The influence of Yale extends beyond its own students and alumni. The Yale Book Awards that are given exclusively to juniors in Westchester schools; the Yale Westchester Shakespeare Award that is given to outstanding English and drama students in their sophomore or junior years; and the Yale Westchester Music Award that is given to outstanding musicians and students in their sophomore or junior years, are all examples of important influences the Yale Westchester Alumni Association (YWAA) offer to stimulate and reward excellence among Westchester’s collegiate-aspiring students.

In the distant past, book awards were probably awarded to encourage schools and colleges to maintain good relations between them while rewarding outstanding high school students, at the college’s expense, and encouraging students to apply to the college providing the award. Today, many colleges give such book awards in schools’ “awards assemblies”, but the significance has changed. Yale University always seeks outstanding student applications, but the need to stimulate such applications is in doubt. Even though many Westchester students are qualified to do Yale work, and large numbers do apply, few students actually can be admitted, leaving the vast majority to apply elsewhere.  

The Yale Book Award has become one of the most coveted of all student awards, even among students who can receive large cash prizes. When Yale alumni attend these awards assemblies, they witness the excitement of the young people who receive the Yale award. The award means that members of the faculty of the awarded school believe that the awarded student, among all of the students in the grade, is best qualified to attend Yale University. This puts the significance of the award right at the top with very few others.

 Accordingly, Yale Westchester Alumni Association has developed a saturation philosophy for Yale Book Awards. Every secondary school in Westchester is eligible for the award, whether that school is a repeated source of Yale students or not. In the spring of 2002, YWAA awarded Yale Book Awards in 48 Westchester schools, including Fordham Prep and Horace Mann in the Bronx, two private schools that draw students from throughout Westchester.

 Mark Roth of Goldens Bridge, the current chair of the Yale Book Awards program, already has lined up a large number of Yale alumni volunteers to help distribute and present the awards throughout Westchester.

 The physical award itself is a one-of-a-kind. First, the book awarded is the complete works of William Shakespeare, published by Barnes and Noble, and known internationally as the “Yale Shakespeare”. Such a heavy book required special packaging, so a special Yale tote bag was created, labeled “Yale Book Award”, so students could leave the assembly with the award in tow and with a sign that announced their award. Once the award was “in the bag”, there was room for more gifts. Each awardee receives a bookplate with his or her name, the school name, and the date of the award. In addition, Yale supplies a beautiful brochure describing the University, underlining the prestige of the award. Each award recipient also receives eight CD’s of top music performances in eight different musical genres, such as classical, country and jazz.