Our Art & Writing Competition seeks to educate students about
the Holocaust, engage them through Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel’s profound stories, and empower them to move from thought to action
using creative expression.
the Holocaust, engage them through Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel’s profound stories, and empower them to move from thought to action
using creative expression.
This year, we received more than 230 entries from 7-12th grade students throughout Michigan!
Each student that entered opened his or her eyes, hearts, and minds to learn about the Holocaust and channel its lessons into their profound work.
Please contact us for more information at competition@holocaustcenter.org
It is our pleasure to share this year's virtual awards ceremony with you!
2021 Theme: The Power of Memory
Inspiration: 7-8th grade students
By the end of the Holocaust, six million Jewish people had been murdered at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. Each victim has his or her own story. Unfortunately, some stories will never be known, while others have been preserved and passed on for us to hear and learn from.
Each year millions of people read Anne Frank’s diary. Miep Gies—one of the people that helped Anne and her family hide—found Anne’s diary and kept it. She hoped to one day return it to her. Anne’s father later published her diary so that we can learn about her story.
Upon receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Anti-Defamation League in 1996, Miep declared: “Again, I could not save Anne’s life. However, I did save her diary… In her diary she tells us that she wants to live on after her death. Now, her diary makes her really live on, in a most powerful way!”
Inspiration: 9-12th grade students
By the end of the Holocaust, six million Jewish people had been murdered at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. Each victim has his or her own story. Unfortunately, some stories will never be known, while others have been preserved and passed on for us to hear and learn from.
Each year millions of people read Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night. He wanted to share his story and to teach future generations about the Holocaust. Upon accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, Elie said: “That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.”
Prompt: What does it mean to remember the Holocaust? How can we keep this memory alive? How does this memory impact our future actions?
