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It was 1989 and Derek Price was sitting in his Manchester kindergarten classroom. His teacher, who strongly resembled Cruella De Vil, was picking on one of Price's classmates for being hyper and fidgety.
That was the moment Price realized he wanted to fight social injustice.
"I always think back to my childhood when I was outraged by injustice," Price said. "I just remember thinking, 'This isn't right. No one should be treated this way.' That one experience had a deep impact on me."
As an honors-level social work major and senior at UNH, Price has been intensely involved with his community since his early teens through volunteer work at local soup kitchens. Price was recently named Student of the Year by the National Association of Social Work for his outstanding activism and extensive work in the social work field.
"Derek is extraordinarily bright and articulate," said Martha Byam, clinical assistant professor of Social Work at UNH. "He really understands the systems and how they impact people's lives. He demonstrates real commitment to social work values."
The social work field tends to attract people who truly want to make a difference, Byam said. What distinguishes Price from other students is that he has been consistently and actively engaged in the community since the moment he set foot on the UNH campus, said Byam.
During his first two years at UNH, Price was involved in the Student Environmental Action Coalition where he supported their projects and was one of two lead planners for Solar Fest. Price is also a trained SHARPP advocate and has given trainings on campus to students for Bringing in the Bystander, a prevention workshop aimed at establishing a community response to verbal, emotional, physical and, specifically, sexual abuse.
Price is currently one of the leaders in the Peace and Justice League, which is dedicated to social activism, and is also a member of the Committee on Rights and Justice, a group that helps refugees and immigrants attain citizenship and aims to end discrimination against this population.
Price said he gains inspiration from his two loving parents, Scott and Marcie Price, who served as his role models throughout his entire life.
"I'm also very lucky to have two parents who love me unconditionally," Price said.
Price said his parents have served as huminatarian role models as well.
His father, Scott, has been aiding people struggling with alcohol addictions for many years. Marcie Price works with cats in a local animal shelter in hopes to provide emotional support and find homes for the ones that have been abandoned and abused.
Although Price hasn't always been a social activist, he has demonstrated immense compassion and empathy since he was a young child.
"Derek has always had a kind and gentle soul," Marcie Price said. "He's always been patient and loving with everyone around him. He's just a wonderful, wonderful person."
Marcie and Scott Price always knew that Derek was gifted. Price had a large vocabulary at a young age, and was always excelling above his peers. In second- and third-grade, Price began showing his creative side by writing short stories and drawing cartoons.
"Derek has always had a keen intellect," said Scott Price. "He's always shown a deep empathy for the world around him, and he's very funny too."
Bekah Hawley, a freshman psychology major from Derry, said that Price has the unique ability to bring humor into everything he does yet he is able to focus his attention when it is needed the most.
"Derek has this positive energy about him," Hawley said. "He is completely dedicated to the cause, but can still make you smile."
Hawley recalls the 8th annual Drag Ball hosted by Alliance, where people were encouraged to dress in a way that makes them feel "fabulous." When Price showed up wearing a suit, Hawley made sure that he changed into something a little more striking, and he certainly did.
"Of course I chastised him when he came in wearing a suit," Hawley said. "He came back wearing a little pink dress with white tights. All I remember is him hiding behind blue balloons with a little school girl look on his face."
Price wasn't ready for college after his high school graduation, so he did a little soul searching first. He went with a friend for Hawaii for six months, and then worked at a local daycare center.
"Derek was always good with kids," Marcie Price said. "People just always tended to gravitate towards him."
Hawley not only describes Price as an activist, but as an inspiration as well. He uses his compassion as an inspiration to help others realize their passions.
"When I first met Derek it became very clear, very quickly that he brings his own hopeful, supportive essence to everything," Hawley said. "That is very Derek."
When Price found out that he received the Student of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Work, he felt a mixture of emotions. He was very grateful and flattered, yet he felt strange at the same time. He believes that there are other people that deserve the award just as much as he does.
"We live in a very individualist society," Price said. "I don't extricate myself from the community. I see the activism work as a community endeavor."
Price strongly believes that introspection is a crucial component to diminishing the social injustice that afflicts our society. During his free time, Price enjoys playing the guitar, and writing songs that will bring hope and inspiration to his community.
"This award gives me a chance to shine a light on the work that has been done," said Price. "Words should inspire us to do work on the community and face the issues at hand. It starts with you, me, and the individual. It might sound cliché but everyone has the love and compassion inside them to take action in their communities."
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