Art & Writing Competition
The Kappy Family Art & Writing Competition is an opportunity for middle and high school students throughout Michigan to reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust.
2025 Competition Theme “Rise Against Hate: Voices of Courage, Then and Now”
This theme asks students to reflect on what it means to stand up to hatred — in words, actions, and everyday choices. Through the lens of Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl and Elie Wiesel’s Night, students will explore historical examples of resistance, resilience, and moral courage, and then apply those lessons to the world around them. It invites young people to connect the past to the present and find their voice in the face of injustice, whether in their schools or local communities.
January 23, 2026 — Submission Due Date
March 15, 2026 — Judging & Award Ceremony
All Age Groups Art Submission Prompt
Create a work of art that shows someone standing up to hate. Draw inspiration from the lives and writings of Anne Frank or Elie Wiesel—two young people who endured great injustice but never lost their voices. Your art can depict a moment from their stories, a symbol of their courage and hope, or a modern connection that reflects their legacy. Consider themes like bravery, resistance, solidarity, perseverance, and the power of memory.
Art Samples from Past Winners
Middle School Writing Submission Prompts
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Prompt:
Anne Frank faced discrimination because of her identity, yet she continued to write with hope. Think of a time when you saw or experienced someone being treated unfairly. How does that moment connect to what Anne went through? Use your reflection to inspire a poem or story that weaves together your experience and Anne’s — showing how hope, courage, or standing up against hate can still shine through.
Elie Wiesel’s Night Prompt:
Elie Wiesel lost so much, but his writing teaches us why hate must never win. Think of someone in history or your life who stood up against hate. What did they do, and how does their courage connect to Elie’s story? Use what you’ve learned from Night to inspire a poem or story that shows the power of remembering, resisting hate, and choosing humanity.
High School Writing Submission Prompts
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Prompt:
Anne Frank wrote, “What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it from happening again.” Reflect on how Anne’s story warns us about the dangers of hatred and silence. How can young people use their voices to prevent hate in today’s world?
Elie Wiesel’s Night Prompt:
Elie Wiesel said, “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” How does Night challenge us to take action instead of staying silent? Analyze how this message connects to injustice in your community or the world.
Meet the Kappy Family
Holocaust survivor Garry Kappy was the last surviving member of his family. He was imprisoned in different labor camps at the young age of 15, where he dug ditches and was enslaved in a steel ammunition factory.
He survived the horrors of Buchenwald and Auschwitz before eventually making his way to Detroit, where he had a family with his beloved wife, Viola, and a successful business career.
Though it was important to him to memorialize all of the victims of the Holocaust, he felt it was even more crucial to educate future generations about the lessons of the Holocaust. Out of this inspiration, the Kappy Family Anne Frank Art & Writing Competition was born.
Members of the Kappy Family at the dedication for The Viola and Garry Kappy Anne Frank Tree Exhibit & Garden in September 2013. Photo by Joshua Nowicki.
Interested in learning more about the Art & Writing Competition? Contact Traci Hopper, Outreach Specialist, at traci.hopper@holocaustcenter.org.