Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 2022 graduate Kate Answini has been named a finalist for the 2022 AJC Simon Lazarus, Jr., Human Relations Award. Junior William Castellanos II was also nominated for the award.

Since 1965, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has honored outstanding student volunteers of all faiths who have demonstrated a passion for making our community a better place in which to live with the Simon Lazarus, Jr., Human Relations Award.

On 05/11/22, AJC Cincinnati celebrated the 57th anniversary of the Lazarus Awards at a ceremony in which one junior winner and four junior finalists as well as one senior winner and four senior finalists, all selected by a panel of illustrious judges, were recognized by AJC for their volunteer accomplishments.

Kate Answini was one of the seniors selected as a 2022 Lazarus Awards finalist. Throughout high school, Answini worked to improve many people’s lives. She has made significant contributions to those experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and those lacking fresh, nutritious foods. Answini helped the homeless in our city by shopping for them (with her own money), making sandwiches, and delivering other necessities to them directly downtown, while encouraging her friends to join her. She was a leader in CHCA’s Shantytown program and organized numerous fundraisers to provide items to local people in need. Answini even found ways to actively serve during the Covid quarantine, creating a Zoom community service program with CHCA’s Lower School students in Grades 4-5. 

Answini also volunteered Friday nights at a local nonprofit, helping children with disabilities. There too she invited other classmates to serve with her. Saturday mornings she volunteered and quickly was asked to assume a leadership role working alongside a Redevelopment Foundation creating and tending many inner-city gardens to provide local residents access to healthy, fresh food. 

Answini is a person of action who has formed numerous friendships along the way with those from many walks of life in our city. She has helped improve the quality of the lives of many and is truly deserving of this recognition.

“Kate is someone who builds bridges to meet people where they are,” shared CHCA’s Upper School Outreach Coordinator Karen Hordinski. “She is someone who sacrifices her time and gives sweat equity to her compassion. Kate makes life a little easier for people who are vulnerable. She also opens the eyes of her peers to see people in a new way. Kate provides opportunities to build cross-cultural friendships and all along the way, she inspires everyone to make a difference. She is one of the most sincere, compassionate people you will ever meet, one who doesn’t sit idly in her compassion, but takes action and gets others to act, too.”

Castellanos was nominated for this award for starting and leading a free soccer clinic for students at Symmes Elementary. The partnership involved around 20 CHCA Upper School students, who built friendships with the younger students while teaching soccer skills.

“William deeply values bringing diverse people together – both to accomplish big things and to learn about one another,” shared Hordinski. “Both at school and in the community, he stands up for people who are vulnerable. William is a leader and a difference maker.”

The Simon Lazarus, Jr., Human Relations Awards are named for an accomplished leader of the American Jewish Committee. Simon Lazarus, Jr. was president of the Cincinnati region from 1951-1953, and a member of the national Board of Governors. The late Mr. Lazarus was a distinguished Cincinnati attorney. He also chaired the Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee, the forerunner of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission.

This year, the 2022 Lazarus Committee included Co-chairs Martha Brand Dave and Jeanne Weiland.  Committee members included Jan Armstrong Cobb, Linda Berger, Debbie Brant, Janet Callif, Avi Dave, Julie Elkus, Debbie Friedman, Jennifer Grayson, Mandi Hinton, Shelley Kirshner, Cindy Loon, Jay Moscovitz, Sarah Moskovitz, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, Jeanne Schmerler, Nichle Schneider, Sharon Spiegel, Jacob Speigel, Diana Stewart, Alex Stillpass, Jody Tsevat, Aliza Weinberger, Miles Wolf, and Diane Yasgur. 

These experienced members vetted dozens of anonymous submissions, each including a student’s essay and supporting recommendations, and selected 10 semifinalists from each grade.

A distinguished panel of judges diligently read and considered each semifinalist’s anonymous essay and related recommendations and selected the award winners and finalists. The 2022 Lazarus Award Judges were Alfonso Cornejo, Dr. Bill Barrett, Mary Wineberg, Megan Mitchell, and Tim’m West.

“It is most inspiring to see so many highly talented, very motivated and good-hearted young people who are intent on improving the world and will very much do so,” noted Lazarus judge Dr. Bill Barrett.

The 2022 Lazarus Judges have joined an elite group of 285 judges who have performed in this capacity since 1966.

AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and worldwide. For more than a century, AJC has been the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, with 24 offices across the United States, twelve overseas offices and/or representatives in Berlin, Brussels, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, New Delhi, Paris, Rome, São Paulo, Tokyo, and South East Asia, and institutes that engage in Latin America, the Far East, Africa, and Europe.  AJC is uniquely qualified to provide a global response to critical issues facing the Jewish people, Israel, and the world today.