Your Voice: Changing the World, One Speech at a Time

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.

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