The 21st annual Mayor’s Student Awards honored 151 high school students from BUSD this past Thursday, May 18, at UC Berkeley’s Pauley Ballroom.
Certificates were handed out in several categories: Citizenship, Leadership, Communication, Extraordinary Effort, Performing and Visual Arts, Community Service and Sports and Athleticism.
The awards were founded by community leader Salvador Murillo and former Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean, and were carried on by Mayor Tom Bates until his retirement last year.
This year for the first time, Mayor Jesse Arreguin continued the tradition and delivered the keynote address. He said his commitment to all students – regardless of ethnic, racial or socioeconomic background – is to provide “an equal opportunity to meet your potential.” He cited Berkeley’s 2020 Vision for Berkeley’s Children and Youth and the recently established Berkeley Promise.
Also addressing the gathering were Superintendent Evans and UC Berkeley’s Vice Chancellor of Equity and Inclusion, Na’ilah Nasir. A special highlight was a spoken word performance by the UDPS Slam Team from REALM Charter High School.
A list of the students who were honored can be viewed on the District website. See Mark Coplan’s photo album from the event.
