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Sean Bennett
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The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award is presented annually for outstanding and significant contributions to the causes of freedom, justice, and equality. With the close of February and Black History Month, the Salem State University MLK, Jr. and Black History Month Collaborative recognize again the campus community members who were selected to receive the MLK Leadership Award.
Honored on February 10, 2022, at the 32nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, the names of these leaders will be inscribed on the plaque for this prestigious award in the Ellison Campus Center.
Social Work Professor Lamont Simmons was named as this year's faculty award recipient. His nominators wrote that he is "a soft-spoken, thoughtful, and compassionate educator...He reminds students of their innate value and worth in ways that have been transformative...[including] creating and sustaining the Men of Color Learning community for the past several years...His pedagogy is grounded in, and informed by, his compassion for humanity...I know that this is not an award he would ever seek for himself, but it is certainly one that he richly deserves."
Sam Lim '22, Higher Education in Student Affairs MEd., candidate, was chosen as the graduate student MLK award recipient. Sam's nominators applauded that, "...They have worked tirelessly to make sure that every student they can reach can be helped or heard...They have put the needs of students above their own. They have worked to have their students truly focus on intersectionality and have been there to support students in whatever they need from them...They have worked to educate all clubs that have hosted events to ensure everything is as inclusive as possible...They haven't backed down from a challenge yet." Sam also serves as the LGBTQIA+ Coordinator in the Center for Justice and Liberation.
Kaleigh Lessieur '23, is a Nursing major selected among undergraduates to receive this award. Nominators raved that Kaleigh, "fully believes in giving to others and there’s no challenge she won’t face to give back to the communities she serves...She has traveled multiple times through the Honors Program to help those in need overseas, aiding in free and accessible healthcare to countries with high needs, like Honduras and Guatemala, even in 2020 and 2021...Kaleigh also tutors students in the Ukraine virtually, helping them to learn English. She builds an inclusive environment through her passion and energy to help anyone."
Kelly Cryts '22, is an Early Childhood Education/Psychology major who was also named among undergraduates for the MLK Leadership Award. Kelly's supporters commended her leadership role "as the President of the Community Service Initiative (CSI). She led the group in coordinating weekly meetings, 14 service events, and contributing 228 service hours last semester. These service activities, many coordinated by Kelly, benefit many under-resourced and under-served organizations and populations. Kelly revived CSI’s service trips this academic year, sending a dozen students and staff to New Mexico to work with a Habitat for Humanity chapter for a week's service in March," wrote her nominators.
Joseph Cambone, Dean of the School of Education was chosen as the administrator/staff award recipient. His nominators wrote, "innovation is at the heart of the Salem State University School of Education, demonstrated through his commitment to 'seeing beyond borders.' Joe is the campus champion for Jumpstart, an AmeriCorps program that 'envisions a day when every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. At the heart of this vision is a belief in educational equity and a commitment to valuing the dignity of every person. This is accomplished by addressing systemic injustices, especially racial, ethnic and socio-economic' [barriers]...He makes a continuous commitment to usher in a new era of teacher preparation and programming that meets the complex needs of today’s educational system."
Keith Knight, SSU Class of 1990, was selected as the Alumni recipient of the MLK Leadership Award. Praise for Keith describes him as "...a leader in social justice education...for many years. He is not afraid of controversy and has stepped forward with some very provocative, and always thoughtful, commentary through artwork, writing and conversation. Keith represents the best of us...He started his fight at Salem State. Every day he tries to challenge the societal norm, at great risk to himself. He could likely make far more money working for a major company, but he chooses to take on the tough topics and make things uncomfortable when needed. He's been a vocal advocate for race education since graduation. He is a published artist and author, and executive producer of 'Woke', a television show on Hulu."
Congratulations to each and every member of the 2022 Class of MLK Leadership Award recipients. Coordinated by the SSU MLK, Jr. Celebration and Black History Month Collaborative.