Jonathan Blake Waxler Prize for Social Justice

The Jonathan Blake Waxler Memorial Prize for Social Justice was established in 1996 to honor the memory of the beloved son of UMass Dartmouth English professor, Robert Waxler, and his wife, Linda. The $500 annual prize recognizes a student who has exhibited a dedication to social activism, advocacy, community organizing, or civic engagement as a way of enhancing the dignity of all people. The spirit of the prize is founded on Jonathan’s belief and vision for a democratic society and his commitment to social justice, especially for those less fortunate than himself.

The prize is open to any student who, within the preceding 12 months, identified an issue on campus or in the community related to enhancing the possibility of justice and equality for everyone and worked to make this possibility into a reality through social activism, community organizing, advocacy, or civic engagement.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

Any UMassD student who is currently enrolled, has completed at least 30 credit hours at UMass Dartmouth prior to the current semester, and is in good academic standing.
Nominee must have identified a campus or community issue related to the possibility of enhancing equality and social justice, and worked to help make the possibility into a reality.