Amanda Aronoff

Senior, John F. Kennedy High School
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Amanda Aronoff is a bold leader and a passionate humanitarian. As a freshman at John F. Kennedy, High School she met with the assistant principal to discuss the creation of an anti-bullying program and within a year became Founder and President of the student-run Nice Is Cool Everyday (NICE!) anti-bullying committee. One of the committee's key campaigns is "Random Acts of Kindness," which recognizes those students who have helped a classmate in some way. That same year, she helped to launch a chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

During her sophomore year, Amanda was selected to attend a Human Rights Conference at Adelphi University, where she shared her ideas to combat bullying and promote wise decision-making with peers from a number of high schools. Inspired by the conference, Amanda worked with fellow students and administrators to establish the district-wide "One Voice, One Message" initiative. She has served the initiative as an ambassador and is now training middle school students to fulfill this role.

Amanda spearheaded the first school-wide talent show, which has become an annual tradition. For the past two years, the show has raised $2,000 in proceeds for the Parent Community Center of Long Island, Pride for Youth and the Born This Way organization. She has also had a hand in the planning of myriad fundraising activities, including the district-wide walk-run that brought students, parents, teachers and running enthusiasts together from all over Long Island to raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

"Amanda Aronoff is the embodiment of civic engagement and compassion," wrote her award nominator. "She is an amazing young woman who has made a tremendous impact in the lives of students in her home school district and across the county. Her integrity, spirit, effort and genuine concern to help create a positive and safe school environment for all students sets her apart from others."