Congratulations to all of our student winners.

Each year, we receive approximately 2,000 entries from more than 100 middle and high schools across the state of Florida. All contest submissions are judged by a panel of volunteer educators and community members. Judges select the winners based on the thoughtfulness and uniqueness of the student’s reflection; the clarity of their message as expressed through their project; and the level of skill and creativity evoked through their writing, art, or video production.

Prizes for the winners have included up to $1000 per student plus additional monies awarded to their teachers and schools, all-expense paid chaperoned trips to Washington, D.C.'s historical sites including the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, private tours of the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection Resource Center, meetings with Holocaust survivors, and an annual awards ceremony and reception on the NSU campus.

2019 Winners

HIGH SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "The Fallacious Monster"
By Leah Mohnkern
Brooks Debartolo Collegiate High School 

2nd Place | "Seventeen"
By Marin Burke
Blake High School Magnet 

Art

1st Place | “Savior of Innocence”
By Isabella Gallese
Jensen Beach High School

2nd Place | “Resilience”
By Danit Weitzman
Scheck Hillel Community School Inc.

Film

1st Place | “The Lessons from a Holocaust Survivor”
By Reggie Ocampos
Bartow High School

2nd Place | “We Remember: David Schaecter”
By Victor San Martin
Terra Environmental Research Institute

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | “Remove the Yellow Stars”
By Raewyn Shaw
Community Leadership Academy

2nd Place | “Sylvia’s Story”
By Mya Kushner
Indian Ridge

Art

1st Place | “The Butterfly”
By Isabella Garcia
Florida Christian School

2nd Place | “Glimmer of Hope”
By Yair Sabag
David Posnack Jewish Day School

Film

1st Place | “Elie Wiesel”
By Jordan Boulware
Community Leadership Academy

 2nd Place | “The Tracks for a Better World”
By Ayden Kostzer
Pembroke Pines Charter West Middle School

2018 Winners

HIGH SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | “Love and Humanity”
By Kairaluchi Oraedu
Vanguard High School

 2nd Place | “Everyday Life”
By Jennifer Juarez

Terra Environmental Research Institute

Art

1st Place | “for you were the fewest of all peoples” Deut 7:7
By Sophia Irias
Florida Christian School
 
By Emma Rome
Liberty Christian Preparatory School

Film
1st Place | “Remembrance”
By Madison Creevay
Barbara Goleman Senior High School
 
2nd Place | “Resistance”
By Julia Arciola
The North Broward Preparatory Schools

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

By Paola Chapilliquen
Falcon Cove Middle School
 
By Ben Diestel
David Posnack Jewish Day School

Art

By Olivia Lobaina
Florida Christian School
 
2nd Place | “Break Away”
Christopher Rodriguez
Florida Christian School

Film

By Jonathan Tamen
Nautilus Middle School
 
2nd Place | “One Leap”
By Annabel Seidemann
Omni Middle School

2017 Winners

HIGH SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "A Glowing Star"
By Samantha Ramer
Cypress Bay High School

2nd Place | "Forgiveness"
By Tania Kazi
Westland Hialeah Senior High School

Art

1st Place | "Some Record of Our Tragedy"
By Corey Kreisel
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

2nd Place | "Remember"
By Anna Vykhopen
Spring Hill Christian Academy

Film

1st Place | "Epitome of a Hero"
By Vaughan Heaps
Pine View School

2nd Place | "Beyond the Irreparable"
By Evan Dietrich
Pine View School

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "Overlooked but Not Forgotten"
By Zoey Fisher
David Posnack Jewish Day School

2nd Place | "Memory and Legacy"
By Samara Cohen
Omni Middle School

Art

1st Place | "Hope"
By Ian Owens
Tavares Middle School

2nd Place | "Straight Off the Train"
By Rocio Lopez
Florida Christian School

Film

1st Place | "William Lowenberg"
By Daniel Cary
Community Leadership Academy

2nd Place | "Kristallnacht"
By Daniel Rodriguez
Florida Christian School

2016 Winners

HIGH SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

By Elio Reyes
Mulberry High School

Art

1st Place | "Fading"

By Autumn Kulla
NSU University School

Film

1st Place | "The Holocaust: A Reflection on Those Who Lived to Tell the Tale"

By Susana Obando
The Sagemont School

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "Stripped"
By Mahli Salgado
Beachside Montessori Village

Art

1st Place | "Left Alone"
By Dailey Jackson
St. Joseph Catholic School

Film

1st Place | "Eva Galler: An Escape from the Death Camp Train"
By Jake Twargoski
Pinnacle Academy

2015 Winners

HIGH SCHOOL

Art

1st Place | "Remembrance"
By Helen Villarreal
John I. Leonard High School

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "Thanking God"
By Garrett Gold
Palm Beach Central High School

Film

1st Place | "Never Forget"
By Ariel Desler
University School of Nova Southeastern University

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Art

1st Place | "The Bliss of Hope"
By Dominique Deer
Villa Madonna School

Essay/Poem

1st Place | "Faith! Hope! Love!"
By Elijah Bishop
Annunciation Catholic School

Film

1st Place | "The Holocaust: A Poem Collection"
By Nina Gulati
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School