Waldman International Arts & Writing Competition
Sign-up for the 2023-2024 competition is now open!
We are excited to continue the three-round format for the Waldman International Arts and Writing competition! In this format, you – the teachers and students – have the opportunity to be recognized in our three rounds of judging, eligible for three levels of prizes!
How does it work?
Each school has one “teacher sponsor,” a representative who oversees the school’s first round competition, submits the school’s finalists, and communicates with the Holocaust Center and acts as a liaison to winning students when necessary.
Any time between now and February, teacher sponsors sign their school up to participate. Please note, it is free to participate in the competition, but schools are required to register. A public-facing list is available to show which schools are participating.
We encourage teachers to register by December 2023 to stay up-to-date on correspondence, and so we can publicize the list of participating schools and their contest deadlines. For more information and complete instructions, please read the Toolkit and Instructions Booklet.
Key Dates
September 18, 2023:
Teachers can begin registering as “Teacher Sponsors” by using the Google Form found here.
December 1, 2023:
Teacher sponsors can begin submitting the art and writing pieces of their school’s student winners for Round 2 consideration. Writing pieces will be submitted using the personalized Google Drive folder provided by the Holocaust Center after registering as a teacher sponsor. Art pieces must be delivered to the Holocaust Center by February 8. The Holocaust Center will provide a delivery address to the Teacher Sponsor.
February 8, 2024:
Final day for teacher sponsors to submit their school’s finalists for Round 2 consideration. Submissions must be delivered by 5:30 pm.
February-March, 2024:
Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh judging period.
April 2024:
Up to seven “Round 2” winners (including one Grand Prize winner) of the 2022-2023 Waldman International Arts and Writing Competition will be announced as part of the Holocaust Center’s Genocide Awareness Month programming.
May 9, 2024:
Award Ceremony at Chatham University.
Questions? Contact Julia at jgaetano@hcpgh.org
About the Waldmans
Diane and Hal Waldman started the Arts and Writing contest shortly after the Holocaust Center was started in Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. The contest was inspired by meeting many survivors in the Pittsburgh area. The plan came together after a mission trip to Israel with the first director of the Holocaust Center, Isaiah Kuperstein (z”|).
Through the years the contest greatly expanded to include essays, poetry and the visual arts. It also expanded geographically in to Israel. Over almost 40 years, thousands of students have participated in the contest.
Waldman Arts & Writing Competition 2022-2023
Thank you to all the students, teachers, and schools who participated in the Waldman Competition in the
2022-2023 school year:
Avonworth High School – Molly Long
Quaker Valley Middle School – Brian Wolovich
Carlynton Junior/Senior High School – Rachel Foltz
Community Day School – Erin Lewis
Ryan Gloyer Middle School – Meagan Loewy and Ezekiel Stroupe
Shaler Area High School – Catlyn DiPasquale
Mt. Lebanon High School – Julianne Slogick
Springdale Junior/Senior High School – Sue Mellon
Grand Prize Winner
Tyler David Harpine
Springdale
3D Art, Middle School
Category Winners
Stuart M Adams
Avonworth
Essay
Sophia Rau
Shaler Area
2D Art, High School
Bella Burrell
Springdale
3D Art, High School
Evelyn Bertiaux
Quaker Valley
2D Art, Middle School
Piper Bozick
Mt. Lebanon
Poetry, High School
Abby Mihalacki
Ryan Gloyer MS
Poetry, Middle School