It takes courage to step up and make the world a better place, particularly in middle school. Chatham Middle School is proud to announce that it has nominated eighth graders Hayden Ball and Narayan Flores for the Siena College Courage Award, which recognizes students who actively promote the ideal of a just and inclusive society that values diversity and uniqueness.
Hayden Ball
Empathy comes naturally to Hayden, who, with lots of positive energy to pass on to others, actively works to create an inclusive school culture for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Whether making new students feel welcome, fostering social connections between her peers, or helping others succeed in the classroom, her authentic rapport gives her a remarkable ability to offer help and be an active listener.
Narayan Flores
Narayan is an all-around outstanding student and empathetic human being. Officially, he is a student ally in this school’s NCBI program, through which he teaches other students about bias, stereotypes, and diversity. In his efforts to empower his peers, he is not afraid to share the obstacles he has personally faced and he is quick to offer support to others when he recognizes a need. He has also been an active participant in the CMS Service Club since the 6th grade and serves as a link between the student body and administration as one of his school's Key Communicators.
Hayden and Narayan join other student advocates from around the greater Capital Region in being nominated for this award. A committee of area leaders in social justice issues will review the nominations and select three recipients for the award. Winners will be notified on January 15, 2024.