When junior club member Peri Stephens heard about the award SOAR won, she said she felt proud of the work the club does to bring awareness about race to Park.

Stephens said she was surprised the Student Organization Against Racism (SOAR) club received recognition for work she thought went unnoticed.

“This award proves that our efforts have not been completely in vain and that we’ve been recognized,” Stephens said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I thought we were unknown, but this was really a great wake-up call to see that we’re making an impact.”

At the St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission meeting Dec. 15, the Commission announced SOAR won the Human Rights Award for 2015, according to Human Rights Commission board member Rhoda Quick.

“Once a year, people from the community can go online and nominate an individual or a group that fits the criteria for Human Rights Award and this year we received two,” Quick said.

Quick said the Commission reviewed the nominations for the award and SOAR won with a unanimous vote.

“The Human Rights Commission looked at the nominations. SOAR in the high school fits the criteria of the award,” Quick said.

According to Quick, SOAR won the award because of the work members do to bring awareness about race to the community.

Club adviser Joy Esboldt said she thinks the students deserve all the credit for this award and feels proud to be included in SOAR.

“I nominated the students, and so I would pass on all credit to the students. I think it’s awesome this organization exists,” Esboldt said. “I’m honored to help be a part of it, in terms of having an official adviser lead it.”

Junior club member and Human Rights Commission board member Willy Poulter said SOAR struggles with the number of active members in the club. He said he thinks the award will increase the attendance of club meetings.

“Something that SOAR has been struggling with for sure is how to increase attendance and how to be known and maybe how to get more of a driving force within the community behind us,” Poulter said. “I think that this definitely gives us a PR boost, and also could help us tap into some of the resources that the city of St. Louis Park is being involved in.”

Junior club leader Callia Blake said she noticed more people showed up to the SOAR meeting following the award announcement Dec. 17 and believes the award brought recognition to the club.

“I’m just really proud, and I’m glad that someone recognized us because there was such a small group that I feel like no one really knows about us,” Blake said. “I don’t know if it’s because of the award or not, but the meeting after we won the award, a few more people showed up.”

Stephens said she thinks the award will benefit SOAR and cause people to notice the actions they perfom.

“(The award will) add validity to our stances and people will realize that we’re not just a group of friends wanting to talk about issues, (but) that we’re actually a proactive group that is trying to get things done,” Stephens said.

Esboldt said she thinks the impact SOAR makes on the community deserves celebration.

“I think being able to have some points of celebration along the way are important,” Esboldt said. “I hope it will be an encouragement to them about the importance of the work that they’re doing.”

SOAR plans to receive its award at the City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at City Hall.