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Written and presented by Katie Dowty, Head Coach, Dartmouth Women's Rugby
I am extremely grateful to receive a Legacy Award. At a very young age, my mother instilled in me the importance of serving others and pursuing purposes larger than myself. My engagements at Dartmouth have been characterized by my passion for advocacy, social justice, and creating spaces for underrepresented students on campus. My Dartmouth memories are some of my most fondest. I pray that my time on campus has honored the legacy of those before me and inspires those to come. - Maya Perkins
Maya is a game-changer. Authentic, fearless, passionate, inspiring, empowering – unafraid to speak truth to power and use her influence to create community, conversation and change. She exemplifies the daring, action-oriented leadership our world so urgently needs: the courage to show up, be seen, speak out, and stand up for others.
Among her many roles on campus, Maya served as President of both the Afro-American Society and the NAACP chapter at Dartmouth, Undergraduate Advisor (UGA) to the Shabazz Center, member of the Palaeopitus Society, and representative on the Council on Student Organizations. She built bridges between students, student organizations, faculty, and College administration to foster an ever-more equitable and inclusive community at Dartmouth. Concurrently, she co-founded an educational nonprofit that provides underserved youth with transformative access to resources, so that they may one day “attend a place like Dartmouth and leverage those educational experiences to attain their goals and change the world for the better.” Maya lives this vision and continues to change the world by her example.
Maya's work in support of Black lives and students of color at Dartmouth – bringing events and voices to campus that broadened our collective world view – will have an immeasurable and lasting impact. Her fearless, joyful, and giving spirit will continue to have a profound effect on all who know her. She has inspired and empowered so many others to lead as she has led. The seeds she has sown will continue to grow as we follow her example in making Dartmouth a safe, equitable, and inclusive community that lives up to its promise of responsible leadership, to which Maya has always held everyone accountable. In her own words, “By helping to make students at Dartmouth feel cared for and loved, I feel that it will make Dartmouth a better place for all people.”
Maya, in the words of your teammates, you are phenomenal. I am honored and humbled to present you with this Legacy Award and to say, from all of us – thank you.
Maya's nomination was also supported by Angela Brizant, Dia Draper, and Anna Hall.
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