Your Voice 2024

Changing the World, One Speech at a Time

Annual speech competition for Illinois students Grades 6-12

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 the Your Voice: Changing the world, One speech at a Time speech competition.

The MMOT inspires students to use their voices to speak up against bullying, racism, anti-Semitism, hate and intolerance. This year’s quote is made by the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s namesake, Simon Wiesenthal, a Holocaust survivor 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.

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.

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

  • Ruby Durgin

    Percy Julian Middle School / Grade 8

Grades 9-12 Finalists

  • Allison Breuer

    Fairfield Community High School / Grade 10

  • Amina Onochie

    Disney II Magnet High School / Grade 12

  • Eden Duckworth

    Fairfield Community High School / Grade 10

  • Farah Al Bayati

    Niles West High School / Grade 12

  • Lucas Rosenthal

    Gillespie High School / Grade 10

  • Will Lewis

    Fairfield Community High School / Grade 10


 

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