Students Vie for $100,000 in Cash and Prizes
Cleveland, Ohio (March 27, 2013) – More than 1600 students from 7 counties shared their solutions to stop hatred by entering the fifth annual Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! essay contest. Now ten juniors and seniors will compete for a total of $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. Their essays address a variety of issues, from living with alopecia, mental illness to LGBT issues and economic diversity and offer heartfelt and innovative solutions.
The 2013 Stop the Hate Scholarship Finalists are:
Biar Akar, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School – 12th grade
Robert Edwards, Max Hayes High School, Cleveland – 12th grade
Andrew Huang, University School, Hunting Valley – 11th grade
Kelly Knaser, Wickliffe High School – 12th grade
Avalon Regalbuto, Orange High School – 12th grade
Annie Robinson, Aurora High School – 11th grade
Courtney Ross, Chardon High School – 12th grade
Courtney Schmidt, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School – 11th grade
Adrian Simion, Westlake High School – 12th grade
Evelyn Ting, Shaker Heights High School – 12th grade
All submitted essays have been read and scored by more than 200 community volunteers. These 10 finalists were narrowed down from 25 semi-finalists (listed below) after a panel of select judges read their essays. Judges this year include Cash Mob co-founder Andrew Samtoy, Judge Dan Aaron Polster, Eaton Corporation Senior Manager Evan Ishida and editor of The Plain Dealer Debra Adams Simmons. The finalists compete for three, four-year college scholarships (one each $50,000, $25,000 and $15,000) by giving oral presentations at an awards ceremony on May 2 at Severance Hall. They and younger students compete for cash prizes, class visits to the Museum, and resource materials for their schools. Finalists in grades 6-10 were announced earlier this month. (read story)
Jill Rembrandt, Maltz Museum Director of Education and Public Programs, says “we couldn’t be more thrilled with the quality of the essays this year. It is clear that students feel that the contest allows them to have a voice and create change in their classrooms and communities. The Maltz Museum is so proud to be a change agent, promoting diversity and tolerance in Northeast Ohio.”
SCHOLARSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS
Annie Artz, Hawken High School, Gates Mills – 12th grade
Dana Barkley, East Technical High School, Cleveland – 12th grade
Tansi Bowsman, Riverside High School, Painesville – 11th grade
Michelle Chiu, Twinsburg High School – 12th grade
Tyler Gamble, Cleveland Heights High School – 12th grade
Jessica Gill, Beachwood High School – 12th grade
Jori Holloway, Beachwood High School – 12th grade
Rachel Levin, Orange High School, Pepper Pike – 11th grade
Brooklin Logan, Cleveland School of the Arts – 12th grade
Alexis Nieszczur, Padua Franciscan High School, Parma – 11th grade
Lauren Peacock, Lake Ridge Academy, North Ridgeville – 12th grade
Sarah Rahman, Solon High School – 11th grade
Rachel Ross, Orange High School, Pepper Pike – 12th grade
Matthew Schiff, Orange High School, Pepper Pike – 11th grade
Ana Sinicariello, Shaker Heights High School – 12th grade
The contest is open to public, private, and home schooled students in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. Juniors and seniors; they and younger students compete for cash prizes, class visits to the Museum, and resource materials for their schools.
This year’s Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! is sponsored by Dealer Tire, KeyBank and Cleveland Clinic.
Maltz Museum receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region’s artistic and cultural heritage.
