AJC Honors Three Students for Leadership in Fighting Campus Antisemitism

Three college students who were unrelenting in fighting antisemitism on their campuses despite threats, taunts, and intimidation, today received the AJC Sharon Greene Award for Campus Advocacy at American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum 2026.

The award is presented annually to student activists and campus organizations that work to reduce antisemitism, fight the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and other organized efforts to delegitimize Israel, and to promote Jewish life and a positive image of Israel on campus.

This year's recipients are Jake Rymer, a junior at the University of Chicago; Sophie Kalmin, a recent graduate of Emory University; and Jonathan Iadarola, a student at Adelaide University in Australia.

"Amid significant challenges, Jake, Sophie, and Jonathan have proudly led the fight to ensure that their campus Jewish communities are safe and thriving," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "Their unwavering commitment to speaking out against antisemitism and standing up for Israel will no doubt inspire future Jewish student advocates, and I thank them for standing up for Jews everywhere."

Rymer, a biological sciences major from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., accepted on behalf of Maroons for Israel, which he serves as president. The student organization became the central hub for coordinating the Jewish community's response to campus antisemitism. University of Chicago leadership approached the group to co-design its antisemitism training module for faculty and administrators. In the 2026-27 academic year, Rymer will serve in a global student leadership capacity as Executive Chair of the Hillel International Israel Leadership Network.

Kalmin, of Houston, graduated last month with a degree in American Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. She accepted on behalf of Emory Hillel, where she was president. She also served as vice chair of Hillel International's Israel Leadership Network, where she helped shape advocacy across campuses nationally. Kalmin was also a member of Emory's Student Government Association, where she sponsored legislation supporting Jewish students on campus.

Iadarola, who studies law and politics, founded the Adelaide University Jewish Students' Society. After he was taunted and mocked at a student council meeting where he addressed a campus magazine article that concluded with "Death to Israel," Iadarola led a pressure campaign that prompted the university to issue a formal apology to Jewish students.

"Given the many threats that Jewish students have faced in recent years, these honorees should be lauded for stepping up even though they knew doing so carried risk," said AJC Campus Affairs Director Moshe Lencer. "They have all taken Jewish advocacy on campus to new levels, and for that we should all be thankful."

AJC has partnered with the family of the late Sharon Greene to pay tribute to her many contributions to the Jewish community and in support of AJC's mission. A fierce advocate for social justice, Greene was a strong believer in the power of younger generations to effect positive change.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org .