Justine Starke, a first-year Strategic Communications major with a minor in English Literature, is the recipient of the 2026 John Henry Weidner Endowed Scholarship for Altruism, presented by the Department of Sociology & Criminology’s Student Sociology & Criminology Association (SSCA), in recognition of her exceptional commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement.
Starke has demonstrated sustained involvement in service across Butler University and the Indianapolis community since her first weeks on campus. “For me, community service wasn’t a question of if, but a question of when and how,” she said. Through the Ambassadors of Change pre-orientation program, work at the Butler Farm, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, I Support the Girls, and Thrifty Threads, she has participated in initiatives addressing food insecurity, environmental sustainability, and support for survivors of abuse and violence.
Across all of her experiences, Starke has demonstrated a consistent commitment to compassionate, hands-on service and community engagement. “I couldn’t imagine my life without serving others because I feel I have no purpose if I am not uplifting others and only doing things for myself,” she said.
The John Henry Weidner Award for Altruism honors Butler University students who exemplify outstanding humanitarian values and dedication to service. Starke’s selection reflects her early and meaningful contributions to both campus life and the broader Indianapolis community, as well as her continued commitment to using communication and leadership as tools for social impact.
The Weidner Award is named for John Weidner, a Dutch citizen and Seventh Day Adventist who, during World War II, saved the lives of approximately 1,000 British and American downed airmen, as well as Jews, Dutch, Belgians, and French individuals fleeing Nazi persecution. Weidner was honored by five governments after the war and by the Holocaust Museum at its opening in 1993. Following his death in Los Angeles in 1994, his widow, Naomi, established a foundation to honor and continue recognition of the altruistic spirit.