Each year, middle and high school students from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) embrace the opportunity to participate in Chapman University’s Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Art & Writing Contest. Now in its 26th year, the contest was established in 1999 as a partnership between the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education and The 1939 Society, with the goal of inspiring students to reflect on the Holocaust through creative expression.
This year’s contest theme, “What do you bring when you don’t know where you’re going?”, deeply resonated with participants worldwide. To enter, students conducted research on the Holocaust and World War II, immersing themselves in the personal narratives of survivors and rescuers. They then crafted original pieces of prose, poetry, art, or film, drawing connections between history and the present day.
PYLUSD has a longstanding tradition of participation in this meaningful competition, with students from nearly every middle and high school engaging in the challenge. This year, the district continued its strong representation, with over 400 participants submitting 18 projects for consideration.
The contest culminated in a special awards ceremony at Chapman University on Friday, March 14, where winners and finalists were honored. PYLUSD Board of Education members, district and school administrators, students, and families attended the event, which featured moving speeches from Holocaust survivors and distinguished guests, including Chapman University President, Daniele Struppa, Stern Chair in Holocaust Education and Director, Daniele Struppa, the President of the 1939 Society, William Elperin, and author of Alexandra Zapruder.
Among hundreds of entries, five PYLUSD students stood out as finalists in their respective categories:
- Charlie Chen (Yorba Linda High School) – Prose
- Sonali Gulati (Yorba Linda Middle School) – Poetry
- Dawne Tsui (Tuffree Middle School) – Art
- Carolyn Hsiung (Travis Ranch School) – Film
- Samuel Nguyen (Buena Vista Virtual Academy) – Poetry
These talented students demonstrated exceptional creativity and thoughtfulness in their work, achieving the contest’s powerful objective of preserving Holocaust memory through artistic expression.
Congratulations to all PYLUSD students and educators who participated in this year’s competition! View the full contest results here. View the full contest results here.
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