Sewickley Academy Student Wins Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award


During the annual Senior School Awards ceremony, James Lieber presented Sewickley Academy junior Mishon with the Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award.

For the past 62 years, the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee (PAJC), a nonprofit human rights organization, presents this prestigious award to one high school student in Allegheny County who has shown initiative and leadership in combating prejudice and fostering good relations between diverse groups within a school environment or community.

Students who are nominated by an advisor, faculty member, or administrator must complete an essay describing his or her initiatives in combating prejudice and developing and encouraging human relations. Mishon’s deeds set her apart from the other approximately 20 nominees for this year’s award. Mrs. LaVern Burton, Director of Equity & Inclusion and Service Learning nominated Mishon for her engagement and leadership in community building projects both within and outside of the Academy community. Mrs. Burton describes Mishon as an active member of the Sewickley Academy Student Diversity Leadership Club who has led difficult conversations around inclusive efforts on campus that relate to race, ethnicity, age, religion, political affiliation, family structure, Asian identity, and socioeconomic class.
  • Mishon attended a national student diversity leadership training to hone her skills as a leader of difficult conversations.
  • She was involved in the student-led Learning Excellence, Acceptance, and Diversity (L.E.A.D.) Conference and spoke about her transracially-adopted experiences.
  • In addition, Mishon actively participates in the student-led Seeking Educational Excellence and Diversity (S.E.E.D) cohort, which covers topics and difficult conversations on diversity.
  • She created and successfully ran a fundraiser within our community to fund orphans’ surgeries in China.
  • As Vice President of the Asian Culture Club, she has broaden our community’s understanding of Asian culture through workshops and assemblies.
  • She is one of six students on the school’s Strategic Planning Committee who help to dissect data for the school’s comprehensive strategic planning process.
  • Recently, she co-founded an organization called Students Taking Action for a New Democracy (STAND) that is taking a STAND by empowering high school students to be engaged global citizens.
“Mishon is a remarkable leader who sees the big picture and looks at strategic ways to improve inclusive and equitable experiences both within and outside our community. She models competency and courage when advocating for equity, inclusion, and understanding for all and ways to inspire others to find their voice in politics, inclusion, cultural identity, family structure, gender rights, and more. She effectively and strategically diminishes biases and prejudices within our community. She shows up and knows the importance of creating spaces for difficult conversations and positions and is fearless at it,” Mrs. Burton said. “It is because of her efforts and passion for courageous conversations that bridge our community in so many ways, I nominated Mishon Levine for the Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Scholarship Award.”

As this year’s Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award recipient, Mishon was awarded $5,000 and the Academy was gifted $500.

Mishon, congratulations, and thank you for making a difference in the world!

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