Manhattanville College Presents Award in Honor of Ethel Kennedy

Ethel Kennedy is best known as the wife of Robert Kennedy Jr., but was a noted civil rights and human rights leader in her own right, in addition to having raised 11 children on her own after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

Also, probably less known was that Ethel Kennedy was an alumna of Manhattanville College. The college in Purchase recently launched its first Ethel Kennedy Award for Human Rights Leadership. Doctoral candidate Jennifer Wesolowski was selected for her work promoting human rights in the field of education.

Wesolowski is the first recipient of the award created last year to honor Ethel Kennedy by recognizing students who have a passion for promoting human rights, particularly in education. She is a student in Manhattanville’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership in the School of Education.

A ceremony to formally present the award was held on September 29 during a virtual event where the college also welcomed new doctoral students. Kerry Kennedy addressed the group as part of the presentation of the award, acknowledging the bright futures of all the doctoral candidates. “You are going to transform the next generation,” said Kennedy.

“When I told my mother about this award she was as happy and surprised and delighted as I have ever seen her,’’ said Kerry Kennedy. “Especially when she learned about Jen (Wesolowski) the award recipient this year. When I think about my mother, I think about someone who has really devoted her life to two things: to service to her community and her country and to the next generation. And that’s really a great description of Jen as well.’’