The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection Contest at FAU

There is no specific question students must answer. Instead, students should go beyond retelling the historical facts of the Holocaust. They are encouraged to reflect on how the genocide—and the survivor testimony they chose—impacts their personal thinking, values, and choices.

Each project should demonstrate what the student has learned about themselves and contemporary society through the intensely personal yet universally relevant lessons of the Holocaust. For additional guidance, please refer to the  Student Checklist  or  Teacher Checklist.

To enter, students must complete and submit the online application before the deadline, including a successful project upload in one of the accepted file formats.

⚠️ Important: The application must be completed on a computer. It is not compatible with smartphones or tablets.

Students must provide the following:

• Full name
• Teacher's full name
• School name
• The county where the school is located
• Type of school (public, private, or charter)
• Student's email address
• Teacher's email address
• A short statement about what they learned
• Their completed project is in one of the acceptable formats

Yes. Each student may submit one project per category, for a total of up to three submissions:

• Written Expression: One essay or one poem
• Digital Media: One video or one automated presentation
• Visual Arts: One original art piece

Students may not submit more than one project in the same category.

While classmates or family members may assist with a project, each submission must be the original work of a single student. The project should reflect the student's ideas and be inspired by the Holocaust survivor testimony they selected.

Note: Only one student will be recognized as the winner of any selected entry.
The online application includes a space where students can credit contributors (e.g., actors in a video).

Yes. Each student must provide their teacher's name and email address on the application. A teacher's involvement is required for contest participation.

No, parental permission is not required to enter. However, winning students must submit a parent release form granting FAU permission to publish their names and winning projects.

No. Entry is entirely free.

We receive thousands of entries from middle and high schools across Florida each year. A panel of volunteer educators and community members judges all submissions.

Projects are evaluated based on:

• Thoughtfulness and originality of the student's reflection
• Clarity in expressing the intended message
• Creativity and skill are demonstrated in the chosen medium

Teachers with at least 10 students submitting valid entries will receive a $25 gift card as a thank-you for their support.

Winning students and their teachers will be notified via email.

Attendance is not required, but it is strongly encouraged.
Teachers and principals are part of the celebration, and it is an exceptional opportunity to honor the winners and reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust alongside educators and community members from across the state.