PETA has named Jennifer Thornburg of Asheville its outstanding young activist. Here’s a tidbit:
Eighteen-year-old Asheville resident Jennifer Thornburg has won an Outstanding Activist Award from peta2–the world’s largest youth animal rights organization–for her successful effort to have a dissection choice policy for students adopted at her school. She is also being recognized for her other efforts to help animals and promote animal rights.
In October 2006, Jennifer made it her mission to persuade Asheville High School administration and faculty to implement a policy that would allow students who have ethical or religious objections to dissection to complete an alternative assignment. Jennifer collected petition signatures and attended committee meetings to present her case. She persuaded all the science teachers to approve the policy, overcoming some stiff opposition. On the second-to-last day of school–a full nine months after launching her campaign – Jennifer’s idea became official school policy.