Shine a Light Award
Swarthmore Centennial Foundation’s Award for Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion
The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation recognizes a person or organization who has made Swarthmore a more diverse, inclusive and equitable place to work, learn, do business, or live. The award honors a member of the Swarthmore community who has demonstrated compassion, perseverance, courage, and leadership by engaging in the important work of fostering human dignity and our common humanity.¹
Text adapted from Dartmouth College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award.
2024 Shine a Light Award Winner Jennifer Kennedy
The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation awarded the 2024 Shine A Light Award to Jennifer Kennedy, outgoing 3rd grade teacher at Swarthmore Rutledge School. Ms. Kennedy has been a tremendous force for good in the community, advocating for children’s needs, bringing diverse perspectives into the classroom to build empathy and awareness for social justice, and elevating issues of equity, inclusion, and civil rights throughout the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District. Read about it in The Swarthmorean, along with Ms. Kennedy’s moving remarks upon receiving the award amidst hugs from her adoring students.
In 2023, the Shine A Light Award was presented to Dr. John Alston. Dr. Alston is the Founder and Executive and Artistic Director of The Chester Children’s Chorus (CCC). Dr. Alston’s artistic passions and understanding of social change anchors the CCC, but the path was not always obvious. Read about it in The Swarthmorean.
Sara Kelly received the Shine a Light Award for 2022 on Sunday, September 18. As Executive Director of Swarthmore Recreation Association (SRA), Sara has placed inclusion at the core of the organization’s mission. Like the name of her award, Sara’s energy is truly electrifying. Read about it in The Swarthmorean.
The inaugural award honored Jeannine Osayande on August 12, 2021 during Swarthmore’s “Nights in the Ville!”. Ms. Osayande is pictured receiving the award along with her sisters, Donna and Annette. Said Ms. Osayande upon receiving the award, “On behalf of our family, on behalf of our ancestors, on behalf of our community, I want to thank all of you.” Read about it in The Swarthmorean.
Nominate a Person or Organization for the 2023 Shine a Light Award
The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation will accept nominations for our next award in the spring of 2024. We seek nominees and letters of recommendations from any members of the Swarthmore community, including but not limited to those who work, attend school, volunteer, or live in the Borough. In other words, this award is not limited to Swarthmore residents. The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation welcomes and encourages letters from all members of the community and looks to evaluate the nominees based on contributions to the community, not the prose of the letter writers.
Award: The award of $2500 will be given directly to the recipient.