Student Essay Contest Launched to Honor Centennial

BOSTON, Mass.—In honor of the April 2015 Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, a new essay contest, titled “The Ultimate Triumph of Humanity: Survival and Reemergence in the Face of Genocide,” is being launched for students across New England. The contest calls for students to write a 1,000-word essay considering the legal, political, historical, cultural, economic, and/or personal aspects of any act of genocide (Armenian, Cambodian, Jewish, Rwandan, for example). Students may provide their point of view on the failure of the perpetrators, the need for justice, the need to address unhealed wounds of the victims, the dangers of denial, or the implementation of Raphael Lemkin’s U.N. framework to prevent similar future atrocities.

Students in Grades 6-12 enrolled in any school in New England may submit one essay in English reflecting their own writing and original thought. Submitted essays must be 1,000 words or fewer, formatted blindly (no author information within), and consisting of title and essay text only. The file name must follow the format of “FirstName_LastName.pdf.” Additionally, each contestant must submit an application form along with his/her essay submission. All submissions must be in PDF format. Incomplete application forms or longer submissions will not be entered into the essay contest.

Submissions must be e-mailed to essay@NERemembers1915.org by Fri., May 29, 2015. Three winning essays will be announced later in the year. Prizes to be awarded are $1,250 for first, $750 for second, and $250 for third.

As with other ethnic groups subjected to the most evil side of humanity, Armenians have suffered greatly but have refused to be defined as victims of genocide. In spite of their tragic history, Armenians have thrived in and contributed to the diverse societies they inhabit around the world. In fact, approximately twice as many ethnic Armenians live beyond the borders of the modern Republic of Armenia as reside within them, largely due to the vast number of diaspora communities that formed in the wake of the genocide.

The Massachusetts Committee to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide is an umbrella organization representing all the Armenian advocacy, athletic, cultural, educational, political, religious, and service organizations in Massachusetts and the surrounding communities. The committee aims to educate the public and increase awareness of the crime and denial of genocide and the lasting effects thereto, with specific emphasis on the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It also aims to promote understanding of the Armenian Genocide through mass communications and public forums, to preserve the memory of the Armenian Genocide and its over one and a half million victims, and finally to commemorate the Centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Massachusetts.