Stop The Hate Essay Finalists Announced By Maltz Museum

BEACHWOOD, OH — The Maltz Museum's annual Stop the Hate essay contest announced its winners on Friday. Students were asked to consider a more inclusive society and the consequences of intolerance.

Students in grades 6-12 were invited to participate. They had to confront the issues of racism, ableism, homophobia, xenophobia, and others. Selected students may receive scholarship money through the Maltz Museum. Schools can also receive funding for anti-bias education through the contest.

Thousands of students entered the contest. Twenty-five finalists will be announced and then one winner will be selected. The top 10 essays will be read live in front of a panel of judges.

This years's top 25 finalists for 2019 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out are:

Top 10 Juniors and Seniors, competing for grand prize of $40,000 in scholarship money

• Heavenlee Alamo, Grade 12, James Ford Rhodes High School
• Marcie Baker, Grade 12, West Geauga High School
• Alexa Furukawa, Grade 11, Revere High School
• Alan Goodloe, Grade 12, Hudson High School
• Mackenzie Lee, Grade 12, Hawken School
• Samuel Oguntoyinbo, Grade 12, Solon High School
• Priyanka Shrestha, Grade 11, Beachwood High School
• Mathilde Tomter, Grade 12, Beaumont School
• Kennon Walton, Grade 11, University School
• Emma Witt, Grade 12, Berkshire High School

Grades 6-10 competing for $400 awards, by grade

6th grade

• Gabriella Censoprano, Hudson Middle School
• Elise Fletcher, St. Barnabas School
• Mallory Schenkenberger, Hudson Middle School

7th grade

• Kamryn von Kunsay, Learwood Middle School
• Arianna Preston, Beachwood Middle School
• Veronica Schwartz, Beachwood Middle School

8th grade

• Gigi Konrad, Rocky River Middle School
• Gianna Miller, Rocky River Middle School
• Aparna Srikanth, Solon Middle School

9th grade

• Jenny Fu, Mayfield High School
• Ilana Miller, Mayfield High School
• Mykenna Roy, Mayfield High School

10th grade

• Andrew Oscarson, Hudson High School
• Nathan Trost, Hudson High School
• Abigail Wilkov, Solon High School

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Scholarship winners will be announced March 14 at a live awards ceremony.

Photo from Shutterstock