State Dept. Honors Bryn Mawr College Student For Human Trafficking Work

A Bryn Mawr College student was recently recognized for her work on human trafficking, according to the College.

Beatrice Greeson, Class of 2019, was one of three students to accept the 2016 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons on behalf of Students Opposing Slavery (SOS), the college said.

Greeson and the other students were presented the award by Secretary of State John Kerry at the annual meeting of President Obama’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons on Oct. 24th at the White House, the college said.

"The power of Students Opposing Slavery has always been in connecting the passion of youth with the resources of professionals in the field," Greeson said.

Greeson, who has been involved with the SOS since her sophomore year in high school, plans to pursue an independent major in social justice in education.

"SOS has taught me the power of my voice, and the strength of my voice in unity with those of others," Greeson said. "The restorative justice necessary for anti-trafficking work is a strong influence on my academic studies at Bryn Mawr. I look forward to more fully integrating my social justice work with my studies."

SOS is a student-led grassroots organization founded with the intention of raising awareness of human trafficking and empowering youth leaders within the the anti-human trafficking movement, the college said. Secretary Kerry described the group as “pioneering an innovative movement” by harnessing a network of on-the-ground peer educators, the college said.

Image via Mark Goebel, Flickr