Haverford High School Student Honored For Race Relations Work

HAVERTOWN, PA – A Haverford High School student's work to improve race relations earned him recognition by the Princeton Prize in Race Relations committee recently, according to the committee.

Junior Arielle Gray earned the PPRR Philadelphia Certificate of Accomplishment by showing "significant impact in advancing positive race relations through their volunteer work," according to the committee.

Gray, who serves as the President of the African American Culture Enrichment club at the high school, was recognized for her work in integrating racially inclusive topics into her school’s history curriculum through the use of music.

Her efforts to change the name of her school’s African American Coming Together Club to African American Culture Enrichment Club to promote inclusion amongst all races was also factored into her being honored.

Gray and six other area students were honored at the April 24 Award Ceremony.

The 2018 PPRR Philadelphia Prize Recipient was Jared Elters Dempsey, a Senior at Coatesville Area Senior High School.

He was honored for organizing and leading 2,000 students and community members in a peaceful protest in response to two racially charged events in his high school. The protest focused on unifying the school and community to spread the message that prejudice and discrimination would not be tolerated. As the prize recipient, Mr. Dempsey will receive a cash award of $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid weekend to a national symposium on race held on the campus of Princeton University.

Below are the other PPRR Philadelphia Certificate of Accomplishment Awardees:

• Joel Herbert – Lower Merion High School
• Mandisa Keswa – Council Rock High School North
• Citlalli Ramirez – Kennett High School
• Vir Sahu – Council Rock High School North

PPRR operates in 27 regions nationally, including Philadelphia.

Congratulations to Arielle and the other honorees!

Image via YouTube screenshot