Kadeem Robinson
John Jay Salutes Its “Champions of Justice”

More than 125 scholarship recipients and their benefactors were saluted on Feb. 23 at the annual Champions of Justice reception in John Jay’s Moot Court.

There are currently 78 active scholarships, fellowships and internships, and last year, John Jay awarded approximately $1.4 million to nearly 400 students.

President Jeremy Travis opened the event by saluting the achievements of the students in attendance and thanking the many donors whose investment in the young scholars, he said, “has had a tremendous impact.” A video presentation pointed out that it doesn’t take a lot to support students in their quest for social justice, and focused on three relatively recent scholarship initiatives:

  • Alfred Siegel Memorial Scholarship, created to encourage and support students, including those with previous involvement in the justice system and/or the child welfare system, in reaching their higher education goals;
  • Roger H. Davis Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes significant activism or research around issues of importance to LGBT social movement organizing;
  • Rising Star Fellowship, a faculty-supported program for promising undergraduate students that provides financial support for unpaid internships, study abroad or research assistantships.

 

Keynote remarks were provided by Kadeem Robinson, a graduating senior who during the past academic year was awarded five scholarships and fellowships: the Roger Davis scholarship, an Upper Division Scholarship, the Dr. Patricia Sinatra Memorial Scholarship, a John Jay-Vera Fellowship, and the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship.

“Acquiring different scholarships and fellowships exposed me to a world of opportunities I did not know existed,” said Robinson, an aspiring human rights lawyer. “To all the donors who continue to invest in John Jay’s students, I thank you all. John Jay has successfully prepared me for the professional world through every awarded scholarship. I have learned many more ways to achieve advocacy, and I have all these opportunities to thank.”

A photo gallery of the event can be viewed here. Click here to see the video tribute.