Princeton's spirit

The nine recipients of this year's Spirit of Princeton Award were notified last Friday by a selection committee of previous winners, University administrators and students.

The winners, chosen from a pool of more than 100 nominees, were seniors Jen Albinson, Andrew Bruck, Darren Geist, Chanel Lattimer, Xiuhui Lim, Christopher Ramos, Justin Reed, Robert Simmons and Jesse Weber.

The recipients will be honored at a dinner, where they will receive a certificate and book prize.

The award, now in its 10th year, recognizes "a select group of undergraduate students who have made positive contributions to various facets of the University, including the arts, community service, student organizations, residential living, religious life and athletic endeavors," according to its mission statement.

Many of the recipients interviewed spoke about the award as a way to acknowledge students whose service to Princeton generally goes unrecognized. All the recipients have been involved in campus life through multiple student organizations.

Bruck said he has tried to contribute to the community by encouraging free speech on campus, including through his positions as an LBGT peer educator and staff writer for American Foreign Policy. As president of Whig-Clio in his sophomore year, he strove to encourage campus dialogue by inviting controversial speakers such as Reverend Pat Robertson to campus.

"I'd say that if there's sort of one theme that's carried through ... it's been encouraging dialogue throughout campus on a variety of issues," he said.

Geist said his most important contribution has been the efforts he's made for human rights. He founded and is president of the human rights organization Humanity Project, and has helped promote Darfur relief, global AIDS week, Oxfam and the tsunami relief efforts.

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"I hope I've raised the profile of human rights issues," he said. "We have to do something as students and citizens. These are extreme times and students have to know about [human rights issues], especially Princeton students who will be the leaders of the world."

Other recipients have worked to create a more welcoming campus for students of different sexual orientations and ethnicities.

Weber has worked as a peer educator for Pride Alliance since her sophomore year.

"A vibrant and visible LGBTQA [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally] community is necessary to create a more supportive and welcoming campus climate for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities," she said in an email. "I hope that I have contributed to Princeton by working alongside so many talented and passionate people to bring the concept of a 'campus community' to life and to ensure that it is a community for all."

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Reed, president of Campus Club and a member of the varsity track team, has tried to target segregation.

"I am very aware of the segregation and self-segregation debates that have been ongoing within the Princeton community," he said. "I think there is a lot more interaction on this campus than people realize. Every day I go to track practice and interact with people from all different ethnicities and races. It has led me to believe that events and activities can bring people together as long as they feel welcome ... Hopefully, by the time I walk through FitzRandolph Gate, I hope I will have made Princeton a more welcoming place for people of all races."

Ramos and Lattimer have also contributed significantly through community service.

Ramos has been involved in Community House's Generation One program for first generation college students.

"As the first in my family to go to college, I've dedicated myself to making sure that those in similar situations have appropriate access to the same resources I've been fortunate enough to have," he said.

"Because of that, I've spent much of my time mentoring those younger than me, whether in high school or college, by serving on panels, working or by just having private conversations and offering my help and support to whomever asks for it," Ramos added.

Lattimer, the co-captain of the women's track team, has participated in community service through one of the two historically black sororities on campus and her Christian fellowship.

"We do a lot of community service," she said. "Last year at the national meeting, we were awarded for doing the most community service programs for our chapter size in conjunction with a national program."

Albinson and Lim have both tried to affect change through the USG.

Albinson co-chaired the USG Projects Board for two years, where she started "This is Princeton," an event that serves as a showcase for community members and student groups.

"Projects Board was so important to me because it allowed me to contribute significantly to the vibrancy of campus life through helping student groups plan effective and wonderful events, everything from speakers and panels to study breaks, to larger scale events," Albinson said.

Lim has served as a member of the U-Council this year and a member of the priorities committee last year. She also founded the student magazine "The Soapbox" as vice president of Whig-Clio.

"In terms of my involvement with USG, I'm the only independent student and international student who's involved in USG," Lim said, noting she became involved in the organization as the result of problems with housing on campus such as dormitory lighting, which was eventually improved by the University, and has advocated the creation of a dry eating club.

All the recipients said they owed their accomplishments in part to support from other students, faculty, friends or family.

"I think it's a great honor to be picked for this award. It definitely means a lot. To be honest, I think it also says a lot about my family and friends as well. They are the ones who are always encouraging me to make a difference and always reminding me to give back," Reed said.

"So I think this award is a thank you to all of the friends, family, teachers, faculty members and coaches who helped me make a contribution to the Princeton community."