Whiz Kids: Active Affinity Group Members at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

Whiz Kids: Active affinity group members

School:

Whiz Kids’ Accomplishments: At St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, more than 40 students are proving they are proud of who they are and encouraging other students to embrace their diversity, too.

On April 11, the Parent Diversity Committee at the school recognized active members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s affinity groups, such as the Black Student Alliance, the Gay-Straight Alliance, the Jewish Culture Club and the Diversity Club. 

Each club holds meetings and events open to other students in an effort to create a place where students can be proud of who they are and learn about diversity, said Stacy Kincaid, the Diversity Director at St. Andrew's Episcopal School.

At the third annual awards ceremony, the school honored students in the affinity groups who have been active members by attending at least two meetings, participating in diversity seminars or helping organize the Taste of St. Andrews, Kincaid said.

The students who were recognized—with their grade levels in parenthesis — are: Missy Agbaniyaka (10), Catherine Ahmad (9), James Akinsanya (11), David Anders (11), Willy Atchole (10), Amanda Bernard (12), Stephanie Burthéy (11), Katie Cahn-Lee (10), Praise Carson (9), Diana (Da Hyun) Chung (10), Rachel Daniels (9), E.J. Douglass (10), Delonte Egwuatu (11), Ekene Eze (9), Jessica Figueroa (12), Albert Gordon (10), Morgan Harris (11), Hannah Hastings (11), Kezia Helton (10), Alexia Jacoby (10), Jheena Johnson (9), Julia Karron (12), Reema Kattan (10), Ted Leibovitz (11), Alex Lubin (10), Anna Malawista (12), Christian Mason (10), Lucas McLaughlin (12), Alex Palmer (11), Cheyenne Polk (10), Molly Simon (12), Kiah Simms (12), Abby Stephenson (11), Sarah Strum (10), D.J. Talley (11), Gabriela Walker (9), Billy Weber (9), Tiffany Webster (11), Jamee Williams (11), Tyler Woodson (11), Anna Zimbler (9).

Whiz Kids’ Key to Awesomeness: Being part of an affinity group takes courage — something that the active members deserve recognition for, Kincaid said.

“It takes some more bravery to be part of club that works to evoke social change and promotes diversity,” Kincaid said. “It takes some leadership to be part of these groups and the [Parent Diversity Committee] wanted to acknowledge that.”

Delonte Egwuatu, the President of the Black Student Alliance and a junior at St. Andrew’s, said he appreciates that the school recognized the hard work students do to promote diversity and acceptance.

“The recognition of the Black Student Alliance and other affinity groups shows that they are taking to time to appreciate those who are making a conscious effort to make the school more inclusive and accepting of diversity,” said Egwuatu, who has been a member of the Black Student Alliance for three years.

Kincaid said the students in affinity groups are often the first line of defense when they see injustice or bullying in the school. The groups' meetings as well as some of the school's coursework teach students how to go from a bystander to an ally, she added.

“These students don’t engage in bullying and they call other students out on it, too,” Kincaid said. “These students are proactive allies in the school and they don’t let other students get away with comments that are rude or offensive.”

Reema Kattan, a junior at St. Andrew's, represented the affinity groups at two diversity conferences this year and said they helped teach her how to spread new ideas of diversity in the school. 

"You take away a lot more than you think [from the conferences]," Kattan said. "They help give you the confidence to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves and don't feel comfortable. That's a good sense of empowerment to have."

Do you know another kid or group of kids doing amazing things in the community? Send your nomination for  to sarahbeth@patch.com.