Heights residents offers solutions to hate: grades 6-10 finalists named in Maltz Museum contest

Two Cleveland Heights residents are finalists in the third annual Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out essay contest. Victoria Lewis, Cleveland Heights High (9th grade) and Isabella Nilsson, Hathaway Brown (7th grade) each has a chance of winning up to $300 in cash prizes as finalists for grades 6-10.

In total, more than 1,700 students from 142 schools shared their solutions to prejudice and discrimination. Essays addressed a variety of issues from race and religion to gay and gender rights, and offered heartfelt and innovative solutions.

Essays are read and scored by more than 200 community volunteers. “The contest supports the Maltz Museum’s mission to build bridges of understanding between persons of all religions, races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. It encourages people to express themselves and step up as agents of change,” said Lynda A. Bender, director of education and public programs. Nearly 5,000 entries have been received in the contest’s first three years.

All of the grades 6-10 finalists, along with ten junior and senior finalists, will be honored on at an awards ceremony on April 10 at Severance Hall. The junior and senior finalists will give oral presentations to compete for three four-year scholarships of $50,000, $25,000 and $15,000 to an Ohio college or university. All participating students compete for cash prizes, class visits to the museum and resource materials for their schools.

The contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. 

Adam J. Teresi is the operations and media coordinator for the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

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Volume 4, Issue 3, Posted 1:12 PM, 03.01.2011