Cooper High Senior awarded for promoting diversity at school
Jamaican-American Cooper City High Student Gillian Daley has been honored by Princeton University this week for her efforts to promote greater diversity and equality. Daley was presented the Princeton Prize in Race Relations this past Tuesday, May 17, in Miami, in a special ceremony, with Cooper City Mayor Greg Ross in attendance.
A senior at Cooper City High School, Daley was praised for founding her school’s Multi-Cultural Club. The club seeks to engage students and teachers to talk about empowerment issues, diversity, and race relations at the club’s bi-weekly meetings. She also organized events such as a Privilege Walk, to illustrate the many factors that play into people’s success, and erected the school’s Peace Pole. The Peace Pole displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 14 languages.
Daley is one of 33 high school students selected from around the United States as recipients of the 2016 prize. The awards recognize young people who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the cause of positive race relations and who have worked to increase understanding and respect among all races. Daley was the only students selected from Florida for the prestigious prize.
The award is part of the Princeton University Diversity Project. Established in 2003, the project seeks to recognize young people who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the cause of positive race relations and who have worked to increase understanding and respect among all races. A board that consists of Princeton University alumni, administrators and students select the recipients. Recipients receive recognition and cash awards up to $1000 for their efforts determined to have a significant positive effect on race relations in their schools or communities.
