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  at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the Holocaust Museum theater in the Jewish Federation building, 12 Millstone Campus Drive.

 There were nearly 850 submissions to the contest, from students in middle schools and high schools throughout the bi-state area. Submissions also came from Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Colorado, Kansas and elsewhere.

 “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, in a news release. “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.”

 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 grandchildren of Dr. Ira (of blessed memory) and Judy Gall.

 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, 8^th Grade

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

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

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

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

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

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

VISUAL ARTS- DIVISION 2 HIGH SCHOOL 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WRITING- DIVISION 1 MIDDLE SCHOOL

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

Second Place: “Birgit’s Tale”, Victoria Woodward, LaSalle Springs Middle School, 8^th Grade, Teacher: Ms. Marla Kindt

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

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

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

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

WRITING- DIVISION 2 HIGH SCHOOL

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

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

“Don’t Make a Sound”, Raylyn White, Park Hills Central R-III11^th Grade,

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