Holocaust Reflection Contest Draws Nearly 2,000 Entries

Award winners pose with Holocaust survivors at the Holocaust Reflection Contest event at NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library.

For its eighth year, Nova Southeastern University and the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, Inc. hosted the Holocaust Reflection Contest Student and Teachers Awards Ceremony. This important statewide contest allows middle and high school students across the Florida to study the testimonies of Holocaust survivors in an enriching way. The contest provides a creative opportunity to honor and remember the millions of victims that perished in the Holocaust.

The event was held Sunday, April 3, in NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus. This year nearly 2,000 student submissions ranging from artwork, poetry, and film creations were received.

Those attending the event toured the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center at the library. This fully equipped Museum/Resource Center that is open to both students as well as the general public at no charge during all library hours — seven days a week. On permanent exhibit are 250 original artifacts, wall-mounted images depicting the events both leading up to and including the period of the Holocaust, original newspapers of the period, as well as research computers that are connected to most major world renowned Holocaust museums. This center also houses the Shoah Foundation Database upon which visitors may conduct research and view some 55,000 Holocaust survivor testimonies and the Echoes and Reflections Timeline of the Holocaust.

Craig and Barbara Weiner, from The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center at NSU, pose with holocaust survivors Sunday during the Holocaust Reflection Contest awards ceremony. From left are Barbara Weiner, Eric Lipetz, Rossette Goldstein, Irene Zisblatt, Craig Weiner, and Zelda Fuksman.

Below are this year’s winners.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

First Prize

“A Light in the Darkness”

Student: Sierra Crane

Teacher: Sheri Brandt

School: The Weiss School (private), Palm Beach County

 

Second Prize

“Ruth Kluger and the Holocaust”

Student: Kristen Colom

Teacher: Isabell Leger

School: Pembroke Pines Charter (public), Middle West, Broward County

 

DIGITAL STORYTELLING (HIGH SCHOOL)

First Prize

“Be My Voice”

Student: Neslianne Carrasquillo

Teacher: Amanda Mathis

School: Osceola County School of Arts (public), Osceola County

 

Second Prize

“Anna’s Story”

Student: Max Danik

Teacher: Silkia Aviles

School: Wellington Community High School (public), Palm Beach County

 

ESSAY/POEM (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

First Prize

“Silent”

Student: Sofia Fernandez

Teacher: Theresa Schrager

School: Falcon Cove (public), Broward County

 

Second Prize

“Alone”

Student: Lauren Bryan

Teacher: Sheri Brandt

School: The Weiss School (private), Palm Beach County

 

ESSAY/POEM (HIGH SCHOOL)

First Prize

“Over the Grass”

Student: Anna Zavadski

Teacher: Brendan Walsh

School: NSU University School (private), Broward County

 

Second Prize

“The World: A Never-Ending Saga”

Student: Joshua Ogline

Teacher: Earl Post

School: Braden River High School (private/public), Manatee County

 

ART (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

First Prize

“Can’t You See I’m Human?”

Student: Madeleine Merrick

Teacher: Chelsea Dittrich

School: Sunrise Middle School (public), Broward County

 

Second Prize

“Never Forget”

Student: Jack Armstrong

Teacher: Angela Tillman

School: Villa Madonna School (private), Hillsborough County

 

ART (HIGH SCHOOL)

First Prize

“The Ashes of Our Lives”

Student: Ana Valdes

Teacher: Judy Hainsworth

School: Cypress Bay High School (public), Broward County

 

Second Prize

“Bitter Memories”

Student: Ruby Feng

Teacher: Leah Gentry

School: Seminole High School (public), Seminole County

 

Posted 04/05/22