In 2023, students in middle school and high school across the state of Illinois were invited to contemplate and react to Simon Wiesenthal’s powerful words, “The combination of hatred and technology is the greatest danger threatening mankind.”
Simon Wiesenthal dedicated his life to protecting freedom and pursuing justice after his entire family was murdered during the Holocaust. Today, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s mission is to remind, inform and educate the public regarding the devastating impact and ongoing threat of anti-semitism and intolerance, in general. The Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) is one of the tools used by the Simon Wiesenthal Center to teach students and community members about the Holocaust and the Civil Rights movement, as well as the importance of speaking out against injustice and hate. It is imperative that we all use our voices to support and promote tolerance.
Congratulations to Farah Albayati of Niles West High School & Jordon Gordon of Barrington 2020 Middle School Prairie Campus for placing first in Your Voice 2023!
The two winning students are joined by other powerful entries also receiving attention for their work:
High School Division: 2nd Place:Areej Ibraheim of Niles West High School 3rd Place: Latrael Snyder of Fairfield Community High School
Middle School Division: 2nd Place: Isabelle Behnke of Pennoyer School 3rd Place: Annmarie Roth of Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus
Jordan Gordon – Barrington Middle School, Prairie Campus
Isabella Behnke – Pennoyer School
Cailyn Cason – Giant City School
Natalia Piwowarczyk – Pennoyer School
Grades 9-12 Finalists
Caleb Williams-Caldwell – Fairfield Community High School
Areej Ibraheim – Niles West High School
Farah Albayati – Niles West High School
Latrael Snyder – Fairfield Community High School
Nathan Legg – Fairfield Community High School
PRIZES and AWARDS
1st Prize: Apple MacBook
2nd Prize: Apple iPad
3rd Prize: $200 Gift Card
Your Voice: Changing the World, One Speech at a Time is generously sponsored by Sandy and Karen Teplitzky
All prizes will be presented to winners after the event. Prizes are non-negotiable and non-transferrable. By entering this competition, entrants agree to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error in the selection of winners and agree to all decisions of the judging panel chosen by The Simon Wiesenthal – Midwest Region, whose decisions are final.
