Cooper grad and Vanderbilt student Max Perry pursues public service, aims to stamp out hate

By Andy Furman
NKyTribune reporter

He is one of only 100.

Max Perry has recently been awarded the prestigious Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service – a national recognition that supports leaders committed to public service.

“This scholarship,” said Perry, a junior at Vanderbilt University via Cooper High School, “will enable me to continue my efforts in combating antisemitism, promoting Holocaust education, mitigating political polarization through civil discourse, and expanding access to post-secondary education, particularly for non-traditional students.”

The Voyager Scholarship Program is a two-year, leadership development and scholarship program, designed to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders and equip them with the tools and resources they need to launch their careers in public service.

“It’s a competitive award,” Perry told the Northern Kentucky Tribune . “Applicants apply. I did through a professor at Vanderbilt. And all applicants are engaged with public service.”

One applies for the scholarship as a sophomore, according to Perry. One hundred juniors are awarded the scholarship, with the option to renew as seniors, if, at the Foundation’s discretion, one maintains good standing with the Voyager program and eligibility requirements.

That should not be a problem at all for Perry.

His efforts to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust Education can be traced back to 2021 when he invited Sami Steigmann – a Holocaust survivor – to tell his story to no less than eight different Northern Kentucky school districts.

“We reached over 4,000 students and community members,” Perry recalled.

“I have continued these efforts at Vanderbilt, as the co-chair of the Vanderbilt Holocaust Memorial Lecture Series,” he said.

The program is the longest-running series at an American University, Perry notes.

“And I had Steigmann visit Vanderbilt in November 2022 when I was awarded the ‘Leader of Tomorrow Award’ by StandWithUs; Ambassador Gilad Erdan of Israel, presented the award.”

Where did this passion come from?

“I’m a Kentuckian at heart,” Perry said, “As my upbringings was in Northern Kentucky.”

But there is more to Perry’s crusade.

“Both my parents are disabled,” he admitted, “and living in Union, Kentucky, our household was a little different than most. We were a Jewish family – not many in Union.”

Perry said he felt discrimination and prejudice growing up.

“I heard Holocaust jokes when I was in Middle School,” he said. “I felt those jokes just represented ignorance in some people.”

So, how do you cure ignorance?

“Through education,” Perry quipped.

So, all Max Perry did was join Jewish groups, meet, and chat with Holocaust survivors, and asked one – through coaxing – to come to Northern Kentucky to educate the masses.

“Hate,” he said, “is just intolerable, wherever we see it. We were successful reaching thousands with Steigmann, but more work needs to be done.”

Perry says he is “heavily involved” with Dialogue Vanderbilt – the school’s “intentional effort to consistently advance and more deeply imbed with university’s long-held values of free expression, civil discourse, and institutional neutrality across campus and beyond.”

“I was an intern in the Office of the Chancellor,” he said, “and I engaged with these topics through research, coursework, and nonstop involvement in extracurriculars and co-curricular activities last year. I spoke on PBS about the program.”

Last summer, he attended the Stanford Law Scholars Institute at Stanford Law School as one of 20 diverse students interested in law.

“This experience,” he said, “only furthered my desire to earn a J.D. and embark on a public service career dedicated to preserving and expanding civil rights, with an unwavering commitment to justice and entrepreneurial citizenship.”

The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb to help shape leaders.

“I am the first person in this program to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust Education,” Perry said.

See the NKyTribune’s story about Max and his Steigmann project in NKY in May 2022.

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