Schools
TEAM Westport Awards Scholarships to Staples Graduates
Two students were recognized for their work in advocating for diversity and understanding.
Graduating seniors Rebecca Nissim and Jahari Dodd both received the TEAM Westport Staples Scholarship at Staples High School's end-of-year Award Ceremony in June. TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey, Jr. made the presentation.
The award, $500 for tuition and school-related expenses and a commemorative plaque, is made to the Staples High School graduating senior whose leadership, personal involvement and high standards of service have most significantly advanced the engagement and understanding of the Staples Community with respect to diversity in the areas of race, ethnicity/religion and/or sexual orientation.
Nissim was cited for her work with the Staples' Gay-Straight Alliance throughout her high school career, having served as president or co-president since her sophomore year. Recommendations described her as particularly successful at helping non-LGBT students understand how homophobia and heterosexism affect everyone through such events as the first Ally Day and the Day of Silence, as well as annual trips to the True Colors conference. She will attend Johnson and Wales University in the fall.
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Dodd, an A Better Chance scholar, has been a role model and contributor to a variety of diverse activities at Staples since he arrived from California as a freshman. He has thrilled audiences with his acting and dancing in such productions as "The Wiz" and directed in One-Act Festivals. He helped lead and organize students to speak against cuts during the 2009 budget deliberations and has been unwavering in his commitment to equal rights for all. He will attend Tufts University in the fall.
TEAM Westport - the acronym stands for "Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism" - was launched as the First Selectman's taskforce on diversity in 2003 with a mission of "achieving and celebrating a more welcoming multicultural community."
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The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) made TEAM Westport the town's official committee on multiculturalism and diversity in 2005.
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