, DC for best Public Volunteer Service Leadership by a High School in the United States of America.  Four Students, representing Benedictine Academy's nineteen Students In Action Leaders, attended the ceremonies.

(Left to Right: Mr. & Mrs. John Airoso (parents of Marina Santiago), Sr. Donna Jo Repetti, Marina Santiago,

Eileen Conaty, Kayla Roque, Karol Pierre, Mrs. Michalski, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Jones)

The Jefferson Gold Medal is known as the "Nobel Prize for Service".  Forty one years ago, Sam Beard, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Senator Robert Taft, Jr. co-founded the Jefferson Awards to recognize and award people who give back to our country in extraordinary ways.

This year, the National Recipient for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen was awarded to Professor Elie Wiesel.  "After winning the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, Professor Elie Wiesel started the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.

  

The Foundation's mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance, and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality.  Wiesel, born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania (now part of Romania), was fifteen years old when he and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. His mother and younger wiser perished; his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died.  After the war, Wiesel studied in Paris and became a journalist.  The result was his internationally acclaimed memoir, NIGHT La Nuit). 

Chris Wallace was the Master of Ceremonies. The National Recipients for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed official was awarded to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and U.S. Senator Tom Coburn. They were recognized for their integrity, independence and bipartisan leadership.  Senator Leahy stands out for his leadership in immigration reform.  An important societal issue currently being reviewed by he US Senate for the protection of human rights for all people.  Senator Coburn stands out for his advocacy work of healthcare for the elderly and newborn infants.

 General Electric is the 2013 Jefferson Award Gold Medal Winner for Outstanding Public Service by a Major Corporation.  GE's commitment to citizenship and volunteerism is deeply rooted in its culture and strategy.  In the past year alone, they have donated over $220 million to communities and nonprofit organizations and directed more than $800,000 in grants to community organizations.  GE's Global Community Days brings over 300,000 employees together from over 55 countries to one geographic area on the same day for a volunteer event.

The Students In Action Program was established for young people in high school who embrace the core values for which this country stands.  In America, a place where grass roots citizens feel compelled to act with compassion to help others and make a strong impact in our society for the better, there are over 325 high school who are implementing the Jefferson Awards Students In Action Public Volunteer Service Program and following the seven directives to develop active citizenship in their schools .

 On the highest level, there are only five Ambassador High Schools who also serve as Mentors, bright lights to other high schools, while engaging, training and building a a culture of volunteerism among their peers. Benedictine Academy was the proud recipient of the 2013 National Jefferson Awards Ambassador Gold Medal in Washington, DC for best Public Volunteer Service Leadership by a High School in the United States of America.

(My apologies for my shaky video taping.)

 Our students were recognized as champion do-gooders, whose social responsibility efforts have made a visible, measurable impact on our society.  They collaborated and partnered with others in the community to work for the dignity of humankind.  To stand next to such great people in history as Professor Elie Wiesel is the most humbling experience.  

We are truly grateful to the Lord for using us as His instrument for peace and justice in the world.  

Other National Award Recipients include Dolores Huerta for her lifetime of public service for labor and civil rights, co-founding he National Farmworkers Association with Cesar Chavez.  She began a lifetime crusade to correct economic injustice.  She has directed UFW's successful boycotts and made the plight of farm workers visible to consumers.  Arrested over fifty times for peaceful demonstrations, Dolores now engages and develops young leaders in civic engagement and policy advocacy.

The Greatest Public Service by an Individual under the age of 35 was awarded to Dr. Neilesh Patel.  Dr. Neilesh Patel, manager and founder of Healthcare professionals, a non-profit portal that connects over 30,000 volunteers and job seekers interested in health-related volunteering with over 3,050 organizations.  A Biomedical graduate of John Hopkins University, is also the recipient of the UCLA CEY Humanitarian Award.

Mark Erin received the Greatest Public Service Award by a Professional Athlete. Founder of the Washinton Kastles, World Team Tennis Franchise, Ein is Chairperson of the District of Columbia Public Schools Educational Fund that has raised over $80 million of philanthropic support in four years.   Ein is also the Founder of Venturehouse Group, a holding company that creates, invests in and builds technology and telecommunications companies. He is a graduate of The Wharton School and MBA from the Harvard Business School.

As we entered in Washington DC, we stopped in at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, one of the largest shrines in our country, to give thanks to God and our Blessed Mother Mary. 

It is our prayer that in our own small way we can continue to make a difference in our world

for the better, change lives and give hope.

(The SIA Leadership Team: Vanessa Fragiacomo, Karina Costa, Kayla Roque, Sydney Sigue, Adrienne Bagtas, Ewa Kowalczyk, Anglin Thevarajah, Jada Yarbough, Samantha Frejuste, Mrs. Michalski, Eileen Conaty, Alexander Desir, Andrea Lopez, Marina Santiago, Janelle Isaacs, Toni Davis-Wilson, Karol Pierre, Nathalie Barillas, Natasha Hicks, Mary Palma, Joyce Mendoza)