Warwick Valley High School and Middle School students in grades seven through 12 are encouraged to participate in the Third Annual “Stop Hate Orange County” essay contest, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, The Newburgh Ministry, Inc., and the Orange County Human Rights Commission.

    The purpose of the contest is to promote tolerance and understanding through education. The 2017 contest focuses on the issue of refugees, by comparing the plight of Syrian refugees with that of Jews just before the Holocaust of World War II. WVCSD students may work on their essay with a participating teacher in their school, or independently.

     A completed entry form, along with the student’s essay, must be mailed no later than Wed., Mar. 1, 2017. Prizes will be awarded at the Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day observance in April 2017 in two categories: a $200 award for grades seven to nine and a $300 award for grades 10 to 12. In addition to the prizes offered, the winning essays will be published on the Human Rights Commission website and the Jewish Federation’s websites.

     For more information contact the school principal: contact Lisamarie Spindler at 987-3100 for Middle School and Dr. Larry Washington at 987-3050 for High School.  For complete contest rules and guidelines, visit https://jewishorangeny.org.

Students are encouraged to participate in a “Stop Hate Orange County” essay contest. ( Illustration by Jennifer O’Connor)