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Rell Center Announces Student Civility Award Winners

The Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service is thrilled to announce the winners of its annual Student Civility Award.

The Center worked in collaboration with Connecticut Public and The Connecticut Association of Schools to promote the award, which recognizes K-16 classrooms, clubs, or schools that encourage dialogue, action, education, or engagement around integrity in public discourse and civility.

This year’s three awardees are:

  • Silas Deane Middle School’s Kindness Club, led by Social Studies teacher Carrie Anzidei. The Kindness Club encourages students to make a habit of practicing kindness, an important part of nurturing them to become engaged, thoughtful, caring members of the community.
  • Ellington Public Schools, awarded for their multi-year community initiative, the Seeds of Civility Campaign led by Dr. Scott Nicol, superintendent. This work is critically important to American society, especially when so many forces are pushing public life to be less civil and more antagonistic.
  • Silas Deane Middle School’s Student Council Club, led by social studies teacher Kyleen Casasanta. This after-school activity encourages students to become active in public service from a young age, emphasizing kindness, community, and collaboration, and setting them up to become more active citizens.

Each award winner will receive a certificate and a monetary award to be used toward school or classroom initiatives. Winners will also be featured in an episode of the Rell Center’s podcast.

Congratulations to this year's awardees!