Kiefer eighth grader Julia Ashford is $500 richer thanks to a school project.
Ashford, the daughter of Dennis and Jennifer Ashford of Kiefer, was named first-place winner in the junior high division of the 10th Annual White Rose Essay Contest sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the Council on Holocaust Education. Additionally, eighth grader Kalyn Venable was named to the top 10 junior high essayists and landed an honorable mention in the competition. The awards were presented at a recent reception at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art in Tulsa.
“I am very honored … I worked very hard on this essay in order to ensure it honored the women I wrote about,” Ashford said. “It was also very important to me that my writing respected and recognized the tragedies that took place during the Holocaust. I hope those who read my essay will realize the importance of standing up against injustices occurring throughout the world.”
The prompt for the essay read: Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel dedicated his life to speaking out against injustices around the world. In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, he stated: “I swore to never be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victims. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Why is it important to speak our when injustices are happening? Research and write about an individual or group from the Holocaust and one other individual or group from history, contemporary society, or personal experience who chose not to remain silent in the face of persecution. Explain how these examples inspire you.”
Ashford’s essay featured her research on Irena Sendler, who helped to smuggle children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II’s Nazi occupation, and Susan B. Anthony, who pioneered women’s rights in the United States. The essay was an assignment in her language arts class, taught by Lorrie Quinnelly.
“I require my students to enter writing contests because first, it encourages writing,” Quinnelly said. “The more you write, the better writer you become. Students learn to use MLA style doing projects like this one.
“Entering contests also boosts some students’ confidence. Writing is personal, so when you expose something personal to strangers and it is chosen for publication or wins a prize, it certainly builds your confidence in the skills you have.
“Besides,” she said, “sometimes, like with Julia, they win. That teaches them to work hard and do their bests always. It pays off.”
The essay contest is held in honor of the resistance group, the White Rose Society, who penned essays which challenged citizens to resist Nazi policies and encouraged non-violent political dissent. The White Rose members knew that to be silent in the face of evil was to surrender to it, encourage it, and enable it to grow stronger. Thus, their movement united others to resist Nazi tyranny by striving to eradicate the “face of evil” before it destroyed more innocent lives. Inspired by their words of strength, the annual essay contest provides a forum for local students to use their words to make a difference in today’s world.
Cassie Nodine, Director of Holocaust Education for the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the Council on Holocaust Education at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, said the competition was tough this year. She said 717 essays were submitted for the competition, and approximately 500 of those were in the junior high category.
In addition to her essay honor, Venable also received an honorable mention in the Yom HaShoah Art Competition, which featured student artwork remembering the holocaust. Her sculpture was entitled “Treasures of Auschitz.” KHS sophomore Kaitlyn Godwin also landed an honorable mention for her mixed media piece entitled, “This Was My Safe Haven.”
