Akron, Ohio News Release...

14^TH REMEMBRANCE OF HOLOCAUST PLANNED FOR MAY

The City of Akron is celebrating its annual Holocaust Arts and Writing Contest once again. The Days of Remembrance is celebrating its 14^th anniversary in Akron.

This years theme, "Lessons of the Holocaust: Why We Must Oppose Hatred and Cruelty", inspired the students entries to levels that far exceeded judges expectations. More than 650 Akron area students entered the contest and judges selected 72 winners. Students submitted entries in one of the following categories: Creative Writing, Research Writing, Individual Visual Art, Collaborative Visual Art, Individual Multi-Media, Collaborative Multi-Media.

Students who win an individual first place award will receive a $100 savings bond and a plaque. The first place winners and their teachers will have a one-day trip to the Holocaust Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additionally their schools will receive $100 worth of Holocaust books to be placed in the school library.

Students who receive a collaborative first place award will win a plaque and $100 towards the school Art Department. All entries, which receive an individual second place award, will receive a $50 savings bond and a plaque.

The school will receive a plaque and $50 for the Art Department, in recognition of collaborative second place winners.

All other places will receive a certificate of merit and all entrants will receive a certificate of participation.

In an effort to applaud these students for their efforts, winning essays, poems, and artwork are reproduced in a book distributed throughout the area. This book also includes the name of each student who entered the school, principal, and teacher.

As part of the annual contest the winning entries have been on display at the Akron Art Museum since February 19, and the exhibit will continue until April 30, 2000. Please take the time to visit this poignant display and help celebrate the efforts of the young people in our community, as they commemorate the Holocaust.

All of the students who entered the Arts and Writing Contest are invited to a Commemoration Ceremony on May 2, 2000. The Holocaust Commemoration Committee is pleased to welcome to the ceremony, guest speaker Irene Gut Opdyke.

Irene Gut Opdyke is a Holocaust rescuer and author of, "In My Hands". Her books tells the story of how she risked her own life in order to save those individuals who were marked for death by the Gestapo.

On behalf of the City of Akron and the Holocaust Commemoration Committee we would like to cordially invite you to attend the Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony on Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at 11:30 a.m., at Central-Hower High School. The high school is located at 123 Forge Street, Akron, OH, 44308. The students will be recognized at 11:30 and the program is set to begin at noon and should last approximately one hour.

We do hope that you will have the opportunity to visit the display at the Akron Art Museum and that your schedule will permit you to attend the Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony.

Please review the below for a list of this years winners.