Echoes and Reflections Essay Winners.
During the Spring, 2007 school year, Ariel O'Shields '09 and Michael Ward '09 of Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix along with Caree Wheeler '07 of Dobson High School in Mesa won the Echoes and Reflections High School Essay Contest sponsored by the Arizona Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League.
The essay used the lens of the Holocaust to challenge students to discover the meaning of moral courage. By learning about people such as Chiune-Sempo Sugihara, Oscar Schindler, Miep Geis , and Raoul Wallenberg to name a few, they grappled with the question of what motivates people to stand up against injustice and what can be learned from their stories. The essay led writers to articulate an answer and to apply the knowledge to his/her own life. The understanding that individually, we have the power to choose right over wrong and to use our voices, make decisions, and lead by example is a lesson for all.
Out of the 150 essays entered, first, second, and third place winners were chosen for both the 9th & 10th grade division and the 11th and 12th grade division. Cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100 respectively were awarded to the winners.
Left: Ariel O’Shields, 3rd place, Sunnyslope High School, grade 10 Middle: Michael Ward, 1st place, Sunnyslope High School, grade 10 Right: Caree Wheeler, 1st place, Dobson High School, grade 12
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