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For 25 years, the Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest presented by Chapman University and The 1939 Society has provided an opportunity for students in high school and middle school to learn about the Holocaust by asking them to engage with first-person accounts from survivors and to produce their own creative work in response.
Now, a $3 million endowment from the Samueli Foundation will ensure that the contest will be able to continue its mission of educating future generations about the lives and experiences of Holocaust survivors.
The importance of the contest has never been more poignant. Currently, only 25 U.S. states and nine countries worldwide require Holocaust education, and as many as 6 out of 10 Americans under 30 cannot accurately identify how many Jews were killed in the Holocaust. In addition, with every year that passes, there are fewer survivors able to talk about their first-hand experiences during and after the Holocaust directly.
Each year, students participating in the contest are asked to watch testimonies recorded by Holocaust survivors or rescuers and respond through their own creative work—essays, poems, visual artwork and film. The experience is often revelatory for the participants, and the resulting works demonstrate compassion, understanding and the shared humanity of those who have vastly different life experiences.
“In many ways, endowed support is like a life insurance policy for something you truly believe in and that is integral to the identity of an institution,” said Marilyn Harran, who is the founding director of Chapman’s Rodgers Center for Holocaust History and holds the Stern Chair in Holocaust Education in Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Harran has conceptualized and directed the contest since it was launched in academic year 1999-2000. While at first only local Orange County schools took part, participation soon grew throughout California, the U.S., and eventually around the globe. Last year, 7,000 students participated from 161 schools in more than 30 states and 10 countries.
“I’ve seen the Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest grow from a small, local event to a national and now international program. This additional financial support assures that we are building on its decades-long success and helps to guarantee there will be a future for it,” she said.
Dr. Susan and Dr. Henry Samueli are long-time supporters of Chapman University, and through their foundation have sponsored the Holocaust Art and Writing contest for 20 years. In addition to their support of the contest, in 2005, Henry and Susan Samueli established the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library, named in honor of Mr. Samueli’s parents, both of whom were Holocaust survivors.
“We are tremendously thankful to the Samuelis for their gift that will ensure that the Holocaust Art & Writing Contest continues to educate young people about a part of our history that should never be forgotten,” said Chapman University President Daniele S. Struppa. “The Chapman community has always regarded the contest as something special, and as it continues to grow and flourish it will have an even greater impact on the world.”
Matt Parlow, executive vice president and chief advancement officer, praised the Samuelis for their generosity. “The Samuelis’ continued support of Holocaust education at Chapman demonstrates their personal commitment to honor the history of their family and so many others. Their support cannot be overstated, and we are very thankful for this gift that will ensure the continuation of the Holocaust Art & Writing Contest in perpetuity.”
The gift bolsters Chapman’s strategic plan goal to raise $500 million through its Inspire campaign. More than $394 million has been raised.
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About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
Media Contact:
Carly Murphy, Public Relations Coordinator | carmurphy@chapman.edu | Desk: 714-289-3196 | Mobile: 714-497-9683
