For the Sake of Kindness

When it comes to awards for students, it's usually about competition in academics, arts or sports. But the Justin Perkins Sandlot Award in Cupertino is a completely different ballgame. Instead of competition, it goes for compassion.

Judges of the award select recipients from young applicants who are either high school seniors or recent graduates (classes of 2009-11) based on their contributions to their community, their school and the world around them. The award, in its third year, will accept applications and recommendations until April 1.

Founders of the award said they decided to use such criteria, because the person memorialized by the award, Monta Vista High School graduate Justin Perkins, once said, "I want to help people after I'm gone."

Perkins was once an inspiration to his Monta Vista classmates. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer during his junior year, shortly after the last football game of the 2003 season, but still promised to play on the team as a senior.

Perkins fulfilled his promise, playing in the last three football games of his senior year. At each game, his courage and determination brought the audience to standing ovations, according to his football coach, Jeff Mueller.

When Perkins received treatment at Kaiser Hospital, he became friends with his oncology ward roommate, Jan-Willem "JW" Knapen, who initiated fundraising for JW House, a home away from home for families of patients being treated at hospitals in Santa Clara County.

Perkins and Knapen encouraged each other to beat their cancers, according to Perkins' father, Albert.

Unfortunately, they both lost. But both of their legacies go on. JW House opened in 2008, about three years after Knapen's death. The Justin Perkins Sandlot Award was established in 2009, less than a year after Perkins died in October 2008, at the age of 21.

Albert Perkins said he found comfort in establishing the award.

"There's always going to be a pain in my heart," he said. "But I can smile watching the recipients of the award, knowing they have the same passion my son had, knowing people are remembering my son."

The heartbroken father founded the award with Steven Young, whose daughter was on the softball team he coached, and John Loiacono, a long-lost high school friend he met again through Young.

Loiacono and Young never met Justin Perkins. But deeply moved by his story, they are passionate about promoting his legacy.

"This award is meant to inspire kids to do things that last beyond their lifetime," says Young.

The word "sandlot" in the award's name refers to a symbolic playground, where everyone enjoys doing all kinds of fun things without a particular agenda. In other words, the award is for those doing kind work purely for the sake of kindness.

As Loiacono said, "We are looking for those who are serving above and beyond the call of duty, for students who take initiative to help the community—not because they have to, but because they want to."

That describes Rhian Hardee, a recipient of the 2010 Justin Perkins Sandlot Award. She said the award made her feel special.

"It's not for those students who do community service for credit or college applications," she said of the award. "It's for those who genuinely want to help out."

Hardee won the award for her volunteer work with children at various settings, such as a science camp, a kindergarten, an elementary school and a basketball team in a community program. She says she volunteered purely for her love of children and didn't expect anything in return, but Young heard of her contribution and approached her, encouraging her to apply for the award.

For those interested in the 2011 award, applicants must describe themselves, their community service activities and goals for the future. They also have to provide three references when applying online at sandlothero.com