More than $3,000 in cash awarded to winners chosen from nearly 850 middle and senior high school student entries.

More than $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to 24 winners of the Holocaust Museum and Learning Center’s 15th annual Art and Writing Contest at an awards ceremony Monday, May 15, at 7:00 pm, in the Holocaust Museum theater in the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building.

There were nearly 850 submissions to the contest, from students in middle schools and high schools throughout the bi-state area. Numerous awards went to submissions from Lenexa, Kansas, and Akron, Colorado and submissions came from Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New York, Los Angeles, California  and  Golden, Colorado.

“We are thrilled to mark the 15th year of this important outreach program, which gives young people the  opportunity to respond creatively to what they have learned about the Holocaust at the museum or in their classrooms,” said Rachel Katzman, chair of this year’s contest. “Many of the submissions show an amazing insight into the history and lessons of the Holocaust, as well as an awareness of issues in the world around them. This important outreach program was established with the support of Dr. Ira (of blessed memory) and Judy Gall, and we are so appreciative of Judy’s continued participation.”

As in previous years, the contest is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust and in honor of the Galls’ grandchildren.

Winning submissions will be displayed in the Holocaust Museum Theater and at other locations to be determined. Marla Wild served as co-Chair for the Art & Writing Contest committee. Judges for the visual art entries were members of the arts community, David Brinker, Pam Hellwege and John Lesser.  Judges for writing were Andrea Brownstein, Susan Fadem and Sandy Snodgrass.

Winners of the 2017 Art and Writing Contest are:

VISUAL ARTS- DIVISION 1 MIDDILE SCHOOL

First Place: “Live To See Another Day”, Nidhi Kumpati, Crestview Middle School, 8th Grade

Second Place: “Art”, Trent Martucci, Sunrise RIX School District, 8th Grade

Third Place: “Indentity”, Jacob Capellupo, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, 8th Grade

“Ashes, Ashes”, Belle Laschober, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8th Grade

Honorable Mentions: “Smoke”, Violet Humphries, Parkway Central Middle School, 8th Grade

“You’re Not Human”, Grace Juan, Mary Emily Bryan Middle School, 8th Grade

“The Entryway”, Julia Solomon, Parkway Central Middle School, 8th Grade

VISUAL ARTS- DIVISION 2 HIGH SCHOOL

First Place: “Perspectives”, Mikayla Watkins, Central High School, 11th Grade

Second Place: “What It Was Like”, Megan Tensing, Cor Jesu Academy, 10th Grade

Third Place: “One Word”, Theresa O’Hanlon, Cor Jesu Academy, 10th Grade

Honorable Mention: “Restriction”, Isabel McKean, Cor Jesu Academy, 10th Grade

“Faces of Courage”, Grace Boehm, Cor Jesu Academy, 10th Grade

“From the Bystander Point of View”, Kaitlyn Esson, Cor Jesu Academy, 10th Grade

“His name Is Jaden”, Hannah Shaddock, Akron High School, 10th Grade

WRITING- DIVISION 1 MIDDLE SCHOOL

First Place: “The Account of the Volunteer”, Hannah Schappe, Our Lady- Festus, 8th Grade

Second Place: “Birgit’s Tale”, Victoria Woodward, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8th Grade

Third Place: “Whistling Man and Grass Boy”, Tabitha Bevan, Parkway Northeast Middle School, 7th Grade

“Ich bin es wert (I am worthy)”, Madison Massmann, St. Gabriel the Archangel, 8th Grade

Honorable Mentions:  “Keep Running”, Noor Yousaf, Fort Zumwalt South Middle School, 8th Grade

“We Just Sat In Silence”, Allison OverKamp, Chesterfield Montessori, 8th Grade

WRITING- DIVISION 2 HIGH SCHOOL

First Place: “Quiet Redemption”, Meg Steiner, St. James Academy, 9th Grade

Second Place: “The Other: Part One”, Hannah Brueggemann, Metro Academic & Classical High School, 12th Grade

“Don’t Make a Sound”, Raylyn White, Park Hills Central R-III11th Grade,

Third Place: “Countless”, Bridget Schippers, St. James Academy, 9th Grade