ADL Student Essay Contest: A Tribute to Moral Courage: Standing Up Against Injustice

We Have 2021 ESSAY WINNERS!

Through it all, educators and students still find energy and hope through stories of moral courage. THANK YOU to all the families, educators and students who submitted over 150 essays this year to participate in ADL’s A Tribute to Moral Courage: Standing Up Against Injustice. Each essay was read at least twice and some even more by 18 dedicated judges. This year the 10th graders swept the high school division and the 8th graders swept the middle school division. Here is a list of winners and links to their winning essays: 2021 Student Winners

This essay contest uses the Holocaust as a backdrop, 7th – 12th grade students are encouraged to recognize those individuals throughout history who took a strong stand on a specific issue based on their personal beliefs or convictions, regardless of the danger or threat to their personal safety. Not only will students write about how that person’s moral courage has an impact on the world, but also and perhaps most importantly, how those actions have influenced their own lives today.

Writers must be Colorado, New Mexico or Wyoming students in grades 7-12. Monetary awards will be granted to the top three winners in two divisions: Division 1 – students in grades 7-9 and Division 2 – students in grades 10-12.

For 2021 – Essays can be submitted electronically, see below for more details.

Check out the inspired work by our 2020 student winners – 2020 Essay Winners, and encourage your students to dive in!

NOTE to TEACHERS: Encourage your students to select someone that connects with their personal stories and backgrounds. If used as a classroom assignment, this essay meets several Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming State Standards in Reading, Writing and Social Studies:

RH 11-12.7, requiring students to Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media in order to address a question or solve a problem.
RH 9-10.9, requiring students to compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.
RH 6-8.10, requiring students to be able to read and comprehend history/social studies texts, independently and proficiently.
W.7, Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

2021 Essay Contest Rules & Guidelines: Submission Deadline is Friday February 19, 2021

For full essay contest details, click here: 2021 Essay Contest FULL Rules & Guidelines

Download the brochure here: 2021 Essay Pamphlet

Download the forms here: Student Essay Application Form & Student Essay Reflection Sheet

Submissions can be submitted two ways (by February 19, 2021)

Snail mail – Instructions are above on pamphlet & full rules and guidelines, which include using the links to the essay application form & reflection sheet.
Electronically – Submit all information on the following link and be prepared to complete application form & reflection sheet online. Strong suggestion – have answers to application form & reflection sheet prepared on a separate document, which will allow for easy cut and paste to the form. Submit your essay here: https://form.jotform.com/202664939050154

2021 Awards will be presented early April 2021 at ADL’s Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program (Virtual Program)