BEACHWOOD – March 6, 2026 – The Maltz Museum proudly announces the 2026 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out Awards finalists. Winners will be named on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at an awards ceremony at the Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus, Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center. The community is invited to attend this free event, which will be hosted by Gabriella Kreuz, a Cleveland sports personality and founder of Love Doesn’t Shove, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending teen dating violence through education and open dialogue. Seating is limited and advanced registration is required
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This year, 3,628 students at more than 150 Northeast Ohio schools participated in the Stop the Hate program, writing individual essays, poems, or group songs for a chance to win academic scholarships and educational grants for themselves and their schools. Stop the Hate, the Maltz Museum's signature educational program, serves Northeast Ohio students and school communities by encouraging personal storytelling that builds bridges and creates empathy. Through this program, students gain awareness of hate-related issues, discrimination, bullying, etc., while being inspired to courageously create positive change when facing these challenges.
Through the generosity of Milton and Tamar Maltz, the Maltz Museum’s Stop the Hate contest annually awards $100,000 to Northeast Ohio middle and high school students, teachers, and schools committed to creating a more accepting and inclusive world.
The Maltz Museum is proud to acknowledge the unwavering support of the Stop the Hate program’s presenting sponsors The Semi J. and Ruth W. Begun Foundation and The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation; as well as signature sponsors: The Andrews Foundation, Chelm Family Foundation, Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College, Enbridge Gas Ohio, The Harry K. and Emma Fox Charitable Foundation, John and Peggy Garson Family Foundation, The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, David and Inez Myers Foundation, Nordson Corporation Foundation, shark&minnow, and Helen F. Stolier and Louis Stolier Family Foundation.
Since Stop the Hate began, over 50,000 students in 15 counties across Northeast Ohio have participated, and $1.8 million has been awarded to students and schools.
Stop the Hate Contest Finalists
Youth Speak Out – Essay Finalists
Awards for Grades 11 & 12
- Grand Scholarship Winner: $30,000 scholarship + $4,000 grant for their school
- 1st Runner-Up: $15,000 scholarship + $2,000 grant for their school
- 2nd Runner-Up: $10,000 scholarship + $1,000 grant for their school
- 3rd Runner-Up: $5,000 scholarship + $500 grant for their school
- Honorable Mention (6): $1,000 prize + $500 grant for their school
Grade 12 Finalists
- Elizabeth Chen, Berea-Midpark High School
- Ayesha Faruki, Mentor High School
- Sophie Frissore, Aurora High School
- Liam Hernandez, Aurora High School
- Autumn Ladner, Aurora High School
- Madeline Roisman, St Joseph Academy
- Ann Varghese, Aurora High School
Grade 11 Finalists
- Manasvi Gurajala, Solon High School
- Austin Rule, Aurora High School
- Asher Sullivan, Shaker Heights High School
Awards for Grades 6 – 10
- 1st Place winners in each grade receive a $400 prize.
- Runners-Up in each grade receive a $100 prize.
Grade 10 Finalists
- Samipa Patel, Solon High School
- Younes Tajik, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy
Grade 9 Finalists
- Eva Jones, Avon Lake High School
- Fatima Shah, Hathaway Brown School
Grade 8 Finalists
- Reagan Eichenlaub, North Ridgeville Academic Center
- Karson Kirth, Independence Middle School
Grade 7 Finalists
- Kylie King-Woods, Hathaway Brown School
- June Weaver, Garfield Middle School
Grade 6 Finalists
- Caleb Lehman, North Ridgeville Academic Center
- Peter Metoki, Hudson Middle School
Finalist Selection: Youth Speak Out Essay Judges
- Daniel Blain, Immediate Past Chief Executive Officer, JewishAKRON
- Jessica Daigler, Director of LeadDIVERSITY, The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
- Eduardo Kim, Partner, Thompson Hine LLP
- John Panza, Associate Professor, English, Honors Coordinator, Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College, Eastern Campus
- L.S. Quinn, Executive Director, The Reading Room CLE
Youth Speak Out – Poetry Finalists
Awards for High School Poetry
- 1st Place Winner: $2,000 prize + $1,000 grant for their school
- 2nd Place Winner: $1,500 prize + $500 grant for their school
- 3rd Place Winner: $1,000 prize + $500 grant for their school.
- Honorable Mention (2): $500 prize
High School Finalists
- Ava Myers, Oberlin High School
- Linh Nguyen, Aurora High School
- Zoe Pierce, Lakewood High School
- Don'Nae Sanford, Walsh Jesuit High School
- Myka Steggall, Oberlin High School
Awards for Middle School Poetry
- 1st Place Winner: $400 prize
- 2nd Place Winner: $300 prize
- 3rd Place Winner: $200 prize
- Honorable Mention (2): $100 prize.
