The Holocaust Writing Contest:
Education of the Head and Heart

Engaging and mentoring middle and high school students in studying the Holocaust and in grappling with its meaning and lessons for today is a vital part of the mission of the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education.

The centerpiece of our work with schools is the annual Holocaust Writing Contest. In partnership with The “1939” Club, one of the largest and most active Holocaust survivor organizations in the United States, and with the support of the Samueli Foundation and a gift from Yossie and Dana Hollander, the Rodgers Center annually sponsors an art and writing contest for middle and high school students.

The culmination of the contest is the awards ceremony in which students, teachers, and parents meet survivors of the Holocaust. For the hundreds of students who attend from private, parochial and public schools, this is an experience of a lifetime, giving faces and voices to the events about which students have written—transforming education into a matter of both the head and the heart, inspiring students to make courageous choices in their own lives.

Each year the contest grows to include more schools, teachers, and students from throughout California. The contest educates and inspires young people, encourages teachers to focus on the Holocaust in their classes, and demonstrates to Holocaust survivors that the lessons of the past will indeed be remembered in the future.