The MMOT inspires students to use their voices to speak up against bullying, racism, anti-Semitism, hate and intolerance.
“Your Voice: Changing the World, One Speech at a Time” is an annual speech competition open to Illinois students in grades 6 – 12. Each year, students are challenged to reflect on a selected quote by Holocaust survivor and human rights activist, Simon Wiesenthal. Mr. Wiesenthal is the namesake of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, headquartered in Los Angeles with its Midwest Center in Chicago.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Mobile Museums of Tolerance (MMOT) are traveling educational centers that bring the mission of the renowned Museum of Tolerance (MOT) in Los Angeles directly to schools, workplaces, and communities across the United States and beyond. Since its founding in 1993, the MOT has inspired over eight million visitors to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust in both historical and contemporary contexts while challenging them to confront prejudice and discrimination in today’s world.
Congratulations to the Your Voice 2024 Winners!
Grades 6-8
FIRST PLACE: Amelia Hwang
Oscar Mayer Magnet School / Grade 6
SECOND PLACE: Ruby Durgin
Percy Julian Middle School / Grade 8
THIRD PLACE: Amanda Warmington
John R Lewis School / Grade 7
Grades 9-12
FIRST PLACE: Amina Onochie
Disney II Magnet High School / Grade 12
SECOND PLACE: Eden Duckworth
Fairfield Community High School / Grade 10
THIRD PLACE: Lucas Rosenthal
Gillespie High School / Grade 10
Prizes and Awards
1st Prize: Apple MacBook
2nd Prize: Apple iPad
3rd Prize: $200 Gift Card
Congratulations to our top finalists for Your Voice 2024!
Thank you to all applicants who took the time to share your voices.
A BIG Thank You goes to the Simon Wiesenthal Center Midwest Region’s Community Engagement Committee, for their hard work and dedication in reviewing the amazing submissions and selecting the finalists.
**Video submissions for the final round of judging are due by April 8, 2024.
Grades 6-8 Finalists
Amanda Warmington
John R Lewis School / Grade 7
Amelia Hwang
Oscar Mayer Magnet School / Grade 6
Cynthia Ruiz
John R Lewis School / Grade 6
Jordan Gordon
Barrington 220 Middle School Prairie Campus / Grade 8
The MMOT inspires students to use their voices to speak up against bullying, racism, anti-Semitism, hate and intolerance. Your Voice: Changing the world, One speech at a Time is an annual speech competition open to Illinois students in grades 6 to 12. Each year students are asked to reflect on a selected quote by Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal, who dedicated his post Holocaust life to pursuing justice. The devastating impact of that genocide drove him to ensure that future generations learn from lessons of the past.
In a three-minute essay, students are asked to write about how Simon Wiesenthal’s words apply to them, their community and/or the world. Winners will demonstrate an understanding that they must be proactive in addressing tolerance, hate, and bigotry.
Students must submit an essay (450 words or less) in a .doc or .pdf document containing their name, grade, school, teacher’s name and contact information to mmot@wiesenthal.com
How the contest works:
– Written Speech: Submissions are evaluated in two categories: Grades 6 – 8 and Grades 9 – 12.
– Finalists: The top 5 contestants from each category are announced two weeks after the written submission deadline.
– Video Submissions: Finalists from each category then submit a video speech presentation of their essay.**
– Virtual Event: The top 5 finalists from each category will have their video submissions judged by a panel of distinguished judges, with prizes awarded to the the top three participants, as selected by the panel. Friends, Family, and Teachers are invited to cheer on the finalists!
For students this is an excellent way to build their resumes and applications to universities and colleges.
**A video submission is required for the final round of the competition.
No purchase necessary to enter and no purchase or contribution will enhance any participant’s chance of winning. All prizes will be presented to winners after the event. There will be two sets of winners, one in the grades 6-8 category and one in the grades 9-12 category. 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 Center – Midwest Region, with the finalists determined by the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Community Engagement Committee comprised of volunteers from diverse backgrounds whose decisions are final. The Your Voice Competition prizes have been generously sponsored by Karen and Sandy Teplitzky. Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1399 South Roxbury Dr, Los Angeles, California 90035
