Racism, prejudice, bullying — inexplicable discrimination is present today on our doorsteps, in our daily headlines, and in our communities. But to keep hope is one of Anne Frank’s most enduring messages. And we find this hope in the young generations of today.
The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Spirit of Anne Frank Awards (SAFA) Student Scholarships: Sana Shareef (Florida), Natalie Hampton (California), and Lauren Seroyer (Georgia). All three students are living examples of Anne Frank’s quote, “How wonderful it is that one need not wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Spirit of Anne Frank Awards (SAFA) Student Scholarships: Sana Shareef (Florida), Natalie Hampton (California), and Lauren Seroyer (Georgia). All three students are living examples of Anne Frank’s quote, “How wonderful it is that one need not wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Following a violent incident in her community, Sana saw that interfaith connection was needed to heap heal and bring the community together. In response to anti-Muslim discrimination faced after the 2016 Orlando shooting, Sana created the Breaking Barriers Club at her local school to fight stereotypes and promote tolerance of all religions.
She also organized and moderated “Finding Common Ground,” the Treasure Coast’s first regional youth interfaith conference. She has worked tirelessly to bring people of all faiths together to find commonality and friendship in the wake of a horrific tragedy. She continues to bring people together with a Statewide Youth Interfaith Conference planned for this year.
Sana’s deeply personal and moving essay submission demonstrates that she genuinely lives and understands the words of Anne Frank, recognizing as she does the need to value the perspectives of all people. Sana’s actions match her belief that “knowledge and education of religious intolerance will be the solution to the bigotry you see in the community.”
The winner of this year’s SAFA ING Scholarship for $5,000 is Natalie Hampton, from Oakwood School, North Hollywood, California.
Natalie Hampton developed the mobile app Sit With Us (SWU) as a compassionate response to an awkward adolescent social scenario – a situation she endured firsthand. After experiencing bullying herself, Natalie decided to act. She didn’t want other students to sit alone at lunch and feel isolated and bullied as she had once been, so she created a free, lunch planning app that helps kids find allies in their schools and safe places to sit at lunch with other students. The app was designated one of Apple’s “New Apps We Love,” has over 100,000 users in 8 countries worldwide, and continues to grow today.
Costing little more than her time and commitment, Natalie was able to “help students feel at home and empower them” to be better people, much in the spirit of the kindness and compassion Anne Frank herself wished for the world.
The winner of this year’s SAFA Rosenberg Scholarship for $1,000 is Lauren Seroyer, from Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia.
After an interaction with one student and seeing the impact a good meal can have on a person’s well being, attitude, and self-esteem, Lauren spearheaded the CARE Closet food pantry program at her school. bringing regional businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers together. For hundreds of students, CARE discreetly provides the sustenance they need to be successful in school. Lauren’s attentive work truly exemplifies the spirit of Anne Frank.
Sana Shareef, Natalie Hampton and Lauren Seroyer will be honored at the 22nd Annual Spirit of Anne Frank Awards Gala on the 12th of June held at Espace, 635 West 42nd St, New York.
In many ways, like Anne, these students are ordinary teenagers. Yet they are all extraordinary. They each understand compassion, authenticity, and the healing power of language. They are truly the future generation of humanitarians.
They join 2018 honorees Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, Dr Jud Newborn, human rights activist Mariela Shaker, Racquel Harris Mason of Coca-Cola, and Holocaust survivor and philanthropist Rosa Strygler (posthumously). For more information and tickets visit annefrank.com/safa or email gala@annefrank.com
