Pictured, from left, are Shelly Hirshberg, Jeff Hirshberg, Lauren Jagoda, Elayna Pitts, Mary Reynoldson, Olivia Shearer, Kenadie Wilson, Alexandra McKee, Len Katz, Judy Katz and Leigh-Anne Hendrick. Submitted photo

A county-wide writing competition recently awarded its first six students for their response to a writing prompt reflecting on the historical importance of the Holocaust and how the Holocaust can provide insight into the modern world.

Students from nine different Chautauqua County schools recently met at the Athenaeum Hotel in Chautauqua Institution for the first annual Katz-Hirshberg Families Writing Award program, which is in honor of Leigh-Anne Hendrick.

As a teacher for Chautauqua Lake Central School and the program director for the Holocaust and Social Justice Education Program, which is sponsored by the Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua, Hendrick has been a passionate educator of human rights throughout Chautauqua County for 23 years.

The Katz-Hirshberg Families Writing Awards program invited students throughout Chautauqua County to consider the legacy of the Holocaust and its historical impact by writing a response to a writing prompt asking students how their knowledge of the Holocaust offers insight into the world today. Six financial awards were presented in honor of the six million Jews killed as a result of the Holocaust.

Mary Reynoldson, from Southwestern Central School, was awarded first place and a $1,000 prize, Alexandra McKee, from Chautauqua Lake Central School, was awarded second place and a $500 prize and Kenadie Wilson, from Chautauqua Lake Central School was awarded third place and a $250 prize. Three honorable mentions included Lauren Jagoda and Olivia Shearer from Chautauqua Lake Central School, as well as Elayna Pitts from Frewsburg Central School. Each of the honorable mentions received a $125 award.

In her first-place winning entry, Reynoldson challenged people to “embrace kindness” in reflection of the devastating events of the Holocaust.

“Never would I have classified myself as a cold or unfeeling person, but by seeing the evil one person can hold toward another, I truly realize and value the open-minded idea of acceptance,” Reynoldson said. “No matter who you are, where you come from, or what you’ve done in the past, it is never too late to embrace kindness and educate yourself so the path toward growth can begin.”

Hendrick said judging the writing was “challenging” as a result of the many “high-quality submissions” for the award program.

“Judges of the program walked away inspired and hopeful for our future,” she said. “Hopeful that this next generation of young adults recognizes injustice and knows that our future can be different than our past.”