Jewish Heritage Committee Sponsors Scholarship Contest in Honor of Yom Hashoah

On Thursday, May 5, Borough President Markowitz and Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Judy Shapiro announced the winners of this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Scholarship contest at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights. The scholarship contest is in honor of Yom Hashoah, a day to remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust. High school students from throughout Brooklyn entered essays, poems and plays commemorating the Holocaust.

“I congratulate the winners and all the participants of this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Scholarship contest,” said Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz. “It is critically imperative that we — as Jews, Christians, and followers of every faith — never stop reminding future generations of the lowest depths that human kind can sink to. It is our obligation, our duty, to prevent atrocities like the Holocaust from ever happening again. We must ensure that human beings everywhere stay informed and educated about the dangers of ignorance and intolerance. All peoples should feel an obligation any time there is anti-semitism or racism, or anti-Christian or anti-Muslim sentiment — not only to stand up, but to speak out — or shout out — in the name of acceptance and equality. It is an obligation not only to yourself and your faith, but to each other as fellow members of the human race.”

The theme of the writing competition was: “What lessons can we learn from the Holocaust and how do these lessons relate to prejudice and conflict in the world today?” The authors of the top essays, poems and plays were awarded Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships sponsored by the Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee. First place winners received $300, second place $200, third place $100 and honorable mention $100. The high schools of each winner also received a $250 library prize.

Below are this year’s 12 winners.

PLAYWRITING
All from EBC Bushwick High School
1.  Stephanie Ortiz                                  
2.  Ariel Estevez
3.  Fatisha Quainoo
Honorable Mention - Michael Ramirez

POEMS
1. Grace OlamiJulo - Brooklyn Technical High School                       
2. Yanilsa Rodriguez - EBC Bushwick High School
3. Nancy Blake - John Dewey High School
Honorable Mention - Hei Ching Chan - New Utrecht High School

ESSAYS 
1. Anna Umanskaya - F.D.R. High School              
2.  Luigi Aletto - New Utrecht High School
3. Jessica Lam - Brooklyn Technical High School
Honorable Mention - Faith Harvey - Freedom Academy High School