The Hon Kachina Volunteer Award, one of the most prestigious honors an Arizonan can receive, is being given this year to 2004 Flinn Scholar Dustin Cox.

There's no denying that Cox is rather young to be receiving an award that usually recognizes a lifetime's dedication to volunteering, but there's also no denying that Cox has, at the age of 22, already given a lifetime's worth of service. He and eight other community leaders will be honored by the Hon Kachina Council at a dinner on Sept. 27.

"I was astonished and humbled that I was chosen." Cox said. "I am deeply honored to be included with all the other folks that have received this award."

Early in his teens, Cox developed a commitment to promoting social justice and fighting against discrimination. That commitment led him first to help establish the Human Relations Council at Skyline High School in Mesa, and then to become involved in Anytown Arizona, a statewide organization that provides leadership-development programs for youths age 13-24, teaching communication and conflict-resolution skills and promoting diversity awareness, social justice, and personal empowerment.

Cox sustained an active leadership role in Anytown Arizona throughout his four years as a student at the University of Arizona, dedicating many hundreds of hours to ensuring the success of Anytown camps and workshops. He also brought the Anytown concept to his university campus, creating A-TOWN, a collegiate social-justice and leadership conference. He raised $30,000 for the conference, and directed the first A-TOWN in January for 75 college students and staff.

Never one to coast on his accomplishments, Cox, who graduated in May with a degree in political science, is spending this year replicating A-TOWN's success. He is working on plans for several additional conferences at both UA and Arizona State University, and is aiming to take the program beyond Arizona.

"We have to foster the understanding that regardless of your faith, race, or sexual orientation, we're all human," Cox said. "It is our humanity that unites us."

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For more information:

"Meet a Flinn Scholar: Dustin Cox," 04/11/2007

UA news release, 01/09/2008