Middle School Finalists
- Khloee Booth, Almira PreK-8 Academy
- Maya Bourguignon, Beachwood Middle School
- Christina Chhetri, Bolich Middle School
- Farai Chiunda, Beachwood Middle School
- Anna Kellermann, Ballard Brady Middle School
Finalist Selection: Youth Speak Out Poetry Judges
- Ali Black, 2025 Cleveland Arts Prize Recipient (Emerging Artist – Literature)
- Julia Cilano, Poet, Wick Poetry Center, Kent State University
- John Kunzo III, Stop the Hate ’18, Consultant, Bain & Company
- Zach Savich, Professor and Chair of Liberal Arts, Cleveland Institute of Art
- Rachel Zake Ozan, Writer/Director/Actor
Youth Sing Out– Songwriting Winners
Winners in middle and high school categories receive:
- 1st Place winners in both categories receive a $3,000 grant for their school.
- Runners-up in both categories receive a $1,500 grant for their school.
High School Winners
- Rhodes School of Environmental Studies, First Place High School, “You Don’t Know Me”
- Walsh Jesuit High School, Runner-Up High School, “Break the Chain”
Middle School Winners
- North Ridgeville Academic Center, First Place Middle School, “We Will Rise”
- Milkovich Middle School, Runner-Up Middle School, “Mystery of Iniquity”
Finalist Selection: Youth Sing Out Judges
- Kathryn Clusman, Director of Education and Community Engagement, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Edward P. Gallagher, Vice President for Education, The Beck Center for the Arts
- Jeff Niesel, Music Editor, Cleveland Scene
- Treva Offutt, Director of Education, Playhouse Square
- Jason Weiner, Philanthropic Advisor, Cleveland Foundation
Educational Grant
Educators in Northeast Ohio dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments within their classrooms and communities were eligible to apply for a $1,400 educational grant. This year’s grant funded educational experiences that promote empathy, understanding, critical thinking, and commitment to stopping hate for both students and educators.
Congratulations to the 2026 grantee: Garfield Heights Middle School
18th Annual Stop the Hate Awards Ceremony
Be inspired by the next generation of voices, representing different cultures, backgrounds, and identities – all raising their voices to create positive change in our communities. Join us for the Maltz Museum’s 18th Annual Stop the Hate Award Ceremony, where we will recognize this year’s finalists in our essay, poetry, and songwriting contests. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Gabriella Kreuz, a Cleveland sports personality and founder of Love Doesn’t Shove, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending teen dating violence through education and open dialogue. The evening will conclude with the announcement of the program’s top honor: a $30,000 scholarship, awarded following live judging by a distinguished panel evaluating the top four essay finalists.
The 18th Annual Stop the Hate Ceremony Judges:
- Todd L. Kitchen, Ed.D., Eastern Campus President, Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College
- Effie Nunes, Executive Director, Cleveland Arts Prize
- John Skrtic, Chief of Special Projects & Collections, Cleveland Public Library
During the ceremony:
- Meet our 6th–12th grade student essay and poetry finalists and hear their powerful voices and perspectives on the issues that matter most to them.
- Watch live judging to see who will win the top essay scholarships
- Hear the winning Youth Sing Out songs performed by the winning middle school and high school
- Recognize two Northeast Ohio educators who will be named Stop the Hate 2026 Teachers of the Year
When: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM
Where: Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus, Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre, at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center
4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, OH 44122
Please enter from Harvard Road. Complimentary parking is available in lot B2.
Free to attend, registration encouraged. Register at: 22382.blackbaudhosting.com/22382/18th-Annual-Stop-the-Hate-Awards-Ceremony
About Stop the Hate
Now in its 18th year, Stop the Hate is the Maltz Museum’s signature program for Northeast Ohio middle and high school students committed to creating a more accepting, inclusive world. Through Stop the Hate, students gain awareness of issues driven by exclusion, discrimination, and bullying, while being inspired to courageously create positive change.
Each year, the program awards $100,000 in scholarships to students and educational grants to schools. In April 2026, the total amount of scholarships and grants awarded through the contest to Northeast Ohio student, teachers, and schools will be $1.8 million.
For more information about the program please visit maltzmuseum.org or contact education@mmjh.org.
About the Maltz Museum
Opened in 2005 in a collaboration between The Maltz Family Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Centennial Initiative, and The Temple-Tifereth Israel with research support from the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Maltz Museum is rooted in the Jewish value of respect for all humanity, building bridges of tolerance and understanding by sharing Jewish heritage through the lens of the American experience. The Maltz Museum is dedicated to exploring diverse stories of courage from history and today, with a commitment to education and learning so there can be a more inclusive tomorrow. Learn more at www.MaltzMuseum.org.
Location, Admission, & Hours
The Maltz Museum is located at 2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood, OH.
- Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors (60+) and students, $5 youth (5-11), and FREE for Maltz Museum Members and children under 5.
- Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am -5 pm, Wednesday, 11 am – 9 pm. Closed on Mondays and most major holidays.
Museums for All
We offer free general admission to individuals and families with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or a Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) card. Visitors must present a valid form of photo ID. To claim free tickets, please call 216-593-0575 before visiting.