Winners announced for Youngstown area annual student Holocaust writing, art, and multimedia contest
.jpg "Youngstown area students were honored at the Community Yom Hashoah ceremony at the Mahoning County Courthouse for a Holocaust writing, art and multimedia contest.")
As part of its Annual Community Holocaust Commemoration for Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance), the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation held a student Holocaust writing, art, and multimedia contest. Winners were recognized at the annual Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration Ceremony held at the Mahoning County Courthouse April 14.
Yom Hashoah is an internationally recognized day set aside for remembering all victims of the Holocaust and for reminding society what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred, and indifference reign. Students in grades seven to 12 were invited to submit an original piece of poetry, narrative composition, art, or multimedia piece. The theme for this year’s contest was “When Time Stood Still: The Fate of Jewish Families and Communities During the Holocaust.” It’s inspired by the18-panel exhibit from Yad Vashem that highlights how each of the six million victims was more than just a number. Every individual had a unique identity—a life filled with hopes, fears, dreams, ambitions, and most importantly, family.
The Holocaust devastated Jewish families and communities across Europe. Synagogues, cemeteries, and cultural institutions were destroyed. In many cases, Holocaust Survivors returned to their hometowns after liberation to find no one from their families alive. This year’s winners in the Student Holocaust Writing, Art, and Multimedia contest are: London Cowan First Place – Poetry Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy Eli Lipinsky Second Place – Poetry Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School Lillian Agnone Third Place – Poetry Grade 7-8, Lowellville High School Noah Johnson Fourth Place – Poetry Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy Rebecca Sakelaris First Place - Essay Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy James Perrin Second Place - Essay Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School Roei Sigler Third Place - Essay Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy Joshua Martin Fourth Place - Essay Grade 7-8 , Akiva Academy Phoenix Patterson First Place – Multimedia Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School Sarah Baquero Second Place – Multimedia Grade 7-8, Akiva Academy Annabelle Holbrook Third Place – Multimedia Grade 7-8, Austintown Middle School Alaina Jackson First Place - Poetry Grade 9-10, West Middlesex High School Cameron Kenney Second Place - Poetry Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Ta’Lea Feliciano Third Place - Poetry Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Madison Khoury First Place - Essay Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Chloe Smith Second Place - Essay Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Audrey Lorenzi Third Place - Essay Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Stella Mitchell First Place – Multimedia Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Olivia Cuevas Second Place – Multimedia Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Lainey Powell Third Place – Multimedia Grade 9-10, Boardman High School Annabella Smiley First Place - Poetry Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School Meredith Massey First Place - Poetry Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School Zachary Sodeman Second Place - Poetry Grade 11-12, Boardman High School Avary Stover Third Place - Poetry Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School Kylah Helscel Fourth Place - Poetry Grade 11-12, Boardman High School Rogen Lewis First Place – Essay Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School Jasmine Kortes Second Place – Essay Grade 11-12, Boardman High School Lucy Briggs Third Place – Essay Grade 11-12, West Middlesex High School Remington Fish Fourth Place – Essay Grade 11-12, Boardman High School Allyson Farley First Place – Multimedia Grade 11-12, Crestview High School