Student Contests

The biennial Gershanov Family Memorial Student Arts and Writing Contest offers Illinois students in grades 7 through 12 an opportunity to respond to their study of the Holocaust and contemporary genocide through poetry, creative writing, illustration, and other methods of artistic expression.

2009 Leo & Antonia Gershanov Memorial Student Arts and Writing contest examines the theme, "Memory Keepers – Transform the Future."

At a public ceremony of recognition on Sunday, May 17, the 2009 Award Winners were revealed.  Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all students who participated. Click on the winner's name to view the winning entries >

May 18, 2009 | Pioneer Press: Ridgewood student's Holocaust essay praised Read now>

Gershanov Prize

Kathleen Renée Chester, Indian Creek High School, Shabbona, Grade 10

Senior Division (Grades 9-12)

ART

1st Place – Zedan Rong, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, Grade 9
2nd Place – Jessica Schultz, Reavis High School, Burbank, Grade 12
3rd Place – Alexandra Lozano, Buffalo Grove High School, Buffalo Grove, Grade 12
3rd Place – Gabriella Yusim Meltzer, Niles North High School, Skokie, Grade 10

SHORT STORY/ESSAY

1st Place – Victoria Halevy, William Fremd High School, Palatine, Grade 11
2nd Place – Chelsea Kay Brown, Pecatonica High School, Pecatonica, Grade 12
2nd Place – Emiko Nidia Gomez, St. Scholastica Academy, Chicago, Grade 12
3rd Place – Nicholas Kostas Samariniotis, Ridgewood High School, Norridge, Grade 10

POETRY

1st Place – Margaret Ann Wieland, Central Catholic High School, Bloomington, Grade 11
2nd Place – Jenna June Wilder, Pecatonica High School, Pecatonica, Grade 12
3rd Place – Emily Jean Roberts, Rosary High School, Aurora, Grade 10

MUSIC

1st Place – Nathan Johlas, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, St. Joseph, Grade 11


Junior Division  (Grades 7 & 8)

ART

1st Place – Sarah Owens, Viking Middle School, Gurnee, Grade 8
2nd Place – Zach Beyer, Viking Middle School, Gurnee, Grade 8
3rd Place – Adriana Lauren Chychula, St. Nicholas Cathedral School, Chicago, Grade 7
Honorable Mention – Rose Evert Thompson, Still Middle School, Aurora, Grade 7

SHORT STORY/ESSAY

1st Place – Erica Ann Dix, Still Middle School, Aurora, Grade 8
2nd Place – Marianna Teresa Oharenko, St. Nicholas Cathedral School, Chicago, Grade 7
3rd Place – Gianna Kathleen Capperino, Summit Hill Junior High, Frankfort, Grade 8

POETRY

1st Place – Paddy Michael Donahue, Sunset Ridge School, Northfield, Grade 8
2nd Place – Jaylen Hollis Janes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Herrin, Grade 8
3rd Place – Charles Dean Linzy, Central Junior High School, Kewanee, Grade 8

MUSIC

1st Place
Tyler Joseph Luce, Viking Middle School, Gurnee, Grade 8

Read More about the Previous Contests

• 2008 Leo & Antonia Gershanov Memorial Holocaust Essay Contest:
  History's Dark Echo: The Challenge of 'Never Again' in the 21st Century
  
  

• 2007 Leo & Antonia Gershanov Memorial Holocaust Arts and Writing:
  Less than Perfect: The Many Victims of Nazi Persecution