2016 Recipient

Emily Malsch of Northfield is an assertive individual who is actively involved in her school community. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, has volunteered as a peer mediator, and captained sports teams.

Emily’s most significant role as a leader is her involvement with the organization TAB, Training Active Bystanders. This progressive organization trains high schoolers to work with other students, teaching them methods to stay safe while helping someone who is being targeted by a bully. They even discourage using the word bully, instead replacing it with harm doer. They posit that the word bully conjures up stereotypical images of a large, scary looking boy who will always be a bully unless he undergoes a drastic behavioral change. The TAB curriculum stresses that everyone at some point has been both a target and a harm doer, whether intentional or not.

After Emily was trained she brought the TAB curriculum to her high school and within a few months 25 new students were on board. The following year the program expanded to reach 7th and 8th graders. We applaud Emily for seeing a need in her community and bringing an innovative program to her peers to address it. We recognize Emily’s natural leadership skills and her caring nature. We wish her the best as she continues her education at Bentley University this fall.