UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Celeste Good, who graduated in 2022 with a degree in women’s studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, is the recipient of the 2023 Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award.
The award recognizes a junior, senior or graduate student for outstanding efforts to enhance the understanding of diverse cultures and create a community where all individuals are accepted and valued equally. The award is named for its benefactor, a Penn State alumnus.
At Penn State, Good led events to show support for marginalized individuals while also pushing for dialogue-provoking change. After the 2021 spa shooting in Atlanta, Good organized an Asian American vigil in honor of the victims.
Good also organized “Love is Louder,” a safe space for the sexual and gender minority communities and their allies. Nearly 2,000 people — including former University President Eric Barron and his wife, Molly — attended the event. Good used the event to encourage people to speak freely and respect one another’s opinions, even if they didn’t agree with them.
“I have constantly promoted the type of leadership where you hear everyone out and where everyone has a voice,” Good said.
In 2021, Good also organized a Transgender Awareness Day hearts project that called attention to all the transgender lives lost.
“These events are centered around respecting diverse groups of people,” Good said. “They’re intended to create a safe space for all people. Today, it is hard for people to see past each other’s differences, but these events gave people an opportunity to speak without judgment.”