2024 Peter Jennings Award Winner

Aneesh Sohoni (Twin Cities '09), CEO of One Million Degrees (OMD), has been named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership. Established in 2007, the Peter Jennings Award, named in honor of the late ABC News anchor and longtime supporter of Teach For America, recognizes Teach For America alumni who embody the organization’s core values and whose work led to significant change for excellence and equity in education. 

“Peter believed in Teach For America, because he believed in the power of public education and, like TFA, he knew that equal opportunity depends on educational opportunity,” said Kayce Freed Jennings, Peter’s wife. “Aneesh Sohoni’s difficult and collaborative work to make the Community College opportunity more accessible to so many more reflects the determination, passion and commitment to community that is an integral part of the TFA ethos. We are thrilled to honor it.”  

Aneesh's impactful work with One Million Degrees, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering community college students, has brought meaningful change  in Chicago. Under his leadership, OMD has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive academic, financial, personal and professional support to community college students across Illinois. Through its holistic approach, OMD helps low-income students overcome barriers to graduation, offering services like financial assistance, tutoring, mentoring, and professional development. 

Vital to OMD’s success are community partnerships. The organization collaborates with colleges and employers to create career pathways, ensuring students gain the skills and resources needed for economic mobility. One such collaboration is OMD’s recent, visionary partnership with City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). Together, OMD and CCC are working toward a bold goal of achieving a 55% college completion rate, with OMD’s model set to boost enrollment by 7% and graduation rates by 11%. 

“I am deeply honored to receive the Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership,” shared Aneesh. “As the child of immigrants, I’ve seen how access to educational opportunity can truly change lives, and that’s what initially drew me to teaching and education. At One Million Degrees, we believe in the power of community college to transform not only students' lives but also entire communities by breaking down barriers to economic mobility. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and partners, and it inspires me to continue advocating for a future where every student has the support they need to thrive."

Since stepping in as CEO in 2021, Aneesh has led One Million Degrees to significantly expand its reach and impact, improving retention, graduation rates, and long-term career success. Under his leadership, the number of participating students grew from 650 in Fall 2022 to 1,223 in Fall 2023, putting OMD on track to reach its goal of 5,000+ students by 2028. Aneesh and his team also drove a major boost in fundraising, growing revenue from $4 million to $24 million in just one year, with a notable $7 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in Spring 2023.

“Aneesh embodies the enduring commitment and unwavering belief in every child that Teach For America fosters in our network of leaders across the country,” shared Teach For America CEO Elisa Villanueva Beard. “From his impact as a classroom teacher to his leadership at Teach For America and One Million Degrees, Aneesh has consistently championed students from underserved communities, working with them to break down barriers to opportunity and economic mobility. As he charges forward to scale the work he’s leading at One Million Degrees, Aneesh’s visionary effort is driving stronger education and career outcomes for thousands of community college students each year. We are incredibly proud to honor him with the Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of his work in the years to come.”

Aneesh’s journey in education started over a decade ago as a high school English teacher in the Twin Cities through Teach For America. Inspired by his own family’s immigrant story, he saw firsthand how access to opportunity could unlock the full potential of every student. Since leaving the classroom, Aneesh worked in the public and non-profit sector supporting education efforts at a city and state level. His time at the Tennessee Department of Education provided him the opportunity to help design a transformative teacher evaluation system, and his subsequent role at TNTP put him at the forefront of human capital and academic reform efforts in Camden, NJ and Boston, MA. His leadership has not only influenced the lives of countless students but also set a standard for civic leadership within the education sector. 

“I am proud to call Aneesh a mentor and friend and it is a privilege to present him with the Peter Jennings Civic Leadership Award,” shared Anajah Philogene, Executive Director of TFA Chicago-Northwest Indiana. “Our time together at TFA allowed me to see his passion and fierce commitment up close. Aneesh is a deep listener, strategic learner, and thoughtful coalition builder that takes the time to understand the needs, barriers and goals of young people and is determined to create the enduring support and network necessary to guide them to college and career success..”

The award will be presented during a reception on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM CT at Taste 222 in Chicago. This celebration, hosted in partnership with TFA Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Advisory Board members Chas Edelstein and Nisaini Rexach, will honor Aneesh's achievements and contributions to the field of education

 

Peter Jennings Award Information

Established in 2007, this award is named as a tribute to the late journalist Peter Jennings, whose dedication to expanding educational opportunity was crucial to advancing educational equity.

Award winners and finalists represent a wide range of fields that impact education, including school leaders, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, and elected officials.

Finalists are nominated by Teach For America’s executive leadership team, fellow alumni, staff, and external partners. The winner of the award receives a prize of $10,000 in addition to local and national recognition.

Nominations are open for the 2025 award until December 13, 2024 and can be submitted here.

Questions about the Peter Jennings Award should be submitted via email to: peterjenningsaward@teachforamerica.org.