Riverhead High School Students Recognized by Jewish Community Relations Council For "Building Bridges"

Five Riverhead High School students recently received recognition for “Building Bridges” from the Jewish Community Relations Council as part of Yam HaShoa (Holocaust Remembrance).

Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust.

Each year state and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, religious organizations, and civic centers host observances and remembrance activities for their communities.

These events occur during the Week of Remembrance, which runs from the Sunday before Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah).

In a Yam HaShoa ceremony at Suffolk County Community College during the week of April 20, students, Amanda Baron, Jeremy Bornstein, Samantha Dunn and Mieko Vail, along with Katie McKillop (who was absent from event), were recognized for their participation in organizations such as Student Government, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), CAP (Community Awareness Program) and other clubs and anti-bias programs throughout their high school careers.

Thier particpation reflect “bridge building” and their efforts to make the world a better place.

The seniors were part of a contingency of students from nine high schools who were given certificates of recognition by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in partnership with the Suffolk County’s State Senate Delegation.

Assemblyman Fred. W. Thiele was one of the speakers and district representatives, who read bios of the high school students and presented them with their awards.

The main speaker at the program was Werner Reich, who gave his personal account of surviving the holocaust as a teenager.

“All that it takes for evil to go unchecked in the world is for good people to do nothing,” he said.

Reich has spoken to high school audiences (including a presentation at Riverhead High School) about his experiences during the holocaust and encourages students to not stand by silently but rather be the first to speak out when they witness bigotry, prejudice and cruelty.

Photo courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

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