Middle School Guidelines

As antisemitism and other forms of hate surge to unprecedented levels around the world, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation that is in the town next to Auschwitz - the site of the worst hate crime in human history - stands firmly as a global beacon using education to create allies and advocates who will stand against hatred, now and in the future. They teach lessons of the Holocaust to underscore what hatred can lead to if stoked and encouraged. Therefore, this year we are using their prompts:

What made the Holocaust possible? Choose at least one of the following follow up questions in your response.

1. What conditions and ideas made the Holocaust possible?
2. How and why did ordinary people across Europe contribute to the persecution of their Jewish neighbors?
3. How can we use lessons from the Holocaust to fight hatred and bigotry in all forms and provide humanitarian assistance to victims of mass atrocities and genocide?
   

There are two separate Middle School categories for this year's competition: Essay and Visual Art.

The guidelines that apply to both categories are:

• Entries must be submitted online through the official entry form. 
• Entries must be pre-approved by your teacher.
• All entries must be in a digital format.
• Uploaded content must NOT include reference to student or school name (it will be included in the file name and the form).
• Each entry type has additional criteria which must be met. See the links below for your entry type.
• Entries that do not follow these criteria and the category specific criteria below will be disqualified.
• Students who receive an award will be expected to attend the Holocaust Remembrance Service.

For submissions that require an Artist Statement: Entries will be judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision that responds to the prompt. Many times, the artistic statement will make a huge difference during judging because this is where the artist can explain the thoughts and feelings for the piece. An explanation of the significance of medium, style, and/or genre might be useful. 

• Middle School essay entries should be no more than 250 words.
• Entries must include facts to support viewpoints and feelings.
• Entries must have a title. Try to make the title unique to your submission without including any other identifying information (your name, teacher's name, or your school name).
• Entries must include a header on each page with title of entry and page number.
• Acknowledgement of sources must be within the essay and location of sources must be at the end of the paper. (This is not part of the word count.)
• Entries must NOT include reference to student or school name. 
• Entries must NOT include graphics, drawings, or other images. 
• Entries must be double-spaced, and in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font.
• Uploaded essay must be a PDF.
• The file name must use this format with your name: MSE_FirstName_LastName.pdf ("MSE" stands for Middle School Essay; your name will be removed from the file name for judging)
• Submissions must represent the independent work of the student, but teachers may provide grammatical or spelling recommendations.
• Entries must be pre-approved by your teacher. 

• Entries must be digitally submitted.
• May include photography, digital images, charcoal, pencil, pen & ink, chalk pastel, watercolors, acrylics, oils or mixed media. Fixative spray must be applied to charcoal, pencil, pastel, and chalk art.
• Must be a two-dimensional image on medium no thicker than 0.75".
• Entries must be a minimum size of 8" x 10" and no larger than 18" x 24".
• Uploaded image must be a graphic file (such as jpeg, png, etc).
• File name must use this format with your name: MSA_FirstName_LastName.pdf ("MSA" stands for Middle School Art; your name will be removed from the file name for judging). 
• Entries must have a title. Try to make the title unique to your submission without including any other identifying information (your name, teacher's name, or your school name).
• Entry must include an Artist's Statement. 
• The Artist’s Statement must include an explanation of your choices and how the work addresses the prompt.
• The Artist Statement must NOT include student or school name and must not exceed  750 characters (about 125 words).
• The Artist Statement must include facts to support feelings and viewpoint.
• An additional note about the Artist Statement: Entries will be judged primarily on how well the student uses his or her artistic vision that responds to the prompt. Many times, the artistic statement will make a huge difference during judging because this is where the artist can explain the thoughts and feelings for the piece. An explanation of the significance of medium, style, and/or genre might be useful.
• All images, regardless of medium, are considered property of the original artist.
• Renderings of another’s work will be disqualified.
• Submissions must represent the independent work of the student, but teachers may provide technical recommendations.
• Entries must be pre-approved by your teacher.
• Winners will be required to bring the original piece (matted or mounted) to the award ceremony, and take it with them after the service.

The decision of the judges is final. Judging will be based on:

• Originality and creativity
• Historical accuracy
• Addresses the contest theme
• Follows the specific criteria for each category

Contest judges review submissions with no knowledge of the student's identity, school, teacher, or residence. In order to provide anonymous papers for judging, the body of the entry should not contain any information identifying the author. The entry must be the original work of the student.

Judges request that teachers review students’ work and submit only entries worthy of being considered for judging. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to all the judging criteria.

Entries must be submitted no later than March 1st, 2025.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept submissions that do not adhere to all of these guidelines, that are submitted late, or come from students outside the Northwest Louisiana area (Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto Parishes).

The North Louisiana Jewish Federation will have the right to reprint winning entries in publications including local media/newspapers or posted online.

Submit Your 2025 Entry

• 1st Place Student (in each entry type): $200 Amazon Gift Card
• 2nd Place Student (in each entry type): $100 Amazon Gift Card
• 3rd Place Student (in each entry type): $50 Amazon Gift Card

*Student winners and their teachers are expected to attend the Holocaust Memorial Service.

Some prizes may not be given, depending on the number of entries received and evaluation of merit by a panel of judges.  Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the Holocaust Remembrance Committee.

• Teachers with students who submit qualifying entries will each receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate.
• Teachers who attend the Holocaust Remembrance Service with at least three of their students will receive an additional $25 Amazon gift certificate. (Teachers who attend the service with students need not have students submit entries to receive an award. Teachers with at least three students at the service should notify the registration table.)
• Winning students, as well as all participating schools and teachers, will be recognized during the Holocaust Remembrance Service.

Schools whose students submit eligible entries will receive $100.