Deadline: April 30, 2009

The holocaust was a tragedy of epic proportions.  My great-grandfather, a member of the last Hero Generation (Gen-Y is the latest Hero Generation) fought in WWII in Germany to free victims of the holocaust.  We’d like to think that this could never happen again, but then we look at the victims in Darfur and the Congo and see that outrages against humanity can still occur by genocidal states today.  Unless we learn from and take pro-active steps history will repeat itself.  

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:  Students responding to this year’s writing contest should study the Holocaust and then, in an essay of no more than 1,200 words:

(a) analyze why it is vital that the remembrance, history and lessons of the Holocaust be passed to new generations; and

(b) suggest what you, as students, can do to combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination and violence in our world today.

Students may study any aspect of the Holocaust that interests them, and are encouraged to tie-in current events and/or other genocides as they relate to the importance of why we should remember the Holocaust.  Simply be sure to respond to the two questions posed in the prompt (above).   See contest rules below for complete details and submission requirements.

Scholarships:

• 10 First-Place Winners: Each of the 10 First-Place Winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago, IL, (tentatively scheduled for June 22-26, 2009) to visit the new Illinois Holocaust Memorial Museum and other sites with teachers and Holocaust survivors (valued at over $2,000), a gold medal, and a Certificate of Participation. In addition, each First-Place Winner will receive a scholarship ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
   
• 10 Second-Place Winners: Each of the 10 Second-Place Winners will receive $500, a silver medal, and a Certificate of Participation.
   
• 10 Third-Place Winners: Each of the 10 Third-Place Winners will receive $300, a bronze medal, and a Certificate of Participation.
   
• Scholarships: The 10 First-Place Winning Essays will be evaluated by a separate panel of judges and scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to those 10 essayists and will be announced while the winners are in Chicago, IL.