Royal Oak High School Writer Honored

ROYAL OAK, MI — Royal Oak High School Junior Hannah Lefave received third place in the short story category of The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus first annual Kappy Family Anne Frank Art & Writing Competition. The competition was open to Oakland County students in grades eight through 12.

As part of the competition’s theme, “The Power of One,” which emphasized the impact that an individual can – and must – make in the world, students were invited to create a written or artistic response to the following quotation of Anne Frank’s: “How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Hannah's story is about a boy who grew up in Germany. He has many achievements, but it is revealed he is a Nazi. A profound event occurs in his life that changes him and his life forever. "I thought many people might write a story from the perspective of a victim of the Holocaust,” said Hannah. “ I thought it might be compelling to try to take a different approach."

"We're proud of Hannah for taking a risk and for publishing her creative work,” Royal Oak Principal Michael Giromini said. “She is a great student and, as evidenced by this recognition, a great person as well."

“As we display the winning submissions beginning May 10,” said Robin Axelrod, Director of Education, Holocaust Memorial Center, “it is our hope that all those who visit the museum take the time to view the pieces to see how teens, who are the same age that Anne Frank was when she wrote her diary, express the lessons that they have learned about the Holocaust.”

Through June 4, the museum is home to Anne Frank: A History for Today, an exhibit developed by the Anne Frank House and sponsored in North America by the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. In it, the story of Frank and her family is shared against world events before, during and after the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Winners will be honored at a ceremony, gallery opening and dessert reception at the museum on May 10.

Photo of Hannah Lefave and Royal Oak Principal Michael Giromini courtesy of Royal Oak schools