The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage announced the top 25 finalists for the 10th Annual “Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out” essay writing contest. The contest winners will be named live at the award ceremony, to be held on Sunday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The inspiring event is free and open to the public. Registrations are encouraged to guarantee seating.
Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out is a personal essay contest with the chance to win individual scholarship money for college (schools also receive money for anti-bias education when their students win). By challenging young people to consider the benefits of a more inclusive society, the consequences of intolerance, and the role of personal responsibility in effecting change, the contest also reflects Jewish values of responsible citizenship and respect for all humanity, according to the Maltz Museum.
Each year, through the generosity of a donor, the museum gives out $100,000 in scholarships, awards and support for anti-bias education in recognition of students in grades sixth through 12th from throughout Northeast Ohio.
The top 25 finalists for 2018 are:
Top 10 juniors and seniors, competing for a grand prize of $40,000 in scholarship money:
Tadj Adams, grade 11, age 16, Hawken School
John Kunzo, grade 12, age 17, Gilmour Academy
Megan Lebowitz, grade 12, age 17, Solon High School
Peyton Lunder, grade 12, age 17, Padua Franciscan High School
Julia Mayer, grade 12, age 17, Solon High School
Dahlia Moskowitz, grade 11, age 17, Fuchs Mizrachi
Hailey Nudelman, grade 12, age 17, Twinsburg High School
Schuyler Radivoyevitch, grade 11, age 17, Cleveland Heights High School
Hannah Shuffer, grade 11, age 16, Orange High School
Maria Zou, grade 12, age 17, Hudson High School
Grades 6-10 competing for $400 awards, by grade:
6th grade
Flannery Costello, grade six, age 11, Rocky River Middle School
Isabella Kovacs, grade six, age 12, Rocky River Middle School
Scott O’Neill, grade six, age 11, Newton D. Baker
7th grade
Maggie Chen, grade seven, age 13, Memorial Middle School
Rebecca Lawton, grade seven, age 12, Beachwood Middle School
Jennifer Williams, grade even, age 13, Old Trail Elementary
8th grade
Alexandra Holtz, grade eight, age 13, Chagrin Falls Middle School
Elana Rouse, grade eight, age 14, Rocky River Middle School
Bowen Zhang, grade eight, age 13, Beachwood Middle School
9th grade
Jonah Gilbert, grade nine, age 14, University School
Cara Finnegan, grade nine, age 15, Elyria Catholic High
Rileyanna Karic, grade nine, age 14, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High
10th grade
Emi Cummings, grade 10, age 15, Laurel High School
Anaya Hunter, grade 10, age 16, Whitney Young High School
Sabriya Zaman, grade 10, age 15, Solon High School
