New essay contests has students comparing Holocaust to current events

Three students entered contest

La Crosse has become known for hosting survivors of the Holocaust to tell of their experiences during that dark period of recent history.  

Education about the Holocaust is now being expanded in the La Crosse public schools, to include an essay contest comparing the Nazi era to modern events.  

Logan sophomore Annika Dome won the first competition, sponsored by a local organization for studies of the Shoah, another term for Holocaust.  

The La Crosse Public Education Foundation director David Stoeffler explained what Dome’s essay was about.

“She talks specifically about how Adolf Hitler really instilled fear in the minds of his citizens and that came at the cost of genocide and unjust factions,” he said. 

Only three students entered the contest this year, but more may be encouraged to participate as it becomes an annual event.

Dome won $250 for her essay.

Stoeffler went on to talk about Dome arguing in her essay that Hitler’s efforts to make Germans fearful led to genocide.

“She goes on to argue one of the most important lessons of the holocaust is to be on guard against intolerance and demigod-ary,” Stoeffler said.