Mercer Co. Student Wins Princeton Prize in Race Relations

PRINCETON NJ — The Princeton Prize in Race Relations, created by Princeton University, rewards high school students for their efforts to advance racial understanding and equity in their schools and communities. Eight students from Central Jersey will be recognized for their work in enhancing race relations among peers.

This year's top prize for the Central/Southern region will go to Kyler Zhou, a student at Princeton Day School who lives in the Titusville section of Hopewell township.

Zhou is the founder and executive director of “Hear Our Voices,” an online magazine, which publishes articles on the Asian American experience. The magazine has over 10,000 readers and a staff of 22 student writers and content creators.

"Hear Our Voices” has published over 100 articles on contemporary and historical issues affecting the Asian American community. The magazine has also hosted events featuring prominent Asian American speakers and has joined advocacy and lobbying efforts helping to mobilize Asian Americans in New Jersey and across the country.

Zhou has also written op-eds for leading New Jersey news organizations and organized teach-ins around central New Jersey to teach Asian American history and literature to younger audiences.

The awards will be presented virtually on April 13. Congressman Andy Kim will present the keynote address. Congressman Andy Kim represents the 3rd Congressional District of New Jersey, which now includes Lawrenceville.

Seven other students will receive certificates of accomplishment from the prize committee. They are:

• Ngan Le of Princeton High School: Co-founder/Executive Director Asian Youth Act; Building Equitable Learning Environments (BELE) Network, Princeton High School IDEAS Center and a variety of inter-student collaborations.
• Zion Lee, Haddonfield Memorial High School: Co-founder and President, Black Student Union, TED, NAACP, body of work.
• Emily Lu, Bridgewater-Raritan High School: Organized a Stop Asian Hate Rally, member- Dear Asian Youth Projects, member- Redefy New Jersey.
• Faria Majeed, Princeton High School: Co-founder and President of Cultural and Racial Equity Club, “Amplifying Your Voice" Instagram series
• Laura-Simone Martin, Lawrence High School: Founder/President, Black Student Union; Queen Amina Music Project.
• Kritika Nagappa, South Brunswick High School: Founder of International Women’s Empowerment Exchange and Proudly Female.
• Jocelyn James, Woodbridge High School: Founder, Black Student Union

Prize winners receive $1,000 and participate in an annual symposium on race at Princeton University. This year's symposium is April 30th.

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