Today, we celebrate the 105th birthday of Sam Kimberg, a man whose values and joy continue to live at the heart of Student U. As the grandfather of our founder, Dan Kimberg, Sam’s legacy has shaped our community, inspiring us to spread joy, empower one another, and create meaningful change in the world. Each year, we honor his spirit through the Sam Kimberg Award, given to a Student U community member who brings the most joy to our shared spaces.
Beyond receiving the award, each winner contributes a chapter to Sam’s School, a growing collection of wisdom on what it means to spread joy. Today, we reflect on the words of past recipients and how they embody Student U’s core values every day.
How Our Community Lives Out Student U’s Core Values
James Daniels (2019 Award Recipient): “These core values remind me daily of the life-changing power of restoration: returning to or maintaining the beauty in people, places, and communities. As an educator, poet, musician, and community arts organizer, they inform how I treat my homies, strangers, and students, challenge me to create adaptable views of success, and ground me in my mission of building a world—through creative peacebuilding and affirming education—with a more restorative view of ourselves and the communities around us.”
Muriel Smith (2010 Award Recipient): “I live out Student U’s core values by creating spaces where educators can share their brilliance and stand firm in teaching the truth of history. For me, that means building curriculum that sparks student curiosity, centers undertold perspectives, and making sure teachers have the tools to bring that knowledge into every classroom.”
Michelle Norwood (2013 Award Recipient): “I live out Student U’s Core Values by cultivating environments that offer space and opportunity for others to shine. It is an honor to train and coach leaders both at work and in my community. It’s my purpose. It’s my brilliance. Through this work, I am reminded of all of these values and I get to encourage others to live out their own values every single day.”
Honoring Our Sam Kimberg Award Recipients
Since 2010, the Sam Kimberg Award has recognized individuals who embody joy, service, and dedication to Student U’s mission. We celebrate each of our past recipients for their incredible contributions to our community:
- Muriel Smith (2010)
- Emily Jenkins (2011)
- Ian McDiarmid (2012)
- Michelle Norwood (2013)
- TiVianna Webster (2014)
- Bettina Umstead (2015)
- Anna McCreight (2016)
- April Warren (2017)
- Stephanie Quintanilla (2018)
- James Daniels (2019)
- Bria Davenport (2020)
- Lonnie Kendall (2021)
- Idreese Foxworth (2022)
- Jaia Grady (2023)
- Nori Clark (2024)
Spread Joy in Honor of Sam
Today, we invite you to celebrate Sam Kimberg’s legacy in your own way. Whether it’s a kind word to a friend, supporting a young learner, or bringing light to your community, let’s honor Sam’s birthday by spreading joy wherever we go.
How will you live out Student U’s core values today?
