Florida Atlantic University announced on Apr. 17 the winners of its inaugural Holocaust Reflection Contest, recognizing middle and high school students for their creative works inspired by survivor stories.
The contest, sponsored by FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, invited students to respond to the prompt: “Clearly express what you learned about yourself and modern society through the survivor’s story.” The event aims to encourage reflection on historical events and their relevance today.
High school winners included Danielle Eliaz from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Written Expression, first place), Ava Gurspan from David Posnack Jewish Day School (second place), Katie Zuniga from Charles W. Flanagan High School (Digital Media, first place), Paulency Merove from Suncoast High School (second place), Sofya Titova from Cypress Bay High School and Sophia Klein from David Posnack Jewish Day School (Visual Arts, tied for first place), and Dayna Huynh from Suncoast Community High School (second place). Middle school honorees were Sophia Zann from Saint Marks Episcopal School (Written Expression, first place), Lisa Bowers from Beachside Montessori Village (second place), Ari Kliksberg from David Posnack Jewish Day School (Digital Media, first place), Cristian Espinoza from Pioneer Middle School (second place), and Ashton Somer Lees from Parkway Christian School (Visual Arts, second place).
This is the contest’s first year at Florida Atlantic University. It forms part of the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum of South Florida initiative. The museum will be located in the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building currently under construction at FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
According to university information, the Wallach building will bring together programs focused on Holocaust education, Jewish studies, diplomacy, and leadership. Planned features include a recital hall, exhibition gallery with digital displays such as “Dimensions in Testimony,” a grand lobby area named after Marilyn and Jay Weinberg, an education center dedicated to human rights learning opportunities for families named after Arthur and Emalie Gutterman Family Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education as well as modern classrooms.
More details about this program can be found at the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection Contest at FAU | Florida Atlantic University.
