The Florida Holocaust Museum Honored the 2012 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Recipients

During receptions on May 30 and May 31, the Florida Holocaust Museum honored 94 high school juniors with the 2012 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award (AFHA). The honorees attend public, private and parochial schools in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and counties.  They are recognized as students who make a conscious decision to spend their time improving the lives of others.   

 Lisl Schick, Holocaust survivor and member of the Florida Holocaust Museum’s Board of Directors and Gayle Sierens, Co-Anchor for WFLA-TV News Channel 8 and Honorary Co-Chair of the AFHA Program, participated as special guest speakers on May 30 and May 31, respectively.

Since its inception in 2001, the AFHA has garnered 100% participation from all eligible high schools in the five county area.  Confidential nominations are submitted by the schools and reviewed by members of the AFHA committee.  The honorees are recognized, by AFHA volunteer presenters, at their schools' junior award ceremonies, in addition to the Museum’s receptions.  Each receives a personalized glass plaque symbolizing Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass, an award certificate and a one-year family membership to the Museum.

The Museum is grateful to the Florida Holocaust Museum’s Women of Conscious, the presenting sponsor for the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Program.  Additional sponsors include Rosa and Werner Cohn and the James & Amy Shimberg Foundation.

Renée Walter and Jody Sherman are Co-Chairs of the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Program.  County Chairs are:  Traci Klein and Marcy Lechner, Hillsborough County; Rhoda Langstein, Pasco County; Claudia Stern, Pinellas County; Shirley Stepp and Rose Holloway, Manatee and Sarasota Counties.  Irene Weiss is the founder of the AFHA Program.

Admission to the Florida Holocaust Museum (FHM) is $14 for adults; discounted admission is offered to seniors, students, adult and student groups.  Admission is free to active duty Military, FHM members and children 6 and under.  Museum hours are 10 am – 5 pm, Monday through Sunday; the last admission is 3:30 pm.  Please call, (727) 820-0100, or visit the Museum’s web-site, www.flholocaustmuseum.org, for directions and further details including holiday closures. 

The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust.  The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.

 2012 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Honorees,

 Pinellas County Honorees

Admiral Farragut Academy                   Hans Hart

Bayside High School                             Dontavis Burgess

Boca Ciega High School                       Judy Ballich

Clearwater Central Catholic HS            Christopher Kieler

Clearwater High School                        Nicole Ferrer

Countryside High School                      Lauren Powell

Dixie Hollins High School                      Ha’Sena Kurti

Dunedin High School                            Maureen Scharibone

East Lake High School                         Anthi Madalvanos

Gibbs High School                                Alexis Glover

Indian Rocks Christian School              Jillian Halstead-Barnes

Keswick Christian School                     Lindsey Harding

Lakewood High School                        Chelsea Gadbois

Largo High School                                Yacina Colacchio

Mavericks HS - North                          Ryan Phillips

Mavericks HS – St. Petersburg             LeQuez Gordon

Northeast High School                          Elma Pandza

Northside Christian School                   Vanessa Bundschu

Osceola High School                            Fazela Sukhu

Palm Harbor University HS                   Shauna Gillooly

Pinellas Park High School                     James Vanhaerents

Seminole High School                           Carter Fish

Shorecrest Preparatory School             Preston Sembler

St. Petersburg Catholic HS                   Kelly McGurk

St. Petersburg Collegiate HS                 Grace Whitten

St. Petersburg High School                   Sylvia Stankov

Tarpon Springs High School                 Mihalia Tsangaris