2026 Honorees of Smith Memorial Playground

When I saw that the students I volunteered with in my city were often angry, discouraged, and struggling to express themselves, I wanted them to realize that, with the right resources, they could be successful. I turned this vision into reality by spending over 100 hours creating a partnership between my high school, Hill-Freedman World Academy, and Edmonds Elementary School. Along with my team, I taught over 120 students math, reading, and social-emotional skills during and after school. We used a social-emotional learning curriculum I created, which is now accessible to all teachers in the Philadelphia School District through the district website. This partnership will continue for years to come.