In honor and loving memory of Ida S. Kramer (1926-2015) who has been the voice of Holocaust education for Quad City schools, civic groups, and the community at large for over 30 years, the Quad Cities Yom HaShoah Committee sponsors the annual The Ida S. Kramer “Children and the Holocaust” Essay Contest for Quad City area (Illinois and Iowa) students in grades 6-12. Thousands of school children and educators have heard Ida speak about the rise of Nazi Germany, the discrimination and concentration of Jews in ghettos and camps, their eventual murder by an efficient killing machine and the willingness of citizenry to stand by and let it happen. Because there are important lessons to be learned, may we never forget.
Theme: Children and the Holocaust
The title of the essay may be original and may be on the first page of the essay or on a separate cover sheet. Essay must be submitted electronically to: aross@jfqc.org
Deadline: March 1 (annually)
Entry form: 2023 Yom Hashoah Essay Contest entry form
2022 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Levi T. (10th grade) and Yosef T. (9th grade), Homeschooled – “Mindel’s Journey” (Mindel Hershkowitz Kluger)
2nd Place: Alex M. W. (8th grade), Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA – “A Night We Should Never Forget” (Elie Wiesel)
3rd Place (Tie): Zoe D. F. (8th grade), St. Joseph Catholic School, DeWitt, IA – “A Time to Never Forget” (Aaron Elster). Paige S. (10th grade), Geneseo High School, Geneseo, IL – “Her Truimph” (Irene Butter)
2021 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Lila T., 11th grade, Pleasant Valley High School
“Never Forget: A Story of Hope and Forgiveness”
2nd Place: Mary R., 10th grade, Assumption High School “Mengele’s Twins”
3rd Place: Anna P., 7th grade, Central DeWitt Middle School “The Undercover German Beauty”
Honorable Mentions: Christina R., 8th grade, St. Joseph’s Catholic School “A Time in History Never to Forget”
Ryan M., 8th grade, St. Joseph’s Catholic School “Survivors: The Children of the Holocaust Story”
2020 Essay Winners:
Isabelle P. “When Weiss’ Life Changed” – 8th Grade, St. Joseph Catholic School, DeWitt, Iowa; Mary R. “Schindlerjuden: The Life and Story of Leon Leyson” – 9th Grade, Assumption High School, Davenport, Iowa; Claire U. “Renia Spigel: The Holocaust” – 8th Grade, Clinton Middle School, Clinton, Iowa.
2019 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Kayla S., Florida Virtual School (10th Grade); “Prospecting through Anguish” (The Story of Eva Schloss); Teacher: Shavon Ramos Prospecting Essay
2nd Place: Taylor P. Moline High School, Moline, IL (11th Grade); “Finding Strength in Literature: The Harrowing Story of Dita Kraus” Finding Strength Essay
3rd Place: Mary K. R., John F. Kennedy Catholic School, Davenport, IA (8th Grade); “Hidden Children” (The Story of Edith Schwalb) Hidden Children Essay
Other Essays Submitted:
Maya B., Bettendorf High School, Bettendorf, IA (12th Grade); “Meeting Marguerite” (The Story of Marguerite Mishkin) Bettendorf HS English Teacher: Connie King
Laman H., Mercer County High School, Aledo, IL (12th Grade); “Doris Warschawski: Germany to Shanghai, Then to the Land of Freedom”
2018 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Oliver I. K., Creative Arts Academy (7th grade); “A Flame of Hope-The Legacy of Dr. Ralph Troll” 2018 Oliver K. essay
2nd Place: Taylor A. P., Moline High School (10th grade); “Elie Wiesel: Surviving the Night and Leaving a Legacy”
3rd Place: Korina L. S., Creative Arts Academy (7th grade); “Child of the Holocaust-The Story of Dr. Ralph Troll”
Honorable Mention: Elizabeth C. K., Sherrard High School (10th grade), “Inside Look on Cary Krell’s Life”
2017 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Grace H., Davenport Central High School (12th grade), “Fighting for Freedom: Simone Segouin’s Brave Resistance to Nazi Persecution” 2017 Grace Hipple Essay
2nd Place: Noor A., Davenport Central High School (10th grade),” Marion-The Lady Who Inspired Me” – Article from IRIS “Exchange Student Inspired by Holocaust Survivor”
3rd Place: Amen G., Scattergood Friend’s School (12th grade),” Living Memory: The Holocaust’s History and Ethiopia’s Future” (Marion Blumenthal)
2016 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Sam R., Pleasant Valley Junior High (8th grade), “Greatest Respect for Humankind” (the story of Yanek Gruener) 2016 Sam Rothbardt Essay
2nd Place: Jessica C., Clinton Middle School (8th grade), “The Life of Hana Brady”
3rd Place: Iryna K., Rock Island High School (11th grade), “Irving Roth’s Struggle for Existence”
2015 Essay Winners:
1st Place: Allison S., “Forgiveness is the the Seed of Peace: Eva Kor’s Journey in Abolishing Hate” 2015 Allison Stutting Essay
2nd Place: Kwamena Addo Nhyria H.
3rd Place: Stephanie B.
2014 Essay Winner: Alex B., North Scott High School (11th grade), “I Wasn’t Even Eighteen:” Pierre Seel’s Holocaust as a “175er” 2014 Alex Bare Essay
2013 Essay Winner: Rachel C., Edison Junior High School (8th grade), “Children and the Holocaust” 2013 Rachel Cupp Essay
Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities 