As part of our ongoing work to promote human dignity and digital media literacy, the Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) is partnering with the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes for Your Voice 2025!
Your Voice contest asks students in 6th through 12th grades to write a 3-minute, 450-word essay on this powerful and prophetic Simon Wiesenthal quote: “Education is the key to breaking the cycle of hatred.”
Student speeches should reflect on how the quote personally connects to their own life and experiences. Additionally, students should explain why Wiesenthal’s message remains relevant today, emphasizing the importance of actively confronting intolerance, hate, and bigotry. Winners will be those who demonstrate a strong understanding of the need to act against these issues.
To apply, students must:
• Submit a written speech as a .doc or .pdf document. The document must contain the student’s name, grade, school, teacher’s name and contact information to IL@MMOT.COM by MAY 1, 2025.
• Speeches should be 450 words or less.
How the contest works:
Speeches will be evaluated in two categories, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12.
• The top five contestants from each category will be announced here on May 13, 2025 and given further instruction on submitting a video presentation for the final event.
• Finalists will submit a video speech presentation of their speeches by June 1, 2025.
• On June 16, 2025, the finalists will have their video submissions judged during the live event by a panel of distinguished judges, with prizes awarded to the top three participants, as selected by the panel. Friends, family, and teachers are invited to cheer on the finalists!
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
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.
Prizes and Awards
1st Prize: Apple MacBook
2nd Prize: Apple iPad
3rd Prize: $200 Gift Card
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
