Junior Book Award Program
The Junior Book Award Program recognizes female, non-binary, genderfluid, and/or transgender-identifying high school juniors who exemplify the qualities of a Simmons University student, including leadership, community service, caring for family, passion for all social justice, climate change, and acts of kindness; and embody one or more of our core values.
Simmons University's Core Values
- We believe in changing the world for the better by inviting the best of the world to change us.
- We believe in strengthening our communities by nurturing inclusion and belonging.
- We believe in leading and modeling leadership through everyday action.
- We believe in improving society by connecting theory to practice.
- We believe in increasing our power to influence by increasing our willingness to serve.
The selection of the Book Award recipients will be announced in early May 2026. The book and certificate will be mailed to the nominator to present to the recipient.
Book Award
- Yellowface by R.F. Kuang — the 2024 Simmons Community Read
Nominate a Student
Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
Please note: nominations do not guarantee a book award, as a limited number of books will be available.
If a nominated student is not selected as a finalist for the Book Award, they will instead be recognized with the Tier 2 Junior Excellence Award, a certificate-only honor celebrating their achievements and alignment with Simmons University’s values.
Nominators must be a school counselor, advisor, principal, CBO organizer, or educational consultant.
Nomination: 100–500 words, in which the nominator explains why their nominee represents Simmons University.