NORTH READING — The North Reading Human Rights Group (NRHRG) recently announced the winner of the group’s inaugural Human Rights Scholarship is Alexa Pepper of North Reading. The $500 scholarship, which was awarded to Alexa at North Reading High School’s graduation ceremony on June 6, was open to all 2025 North Reading high school graduating seniors who planned to attend an accredited post-secondary institution beginning in the fall 2025 or spring 2026 semester. Alexa is the daughter of Eric and Jolene Pepper.
Applicants demonstrated a passion for human rights causes and a diverse array of lived experience working to support human rights in their community, including through school clubs and off-campus groups.
Collective Insight, a small, certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE) established in 2014 and located at 286 Park St. in North Reading dedicated solely to meaningful community engagement, helped plan for and fund the scholarship. To date, Collective Insight has implemented over 40 community engagement initiatives in direct partnership with local, state, national, and academic partners that span a variety of topics, including the COVID-19 response, housing services, substance use services, maternal health, managed care, gerontology, community engaged research, and more.
Julie Elkins, a member of NRHRG who served on the scholarship subcommittee, commented, “We wish to commend all of the applicants for their exceptional applications and extend our congratulations to the Class of 2025.”
Contact the North Reading Human Rights Group at northreadinghrg@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthReadingHumanRightsGroup for more information about how to can get involved.