Through a powerful poem expressing a Holocaust survivor’s struggle with "how to remember," Elisha Kurian '25 earned second place in the high school poetry division of the 25th annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education at Chapman University, the 1939 Society, the Irving and Nancy Chase Endowment for Holocaust Education, the Samueli Foundation, and Yossie & Dana Hollander sponsor this prestigious international competition. This year, the contest drew entries from 220+ registered schools and thousands of students across the U.S. and nine other countries. Elisha's recognition as a finalist is the third for KCS, following Emily Kuwaye’s '19 winning poem in 2018 and Maile Fowler's '22 second-place poem in 2022. 

The contest prompt challenged participants to identify a specific word, phrase, or sentence from the survivor’s testimony to explore and action to take in response to this call to memory. Utilizing descriptive language and specific details, Elisha's poem, "In Remembrance," captures Selene Bruk wrestling with the conflicting thoughts of forgetting and remembering when she finally returns to Poland. Ultimately, Selene's courageous resolve to remember "a way of life that will never be again" resonated with Elisha on a personal level, inspiring her to use her voice by "simply speaking up." 

A photo of Elisha and Literature Teacher Mrs. Fong (above) was shared during the live stream presentation of the awards ceremony held on March 15 at Chapman University. For her second-place poem, Elisha received a $200 cash prize, while KCS and Mrs. Fong were also awarded $100 each. Bravo, Elisha, on your award-winning piece that answers the call to memory!