Two MKA seniors have been awarded Certificates of Accomplishment from the Princeton Prize in Race Relations for Northern New Jersey. Emma Choy and Alana Arcilla were recognized for their “heroic efforts to advance racial equity,” which Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Inclusion, and Antiracism Paris McLean said will “have a direct impact on the work we collectively do as a school.”

Established by Princeton University to identify and commend high school students demonstrating leadership in advancing racial equity and understanding, the Princeton Prize in Race Relations was initially launched in the Washington, D.C. and Boston metropolitan areas and is now offered in 28 designated regions. Alana and Emma exemplify this leadership through their collaborative endeavors. With a deep friendship beginning at MKA’s Middle School, they were compelled to act as anti-Asian sentiment grew in America. They were co-leaders of the AAPI Affinity Group as sophomores. In their junior year, they completed an independent study titled, “Asian American Identities: an Exploration of Our Place in America,” documenting the representation of the Asian American experience nationally and within the MKA curriculum. Their comprehensive and collaborative efforts extended to creating Rice is Me, a website they presented to MKA faculty members during a professional development workshop in June 2023.

Head of Upper School Dr. David C. Flocco commended Emma’s and Alana's selection as certificate winners, underscoring their dedication to the Asian-American experience and the MKA community. He said, “They worked tirelessly to raise community awareness of the AAPI story in this country, especially as the Upper School has focused on ‘making the invisible visible’ over the past couple of years. We couldn't be more grateful for their effort, expertise, and impact on the MKA community." Congratulations to Alana and Emma: this recognition not only celebrates your individual accomplishments but also serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and advocacy in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.