Peace Islands Institute Awards Recognize Excellence


Date posted: June 23, 2014

By Tasmin Mahfuz

The Peace Islands Institute of New Jersey held their annual awards dinner to recognize the accomplishments of 6 remarkable individuals in different walks of life.

More than 200 people joined to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues and community members, including NJ State Senator Bob Gordon.

“The Peace Islands Institute does a very good job of that,” he said.

This year’s awards recognized contributions in Business, Community, Media, Diversity Appreciation, Education and Peace and Understanding.

Mike Schneider, the recipient for the Media Award, started his career in broadcasting nearly 40 years ago.

From NBC’s Nightly News to ABC’s Good Morning America, he has kept his audience informed

“I am humbled by the honor because a lot of reasons I got into this work four decades ago, I felt that my political leaders at the time, didn’t listen to the people,” Mike explained.

For 30 years, Sheriff Berdnik protected his community through law enforcement and received the Community Service Award.

“To be chosen for this event is really spectacular. One thing that I love about my job is the fact that I go out in so many different diverse cultures and for me it’s a tremendous learning experience,” he said.

Dr. Tracy Severns serves as the Chief Academic Officer for NJ’s Dept of Education where her workshops offer best practices for today’s teachers.

“Working to help leaders and teachers to make things possible for over 1.7 million children throughout the state of New Jersey, I can’t imagine a calling or a mission more important than that,” she said.

Other honorees of the night included Assemblywoman Annette Quijano who received the Diversity Appreciation Award for her work in fighting inequality.

Reverend Robert Moore accepted the Peace and Understanding Award for his commitment to stop weapons trafficking.

Jeffery Vega was honored with the Business Award as the President of a non-profit organization called New Brunswick tomorrow.

Each of the honorees have motivated their community through their actions and by recognizing their accomplishments inspire others to strive for peace.

Tags: | | |


Related News

Dozens of US Congress members attend major convention of Turkic Americans

Dozens of members of the United States Congress, as well as US administration officials and other leading public figures, attended the fourth annual convention organized by the Turkish American Alliance (TAA), the biggest umbrella organization of Turkic Americans, reiterating the solid ties between the people of the US and Turkey.

Dr. Reuven Firestone Interviewed by Muslim Turkish Movement “Hizmet”

Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Ph.D., Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of HUC-JIR in Los Angeles, was interviewed by a Muslim Turkish Movement called Hizmet, which means “service.” Hizmet is active in interfaith dialogue in Turkey and many other countries, and has built private and charter schools in many countries, […]

Henri Barkey: Why Is Turkey Accusing Me of Plotting a Coup?

Soon after the coup was defeated, my colleagues and I became the targets of sensationalist conspiracy theories promulgated by Turkey’s pro-government press. The accusations ranged from organizing the coup on behalf of the C.I.A. to setting up communication links for the plotters and, most implausibly, bringing a convicted murderer from California into Turkey to engage in evil deeds.

First Lego League qualifier at Brooklyn Amity School

Brooklyn Amity School became a site where students dealt with all kinds of animals, including alligators, frogs, reindeer, sharks, cows, pandas, bees, and seals. As a host of the First Lego League qualifier competition, 11 different schools came to Amity School. This year, the FLL’s concept was “Animal Allies,” which allowed students to think and act like scientists and engineers.

Hizmet, Erdoğan and the US

Today, the government resorts to irrational conspiracy theories in an effort to divert public attention from allegations of corruption. As a social movement that successfully promotes Turkey’s values in its schools in about 150 countries around the world, the Hizmet movement’s patriotism cannot be doubted

Peace Islands Institute Awards Recognize Excellence

By Tasmin Mahfuz The Peace Islands Institute of New Jersey held their annual awards dinner to recognize the accomplishments of 6 remarkable individuals in different walks of life. More than 200 people joined to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues and community members, including NJ State Senator Bob Gordon. “The Peace Islands Institute does a […]

Latest News

Sacramento leaders gather for Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

In Case You Missed It

A Permanent Kimse Yok Mu Mission to Be Launched in Jerusalem

The Gülen movement as the victim of an orchestrated smear campaign

Ahmet Şık’s book and Ergenekon’s media campaign (3)

Representatives of Abrahamic religions meet in Iftar in Antioch

African Union Commission chair supports creation of more Turkish schools

Cagaptay: Turkey moves far beyond Europe

Reflections on a Hizmet-inspired school in Tanzania

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News