More than $2,800 in cash prizes will be awarded to 28 winners of Holocaust Museum and Learning Center’s 12th annual Art and Writing Contest at an awards ceremony Monday, May 12, at 7 pm, in the Holocaust Museum theater in the Jewish Federation Kopolow Building.

There were nearly 900 submissions to the contest, from students in middle schools and high schools throughout the bi-state area. Submissions came from as far away as the Ozarks in Missouri and suburban Chicago. The judges also selected art and writing from Indianapolis, Ind. and Hartford, Conn.

“The Art and Writing contest is a wonderful opportunity for young people who have visited the museum or studied the Holocaust in their classrooms to respond creatively to what they have learned,” said Rachel Katzman, chair of this year’s contest. “Many of the submissions show amazing sensitivity and depth of understanding. 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.

Judges for the visual art entries were John Lesser, retired curator of the art gallery, JCC and JCC Cultural Arts Staff, artist Jill Rosenberg, and Roseann Weiss, Regional Arts Commission. Judges for writing were Judi Scissors, retired educator, Pat Lorraine Simons, educator and author, and Sandy Snodgrass, retired teacher, currently with Webster University.               

Winners of the 2014 Art and Writing Contest are:

VISUAL ARTS–Division 1, Middle School

FIRST PLACE–$300: The Ghetto, Marwa Abdelkader, Wentzville South Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Elaina Knapp

SECOND PLACE–$200: The Story, Chloe Shen, Park Tudor School, 6th Grade; Teacher: Kathy Campbell

THIRD PLACE–$100: Hidden Identity: Taylor Branson, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Ms. Lori Kitrel

HONORABLE MENTIONS–$25: 

– Fading, Ella Tobias, Park Tudor School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Kathy Campbell

– Caged in With Separation, Riley Schaefer, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Amber Phelps

– Where There Is Hope, Isabelle Steinlage, Holy Infant School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Chris Gillian

– Hold On, Courtney St. John, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Kathryn Kowalik

– Trampled Tears, Lauren Ferrari, Holy Infant School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Chris Gillian

– My Holocaust Memorial, Chase Schroeder, South Point Elementary, 6th Grade; Teacher: Grace Assouad

– In Remembrance, Megan Gross, Black Hawk Middle School, 7th Grade; Teacher: Steven Koehler

VISUAL ARTS–Division 2, High School

FIRST PLACE–$300: Hands Through Struggle, Kevin Herber, Christian Brothers College High School, 12th Grade, Teacher: Charles Beach

SECOND PLACE–$200: Forget Your Family, Forget Your Home, Forget Your Name; Maddie Murphy, Lafayette High School, 12th Grade; Teacher:  Lauren Sakowski 

THIRD PLACE–$100: Broken Souls, Jessica Campbell, Wentzville Holt High School, 11th Grade; Teacher: Lisa Bopp

HONORABLE MENTIONS–$25:

– Through the Eyes of a Child, Annie Woodard, St. Charles West High School, 11th Grade; Teacher: Gail Gengler

– Work Will Set You Free, Sydney Woods, Camdenton High School, 9th Grade; Teacher: Angie Koons

– Holocaust Picture, Angel Garcia, Ritenour High School, 11th Grade; Teacher: Kristi Ponder

– We Must Bear Witness, Ryan Rich, Lindbergh High School, 11th Grade; Teacher: David Early

– Mr. Hill, Kayla Wilkerson, Centralia R-6 High School, 12th Grade; Teacher: Rachel Renaud

WRITING–Division 1, Middle School

FIRST PLACE–$300: The Lessons, Felix Hu, Ladue Middle School, 7th Grade; Teacher: Judith Miller

SECOND PLACE–$200: The Numbers, Kaitlyn Amos, Wentzville South Middle School, 8th Grade, Teacher: Elaina Knapp

THIRD PLACE–$100: How Did I Get Here?, Alexis Twillmann, Bernard Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Julie Ragusky

HONORABLE MENTIONS–$25

– Holding Hands, Averee McNear, Pana Junior High School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Ellen Beyers

– Stars in the Night Sky, Rachel Dressler, Holy Childhood of Jesus School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Kathy Renth

– Untitled, Juliana Richardson, North Kirkwood Middle School, 8th Grade; Teacher: Melissa Banjak

WRITING–Division 2, High School

FIRST PLACE–$300: Never Forget, Blair Kurtz, Camdenton High School, 9th Grade; Teacher: Angie Koons

SECOND PLACE–$200: Faded Pages, Melanie Brucker, Parkway North High School, 10th Grade; Teacher: Tricia Frank

THIRD PLACE–$100: Reading “Night” in English Class, Colleen Feeney, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, 11th Grade; Teacher: Maureen O’Brien

HONORABLE MENTION–$25:

– Hope Never Dies, Sophia Choo, Wentzville Holt High School, 11th Grade; Teacher: Lisa Bopp