Intervener Awards

Do you know someone who has helped stop bullying in your school?

They deserve an award!
 

Middle & high school students: Nominate a student, teacher, staff member or administrator who has helped put a stop to bullying!

Nominations ARE open until October 23, 2026 at midnight ET.

 

Submit A Nomination

2025 Winners

Winner 1: Tonya K., 4th Grade Teacher

Nominated by: Bella G., 7th Grade

“I believe my grandma deserves the Intervener Award because she turned my pain into purpose. When I was bullied, I felt invisible and scared to go to school. My grandma who’s also a teacher helped me find my voice again. She told me that being different isn’t something to hide, it’s something to celebrate.

Instead of just talking about bullying, she takes action. She started an anti-bullying organization called Empower our Youth Foundation that gives us youth/teens a safe place to share their stories, find support, and learn how to stand up for others. At school, she leads kindness challenges and created the “JAGS Power for Good” campaign to remind us that we all have the power to make a positive impact.

My grandma notices when someone is struggling, and she’s always there to listen, encourage, and help. She’s a true example of what it means to be brave, kind, and caring. Because of her, I learned that one person’s voice can make a big difference. That’s why I believe my grandma deserves the Intervener Award, She’s changing lives every day.”

Winner 2: Typhani R., Teacher, Community Mentor

Nominated by: Rylee B., 12th Grade

“Typhani has been my mentor in the community for 11 years. She has a non-profit Bookworms Against Bullies. She is always out in the community spreading kindness and encouraging everyone else to do the same. She has helped me in the past find ways to stand up to bullies as she was also bullied throughout her life. Typhani is an amazing person inside and out helping to make our community a little kinder.”
 

Winner 3: Sandy Spring Friends School Sources of Strength Peer Leaders, 9th-12th Graders

Nominated by: Jess L., Upper School Counselor

“The Sandy Spring Sources of Strength Peer Leaders is a group of students who are committed to supporting students in our community. The mission of the Sources of Strength national program is to promote positive connections to help students access their sources of strength when they fall on hard times or help others who might be at risk. This includes the important work of helping students make connections and to help them feel a sense of belonging. The goal is to help ensure that students can make healthy choices to support their overall well-being and reduce the number of students who are struggling and feeling isolated. A significant part of their work focuses on addressing issues upstream to reduce the number of students who feel isolated or targeted.
 
Throughout the year, the Peer Leaders put on various campaigns in the school to help bring awareness to our sources of strength. Our most recent campaign was part of a national campaign “You Can Sit With Us” which invited friends to wear pink, sit at a table with new friends and make different connections. Last year they ran an assembly for the lower school students on kindness and how that supports their classmates and our community. These are some examples of the great work that we have been doing at Sandy Spring Friends School. Thank you for considering the group for this recognition.”