Young people are leading the fight for justice in our schools. Let’s recognize their power. Beginning Wednesday, May 21 through June 11, 2025, nominations will be accepted for the Black Education Matters Student Activist (BEMSAA) award. The BEMSAA organizing committee encourages educators, families, students, and community organizers to nominate a deserving student for the award today!

The Black Education Matters Student Activist Award (BEMSAA) gives recognition, support, and a $1,000 award to student leaders in King County who demonstrate exceptional leadership in struggles against racism—especially with an understanding of the intersections with sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, class exploitation, and other forms of oppression—within their school or community. Over the past several years, over 20 Seattle Public Schools students have been honored with the award.

The BEMSAA board includes Jesse Hagopian, Rita Green, Donte Felder, and Ayva Thomas. Last year’s BEMSAA winners were:

For a full list of the previous amazing award winners, please visit the Award Winners page.

Here are the instructions for applying for the award:

King County area students (or advocates on their behalf) can apply for the Black Education Matters Student Activist Award by filling out this application.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Black Education Matters Student Activist Award fund offers a $1,000 award to a deserving student in the King County area who demonstrates exceptional leadership in struggles for social justice and against systemic or structural racism. Students can nominate themselves or be nominated by a friend, teacher, coach, counselor, parent, or others.

Criteria for selecting the awardee:

  • Any student who has been enrolled for a semester or more in a Seattle Public School.
  • A student who has shown social justice leadership in struggles against racism—especially with an understanding of the intersections with sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, class exploitation, and other forms of oppression—within their school or community.

Application instructions: Nominees must submit required materials by June 11, 2025, to be considered for the award.

  • Applicant or nominee name and other requested information (see form).
  • Clippings or links to evidence or stories about the student’s work, if available.
  • In addition to the information in the form, submit 2 letters of recommendation, each not less than 300 and not more than 700 words, describing the nominee’s work, why it is deserving of recognition, and how the student’s leadership qualities may further social justice work in the future.
  • There are no restrictions on how the nominee uses the funds obtained through this award.

The application is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JIqRZxNDUdYtGEsgJLP4ArM0VMaTMbPjfWEh-Bok3zU/edit?ts=58616bba

Application support materials should be sent to:
StudentActivistAward@gmail.com
Subject line: “Black Education Matters Award, 2025”

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Published by I AM AN EDUCATOR

Jesse Hagopian teaches history and is the co-adviser to the Black Student Union at Garfield High School, the site of the historic boycott of the MAP test in 2013. Jesse is an associate editor of the acclaimed Rethinking Schools magazine, is a founding member of Social Equality Educators (SEE), was recipient of the 2012 Abe Keller Foundation award for “excellence and innovation in peace education,” and was received the 2013 Secondary Teacher of Year award by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.

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