United Academics Announces Brace Award Winners for 2005-2006
The United Academics Jeffrey Brace Book Award for 2005-2006 goes to four exceptional students: Elizabeth Greene, a sophomore Political Science major; Kaoru Nakai, a junior Social Work major; Jillian Prentiss, a sophomore Social Work major; and Samantha D. Robin, a sophomore Geology major.
Elizabeth Greene agrees that the value of an education is how it is put to use "to produce real and enduring social change." As a volunteer with the King Street Youth Center and through her work with the AFL-CIO, Greene recognizes that "social change doesn't come overnight. Social and economic justice cannot be gained by writing a letter to the editor or volunteering for a day. They must be gained through struggle, determination, and patience. The change must come from everyday people; it must come from us."
Kaoru Nakai has realized the importance of social and economic issues in the US since coming from Japan three years ago and engaging in service-learning through her studies in the department of Social Work. Knowing first hand the disadvantage of being discriminated against, she says, "I have felt the issue of discrimination should be addressed more and we should pursue social change by challenging discrimination and other kinds of social injustice."
Jillian Prentiss values her UVM education for the opportunities it gives her to create change. "I want to be part of something bigger than me, a world wide effort to make the world a fair place." Prentiss brings this perspective to her work in the community as a program coordinator for Volunteers in Action, a tutor at Edmunds Middle School, and a support worker at the Howard Center for Human Services.
Samantha Robin has been a vocal advocate for multicultural understanding while at UVM. "I know that there may be individuals who do not want to hear or talk about social justice issues but if I don't say anything I will not be representing my identity." Robin has put that commitment to work as a founding member of Urban Flava (UVM step team), an officer for the Black Student Union, a member of the Student Government Association, a member of the multicultural sorority Omicron Lambda Pi, and an intern with the Admissions Office Diversity Team.
All four Brace Award winners demonstrate an awareness of the power and privilege of education and have already made strides to use this power to fight the issues of social justice for which Vermonter Jeffrey Brace -- former slave, Revolutionary War Veteran, farmer, and memoirist -- fought.
Click here to return to UA's main Brace Awards page.
Last updated March 25, 2008