The Martin Luther King, Jr. Model of Justice Award was awarded to senior Freddy Laux for his commitment to activism and service. The award was announced in a ceremony this past Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica. 

In celebration of the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Archdiocese of St. Louis awards this distinction annually to one student in each of the area's Catholic high schools. Laux was chosen out of the senior class to accept this award for St. Louis U. High due to his involvement in service and activism and his commitment to the values specified by the archdiocese. 

“One of the most important things that I try to embody is a belief and respect for all humans to have dignity, no matter their nationality, or their background, or belief,” said Laux. “And I think that I have shown that not just through my words, but also through my actions.”

Laux has been involved in a number of service and activism projects in his time at SLUH. In his sophomore year, he participated in a United Nations Association Consultation, reporting to a group of UN officials on findings from experts regarding issues of child marriage. Just months later, Laux was chosen for the UN Association Emerging Leaders Fellowship, a program typically open only to college students. Here, he worked on a project focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 10, which tackles issues related to inequality, and conducted his research on the ‘Delmar Divide’ phenomenon in St. Louis.

“I think the main thing is just to be able to sacrifice yourself selflessly in service and to be able to really give to another community without expecting anything in return,” said Laux.

In addition to his work outside of the SLUH community, Laux has also been heavily involved in the One World Club, a school organization dedicated to increasing understanding of cultural diversity and national and international issues. Laux first got involved in his freshman year, but he now leads the club alongside club moderator María-Paz Erker. After years of interaction through One World Club, Erker wrote the recommendation letter needed for Laux’s application for the MLK Award.

“As a freshman, Freddy already stood out because of his genuine desire and curiosity and love of learning in general,” said Erker. “He was a pretty insightful student. And I could see that in the reflections that he would share when we were talking about global issues and international issues.”

A major aspect of Laux’s activism is his commitment to international outreach. He has participated in multiple global Jesuit summits, connecting with Jesuit high schools across the globe, practicing his language skills, and working to implement Sustainable Development Goals internationally. Laux also volunteered with the Empower Through Health program in Mpunde, Uganda to volunteer at a health clinic.

Laux was not able to attend the ceremony on Sunday to accept his award, because he is currently completing his senior service project in Taiwan. He is there alongside several other SLUH students, volunteering at a local school and living with host families as they do so.

“I think one feature that is super present in Freddy as a student and his personality is really his strong commitment to take action to bring about positive change and just pushing himself out of his comfort zone and get things done,” said Erker.