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

The award was presented during Hillel International’s Global Assembly held recently in Denver.

“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,” said Maryville Hillel Manager Erin Schreiber in a statement. “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.”

Some of the activities Maryville Hillel has sponsored include:

• The Coping with Unrest and Uncertainty group, created for marginalized populations on campus. 

• Souper Sunday, which brings the Muslim Student Association and Maryville Hillel together to create vegetarian soup packets for the 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.

• Maryville Hillel’s annual Holocaust survivor speaker event, which has drawn more than 450 attendees, is supported by a diverse campus population well beyond Hillel. 

• Monthly challah bakes on campus attract students from diverse backgrounds, some of whom may not have encountered Jewish culture previously.

In addition, Schreiber said LGBT students consistently attend Hillel events, having grown accustomed to the concept of tikkun olam, and feeling connected to the same values despite religious differences. 

“Actively welcoming students from other diverse backgrounds into Hillel spaces creates comfort and understanding,” Maryville Hillel student leader Kalix Jacobson said in a statement. “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.”