Four CAA students were acknowledged for exemplary work submitted to two contests through the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities.
“IDA KRAMER CHILDREN OF THE HOLOCAUST ESSAY CONTEST”
The Ida Kramer Children and the Holocaust Essay Contest honors the stories of children who were impacted by the Holocaust. The purpose of the contest is to “record the stories that must be told to yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s children.” Students research a child or youth who was caught in or witnessed the event of the Holocaust in Europe. Students are to describe who the individual lived and the circumstances that impacted their life during the Holocaust. They then describe how learning about the Holocaust through a personal journey makes the Holocaust more meaningful to them.
1st Place
Oliver I. Klipsch “A Flame of Hope-The Legacy of Dr. Ralph Troll” 7th Grade, Creative Arts Academy, Davenport, Iowa Sponsoring Teacher: Heidi Hernandez
3rd Place
Korina L. Smith “Child of the Holocaust-The Story of Dr. Ralph Troll” 7th Grade, Creative Arts Academy, Davenport, Iowa, Sponsoring Teacher: Elizabeth Weimer
Oliver’s essay was read by Oliver during the annual Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Service held on Sunday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Island. The first place prize is $500 and the sponsoring teacher receives a $100 gift card to support classroom needs. The third place prize is $100 with the teacher receiving a $50 gift card.
THE MEYER AND FRANCES SHNURMAN HOLOCAUST VISUAL ARTS CONTEST WINNERS:
The theme of this year’s Shnurman Visual Arts Contest is Imagery and Expression: A Visual Response to the Holocause. Students must convey this theme using painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, collage or video. An Artist Statement must accompany the piece. Entries are evaluated based on their artist statement and reflection of the theme in their work, their technique and craftsmanship as well as their innovation and originality. Meyer and Frances Shurman met at Bergen-Belsen after the war when they were both looking for family members. They were married in 1945 and immigrated to American in 1949. They resettled in Des Moines and eventually made their way to the Quad Cities. They passed away less than a month apart from each other in 2013 in Bettendorf.
Honorable Mention
Destiny Dixon-“Trapped in Trepidation” Davenport, IA grade 7 Creative Arts Academy
Jozlynn Ellis-“Judgmental Eyes” Davenport, IA grade 8 Creative Arts Academy
The visual art entries were displayed at the Moline Public Library and the annual YoHashoah Remembrance service on April 15. Honorable mentions receive a $25 gift card.
The contests are open to students grades 7 – 12 in the Quad City area. There were more than 20 entries in each contest – a record number. The Ida Kramer essay contest is sponsored by the Yom Hashoah Committee and the Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities. The Shnurman Visual Arts contest is sponsored by the Yom Hashoah Committee and Quad City Arts.
The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities (www.jfqc.org) is a non-profit, 501 c (3) Illinois corporation founded in 1980. Its mission is preserving, protecting, enriching and enhancing Jewish communal life and the well-being of Jews locally, in Israel and throughout the rest of the world, through the principles of Torah (Jewish learning), Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedakah (charity and justice), and Chesed (caring and compassion).