{"id":31847,"date":"2025-03-17T23:20:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T06:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodnews.pylusd.org\/?p=31847"},"modified":"2025-03-28T16:34:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T23:34:18","slug":"five-students-recognized-as-top-contestants-in-chapman-universitys-25th-annual-holocaust-art-and-writing-contest-featuring-hundreds-of-middle-and-high-school-participants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodnews.pylusd.org\/?p=31847","title":{"rendered":"Five Students Recognized as Top Contestants in Chapman University’s 25th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest Featuring Hundreds of Middle and High School Participants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each year, middle and high school students from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) embrace the opportunity to participate in Chapman University\u2019s 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\u2019s contest theme, \u201cWhat do you bring when you don\u2019t know where you\u2019re going?<\/em>\u201d, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Among hundreds of entries, five PYLUSD students stood out as finalists in their respective categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n