Maryville University Hillel has received the Campus Partnership Award from Hillel International in recognition of programming and initiatives created in partnership with other diverse groups on the campus of Maryville University.

Maryville is one of just seven college campus Hillels to be honored from among 550 across the world. The award was presented during Hillel International’s Global Assembly held recently in Denver, Colorado.

“While the diversity of Maryville’s student population continues to expand, students from diverse backgrounds have a natural tendency to seek companionship and support from others who share a similar background,” says Erin Schreiber, manager. “We intentionally reach out to other minority groups on campus by welcoming them into our space and showing up in their space to lend support. These activities also advance Maryville’s strategic goal of greater diversity and inclusiveness.”

Featured partnerships:

• The Coping with Unrest and Uncertainty group was created for all marginalized populations on campus.
• Souper Sunday brings the Muslim Student Association and Maryville Hillel together to create vegetarian soup packets for the greater community and helps students learn about significant and symbolic foods from each culture.
• Maryville Hillel students support the Muslim Student Association’s Hijab Awareness Day.
• LGBTQ students consistently attend Hillel events, having grown accustomed to the concept of Tikkun Olam and feeling connected to the same values despite religious differences.
• The annual Holocaust survivor speaker event is one of the largest events on campus, with more than 450 people in attendance.
• Monthly challah bakes on campus attract students from diverse backgrounds, and the experience of doing something Jewish side-by-side with others who may not have encountered Jewish culture before coming to Maryville has a profound impact.

“Actively welcoming students from other diverse backgrounds into our spaces creates comfort and understanding. We live in a post ‘tolerance’ and post ‘acceptance’ world when other members of the larger community know and feel they are genuinely welcome in our community,” says student Kalix Jacobson.