Holocaust writing contest: Student winners

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation recognized winners of its annual Student Holocaust Writing Contest at the 17th annual Holocaust Commemoration event in Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda in downtown Youngstown. The theme was “Never Again: What You Do Matters.” Students submitted original poems and essays that addressed the early Nazi campaign of death and destruction against Jews.

poetry

Co-winners from grades 7-8: Joshua Yoho, Sharpsville Middle School, Sharpsville, Pa., and Kathryn Kessler, Boardman Center Middle School.

Winner from grades 9-10: Bethany Gump, Howland High School.

Winner from grades 11-12: Kelsey Sekanick, Howland High School.

Youngstown State University winner: Derek Harris.

Honorable mention, grades 7-8: Shawn Crowley, Niles Middle School; Emily Fisher, Austintown Middle School; Angelina Gresko, Georgia Kasamias, Frederic Ouimet and Ashlynn Wardle, all of Boardman Center Middle School; Adam Kapusta, Sharpsville Middle School; Taylor Kutsch, W.S. Guy Middle School; Mitesh Mehta, Howland Middle School; Annber Vaughn and Taylor Werden, both Niles Middle School.

Honorable mentions from grades 9-10: Lilia Draime and Kellie Pasini, both of Howland High School; Rachel Serra and Jeremy Voytko, both of Boardman High School.

Honorable mention from grades 11-12: Shaun Hardin, Faisal Mangalji and Manish Mehta, all of Howland High; Trevor Donley and Stephanie Hawkins, both of Warren G. Harding High School; and Molly Martin, Canfield High School.

Essay

Winner from grades 7-8: Nahan Robert Pecchia, Canfield Village Middle School.

Winner from grades 9-10: Nea Wolford, Mineral Ridge High School.

Winner from grades 11-12: Seema Rao, Canfield High.

YSU winner: David Thompson.

Honorable mentions from grades 7-8: Kylie Lancashire, Frederic Ouimet, Georgia Kasamios, Joe Cordova and Kathryn Kessler, all of Boardman Center Middle School; and Boardman Center Middle School; Sara Andrews and Brenna Nicole Hughes and John Enasko, all of Howland Middle School.

Honorable mentions from grades 9-10: Alex Downie, Boardman High School; Scott Heinemann, Howland High School; Jennifer Moore, Boardman High School; Margeaux Allison Perkins, East Palestine High School;

Honorable mentions from grades 11-12: Amy Fetchko and Steven Messina, both of Howland High, and Jordan Kilpatrick, Warren G. Harding High.

Source: Jewish Community Relations Council