Over 300 students and teachers from 31 schools in Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, Orange County and Fairfield County, Connecticut attended the 23rd annual Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders on Thursday, March 20th at Iona University in New Rochelle.
The program began with welcoming remarks by Millie Jasper, HHREC Executive Director and Dr. Tricia Mulligan, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Iona University. Following opening remarks, Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School teacher Brett Bowden presented and spoke about the importance of students being an “Upstander” and taking a stand in their communities against hate.
Following Brett, HHREC Board Member and New Rochelle resident Leah Sills presented the story of her parents and grandparents who lived in Lodz in Poland and survived the invasion by Nazis during the Holocaust due to the heroic efforts of Upstanders including Sousa Mendez.
The program was organized and led by HHREC Program Coordinator Jeanne Claire Cotnoir and included student workshops hosted by HHREC Director of Education Steve Goldberg, Bowden, and students who encouraged their peers to engage as activists or “Upstanders” in response to human rights violations.
Students Honored for Human Rights, Community Service and “Upstander” Works
A group of students were recognized for their work in promoting human rights in their schools and communities. These honorees included:
The Richard A. Berman Leadership Award for Human Rights was awarded to Ashley Stangel – Byram Hills High School. This award is in honor of the longstanding commitment and dedication of Richard Berman to the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, and his commitment to community service and the education of ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community.
The Andy Cahn “Community Service” Award was presented to Owen Brennen, Ossining High School, and Selena Nezaj, Pelham Memorial High School. This award is given in memory of the contributions and commitments made by Andy Cahn, former Assistant Director of Education for HHREC who was instrumental in the creation of the High School Human Rights Institute.
The Neil Ginsberg Student “Upstander” Award was presented to Kaymbri Wells, Ossining High School; Thaddeus Kromelis II, Sleepy Hollow High School; and Abigael Rondeau, Byram Hills High School. This award recognizes the contributions and commitment made by Neil Ginsberg to the Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders, and his dedication to the HHREC Educators Program Committee for over 20 years.
Area High School Participation
Participating schools included: Archbishop Stepinac High School, Ardsley High School, Blind Brook High School, Byram Hills High School, Croton-Harmon High School, Denzel Washington School of The Arts, Dobbs Ferry High School, Eastchester High School, Edgemont High School, German International School New York, Hastings High School, John Jay High School, Mahopac High School, Mamaroneck High School, New Rochelle High School, Newburgh Academy Main, Newburgh Academy North, Newburgh Academy West, North Salem High School, Ossining High School, Peekskill High School, Pelham Memorial High School, Pleasantville High School, Ridgefield High School, Rye Neck High School, Scarsdale High School, Sleepy Hollow High School, Somers High School, The Ursuline School, Westchester Youth Alliance, and White Plains High School.
“We were very pleased at the response from area teachers and students who joined us for our program this year” said Goldberg. He added “It is very encouraging to see so many students and teachers turn out for a full day of learning about human rights, the history of the Holocaust, and lessons learned. We believe the powerful messages they heard today from our guest speakers and their peers will resonate with them for years to come and hope they will remain active ‘Upstanders’ who protect and preserve human rights.”
The HHREC Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders was developed to further their mission by promoting student awareness of human rights issues on a local and global level, and to empower students to be “Upstanders” by creating and implementing action plans in their schools and communities. HHREC has organized and offered this event to area students and teachers since 2002. For more information visit HHRECNY.org or contact Steve Goldberg at sgoldberg@hhrecny.org.
