Pride Bite: Community Core Value in action – NSU Recognizes Middle and High School Winners of Statewide Holocaust Reflection Contest

(back row L-R) Craig Weiner, president of the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, Inc., Autumn Kulla, Dailey Jackson, Elio Reyes, George L. Hanbury II, PH.D., NSU President and CEO. (front row L-R) Jake Twargoski, Mahli Salgado

NSU has partnered with the nonprofit Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, Inc. to sponsor the annual Holocaust Reflection Contest—a statewide student competition that promotes Holocaust education. The 2016 winners were announced at an award ceremony held on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus on Sunday, March 6.

Participating middle and high school students submitted their original essays, poems, visual art pieces, and short films illustrating what they learned from studying the testimonials of Holocaust survivors and reflecting on how those lessons apply to their own lives. NSU faculty members and distinguished community leaders judged the students’ projects totaling nearly 1,400 entries from 97 public and private schools.

“This is the second year we’ve hosted the contest, and we’re pleased to see the interest and participation in this program nearly double from last year,” said George Hanbury II, NSU president and CEO. “The students’ work illustrates their thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and creativity. It moves me to see how the survivors of immeasurable persecution and tragedy can inspire young people to be more accepting of diversity.”

The six winning students, as well as their respective teachers and one parent per student, have been awarded an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. this summer to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and participate in meetings with national and international dignitaries.

2016 Holocaust Reflection Contest Winners

(The winning projects are published on the contest website.)

Elio Reyes | Grade 10
Mulberry High School | Mulberry, Florida
High School Essay/Poem | Essay Inspired by Night by Elie Wiesel

Autumn Kulla | Grade 12
NSU University School | Fort Lauderdale/Davie, Florida
High School Art | “Fading”

Susana Obando | Grade 12
The Sagemont School | Weston, Florida
High School Film | “The Holocaust: A Reflection on Those Who Lived to Tell the Tale”

Mahli Salgado | Grade 7
Beachside Montessori Village | Hollywood, Florida
Middle School Essay/Poem | “Stripped”

Dailey Jackson | Grade 8
St. Joseph Catholic School | Jacksonville, Florida
Middle School Art | “Left Alone”

Jake Twargoski | Grade 6
Pinnacle Academy | Bradenton, Florida
Middle School Film | “Eva Galler: An Escape from the Death Camp Train”

At the award ceremony, the winning students were recognized by President Hanbury; Ralph Rogers, Ph.D., NSU provost and executive vice president of academic affairs; and Craig R. Weiner, president of the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, Inc. Community and political leaders in attendance included Juergen Borsch, Consul General Federal Republic of Germany; Revital Malca, Deputy Chief of Mission/Israeli Consulate; Tom Harber, World War II veteran and liberator of Buchenwald; Arthur Berger, Senior Adviser for Foreign Affairs at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; Robert Runcie, Superintendent of Broward County Schools; Mitchell Bloomer, Director Holocaust Education in Orange County Schools; Nordia Sappelton of Diversity Education in Broward County Schools; Abby Freedman and Laurie Rich-Levinson, Broward County Schoolboard members; and three Holocaust Survivors: Baruch Glance, Miriam Granat, and Mikhail Dudnik. Also in attendance were NSU leaders Fred Lippman, Ed.D.; Irving Rosenbaum, Ed.D.; and Don Rosenblum, Ph.D.

“This contest offers a wonderful and unique opportunity for Florida students to share their personal point of view about a most significant time in the world’s history through creative writing and artistic expression,” said Rogers. “NSU is proud to be a part of this important learning and teaching experience.”

To learn more about the contest and view the winning projects, please visit the Holocaust Reflection Contest website: www.nova.edu/holocaustcontest.