Students are not just the purpose of our work, they are also the guides of it. From SNCC to the Chicano Blowouts to Standing Rock to the March for Our Lives - some of the most prolific movements in history have had the energy and talent of the youth centered and leveraged in it.
The CRSJ Student Activist of the Year Award recognizes a K-12 student or student group that has worked to advocate on educational, social, and/or racial justice issues that impact the lives of students, fellow educators and the communities they live and serve in. Our Student Activist(s) of the Year demonstrate exceptional effort and innovation in leading, organizing, and engaging educators, parents, and the community in collective efforts toward equitable change.
Do you know an outstanding student and/or student leaders whose activism has had a positive impact on the lives of their students, fellow educators, or community?
Honor their efforts and share their work with a wider audience by nominating them as NEA’s 2025 Student Activist of the Year!
Embedded in our commitment to creating great public schools for every student – recognizing youth voice, impact, and input through this award allows us to be tangible with the ways we are ensuring the belonging and mattering of students who will be the next leaders of the free world. We see this award as a vehicle for hope, empowerment, and community connection by increasing visibility of young folk who are leading justice movements.
Click here to find out more about eligibility criteria, and the nomination and selection process. Awardees receive the opportunity to attend and be recognized at NEA’s Conference on Racial and Social Justice, held this year in Portland, Oregon.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Nominations Open: Friday, May 9, 2025
- Nomination Close: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
- NEA Conference on Racial and Social Justice: Sunday, June 29 – Tuesday, July 1, 2025 Portland, OR
