All high school students in the School District of La Crosse are encouraged to submit essays as part of a new contest designed to bring added meaning to studies of the Holocaust (Shoah) by connecting it with 21st century issues.

The “Never Again!” essay contest is sponsored by the Maureen and Robert Freedland Fund for Studies of the Holocaust — with a first prize of $250 and a second prize of $100. The contest is being run under the auspices of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation (LPEF).

The deadline for entries is March 1 — all of the contest information and an online entry form can be found on the LPEF website.

Many have warned that the atrocities of the 20th Century must “never again” occur. However, the 21st Century has seen many incidents of racial, ethnic and religious persecution and even genocide.

The contest is open to all School District of La Crosse high school students. They should take the lessons learned or ignored from the Holocaust and write a thoughtful essay of about 1,000 words applying the lessons to current issues, events or beliefs of their choice.

In addition to prize money, winners will have an opportunity for publication of their essays. Essays will be judged anonymously.

For more information, see our website, or call the LPEF office at (608) 787-0226.