$100,000 ESSAY CONTEST

for Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders

You have the power to make a positive difference in the world.

Teachers! Get
Your Students
Involved

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Stop the Hate Reader

Complete Rules
& Guidelines

Official
Entry Form

Winners 2016

Essay Contest



The 2020 contest is now closed. To learn more about the annual scholarship contest, please contact program manager, Ben Becker at 216-593-057

Read the entire collection of 2016 Youth Speak Out winning essays here.

TOP 10 FINALISTS

YOUTH SPEAK OUT GRAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
(4-year $40,000 scholarship)

Nupur Goel, 11th Grade, Gilmour Academy

YOUTH SPEAK OUT FIRST RUNNER-UP
(4-year $15,000 scholarship)

Christian Borkey, 12th Grade, Gilmour Academy

YOUTH SPEAK OUT SECOND RUNNER-UP
(4-year $10,000 scholarship)

Vishnu S. Nistala, 12th Grade, Mentor High School

YOUTH SPEAK OUT HONORABLE MENTIONS
($500 cash prize)

Elijah Bugg, 12th Grade, Oberlin High School

Alexia Faulkner, 12th Grade, Gilmour Academy

Ana Sofia Fehn, 12th Grade, Gilmour Academy

Kevin Gramajo, 12th Grade, John Marshall High School

Nya Hardaway, 12th Grade, Shaker Heights High School

Isabel Sands, 11th Grade, Orange High School

Alexandra Wainwright, 12th Grade, Firestone High School

YOUTH SPEAK OUT 6 – 10TH GRADE WINNERS

10th Grade
1st Place: Kendra Kalish, Magnificat High School
2nd Place: Ellie Gutierrez, Magnificat High School
3rd Place: Madelyn Jett, Magnificat High School

9th Grade
1st Place: Ella Attell, Hawken School
2nd Place: Shavonne Jackson, The School of One
3rd Place: Eli Goldman, Beachwood High School

8th Grade
1st Place: Jacob Gibson, Rocky River Middle School
2nd Place: Henry Pentecost, Roxboro Middle School
3rd Place: Athena Grasso, Beachwood Middle School

7th Grade
1st Place: Lauren Paulus, Highland Middle School
2nd Place: Shayna Preisler, Beachwood Middle School
3rd Place: Yoav Pinhasi, Beachwood Middle School

6th Grade
1st Place: Matthew Mullin-Gray, Campus International School
2nd Place: Madison Tatum, Campus International School
3rd Place: Jayda Collins, Paul L. Dunbar

YOUTH SPEAK OUT SCHOOL WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ESSAYS ($10,000 Anti-Bias Education Grant)
Newton D. Baker School of Arts

YOUTH SPEAK OUT SCHOOL WITH A GRAND PRIZE WINNER ($10,000 Anti-Bias Education Grant)
Gilmour Academy

YOUTH SING OUT WINNING SCHOOLS
1st Place High School: “Can Anybody Hear Me?” Cleveland Heights High School ($5,000)
Runner-Up High School: “New Perspective” Midview High School
1st Place Middle School: “Issues Today” Newton D. Baker School of Arts ($5,000)

  • Presented By:

    Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

  • Generously Supported by

    Presenting Sponsor
    Dworken & Bernstein

    The Semi J. and Ruth Begun Foundation

    Signature Sponsors
    Dealer Tire

    Nordson

    Media Partner
    Northeast Ohio Parent

  • Maltz Museum