Four Byram Hills High School juniors in the Global Scholars Program earned recognition in the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center’s Ben Ferencz Writing and Creative Expression Student Competition.
In the Creative Expression category, Byram Hills students took the top spots among Westchester County students. Jane Goode won first for her pencil drawing, “A Path Lit,” Spencer Feldman won second for his poem, “6,000,” and Kaleigh Hermanto won third for her 3D collage, “Through the Lens of Truth.” Olivia Savitsky won honorable mention in Westchester County for “Hidden Freedom.”
The students created their work as sophomores last year in the Global Scholars Year 1 class, when they chose a genocide to study. Focusing on an upstander from that genocide, they made or wrote a piece that responded to a quote from Ben Ferencz, a prosecutor during the Nuremberg trials: “People get discouraged. They should remember, from me, it takes courage not to be discouraged.”
Social Studies Chairperson Dr. Jen Laden praised the students for using their voices and talents to share what they’ve learned to make a difference in the world.
“Their work demonstrates a deep understanding of the impact of genocide and the importance of the individuals who fight against it,” she said. “We’re so proud of their commitment to being upstanders themselves.”
The students were proud to be recognized.
Jane drew Vann Nath, whose artistic talent helped him survive the Cambodian genocide. “I think he’s an admirable person, so it’s nice that it’s his story that won,” she said.
Spencer’s poem honored an Italian diplomat who helped save 6,000 people in 1943 during the German occupation of Italy during the Holocaust.
“Looking back at what we as a people have been through and seeing how they were treated in those times and how much emotion comes with that treatment and those events, I wanted to see how much I could gather my emotion and put it onto a piece of paper,” he said.
Kaleigh’s collage honored the work of photojournalist Ron Haviv, who documented the Bosnian genocide. She said learning about genocide is important to raise awareness. “People who see my art are aware, I’m more aware and everyone else in my class learned the causes of something so terrible,” she said. “I feel really proud of myself and I think the work I put in was meaningful.”
Global Scholars is a three-year interdisciplinary program that focuses on global awareness, critical thinking and leadership. Students investigate global issues, analyze diverse perspectives, communicate ideas and take action. Students regularly work with the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, including through its Living History Project and Human Rights Institute.
Four juniors in the Global Scholars Program at Byram Hills High School earned recognition in the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center’s Ben Ferencz Writing and Creative Expression Student Competition. They are, from left, Jane Goode, Spencer Feldman and Kaleigh Hermanto. Missing from the photo is Olivia Savitsky.