Senior Ismael Karim has been honored with the MLK Model of Justice Award, an award that recognizes high school students across the Archdiocese of St. Louis for their service in racial and social justice.

The award is presented annually by the archdiocese, and one winner is typically chosen from each of the 25 Catholic high schools in the region. Per the archdiocese’s requirements for the award, students must demonstrate a commitment to serving humanity in the broader community, making justice a central part of their life, and committing themselves to the noble struggle for equal rights.

Karim was nominated for the award by a committee of faculty consisting of, among others, campus ministers, members of the administration, and members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.  After the nomination process, the same committee selected Karim as SLUH’s recipient based on his strong track record of working to achieve social justice in his three and a half years in high school.

An active member of STARS, ACES, and the One World Club since his freshman year, Karim also founded the Latino Student Union as a sophomore.  Currently, he is the president of the One World Club—which focuses on global human rights issues—and of STARS, and is also the Student Council Vice President.  

Outside of SLUH, Karim has also helped to further justice in direct involvement with the congressional campaigns of U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, President Joe Biden, and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.

“My involvement pretty much started freshman year,” said Karim, “I just wanted to make sure I was really involved.”

Along with the other winners, Karim received his award this past Sunday, Jan. 16 at the Cathedral Basilica, during the archdiocese’s 46th annual Mass for the Preservation of Peace, which was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and was celebrated by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski.  For Karim, the Mass held special significance not only because of the award, but also because it gave him an opportunity to experience a full, formal Catholic religious experience different from typical SLUH school masses.

“(The ceremony) was just really beautiful. I’m not Catholic, so I think my perspective of Mass and what it looks like has been really limited to how we do it at SLUH. I’ve been to a couple conferences where I’d seen it happen, but I think seeing Mass in such a big area with intricate detail, and there were something like 10 priests there. The archbishop was there, and then there were readers from different schools. It was all a crazy experience, but I’m glad I was able to experience it,” said Karim.

Upon receiving the MLK Award, Karim joined a prestigious group of former SLUH students who have fought for racial justice in their lives, many of whom even influenced Karim directly.

“When you look at who has won in the past, I think of some people I’ve looked up to, like Peter Curdt (’20),” said Karim. “It feels good to be in the same category with all of those guys, who have all done amazing work.  It’s really humbling, but I feel very blessed.”