$100,000 Scholoarship Winner

Solon student wins $100,000 scholarship for 'Stop the Hate' essay
Posted By: Kim Wendel Updated: 3/9/2009 3:49:29 PM Posted: 3/9/2009 8:07:58 AM

BEACHWOOD, OHIO -- The first "Stop The Hate! Youth Speak Out" $100,000 college scholarship was awarded Sunday to Matt Soble, a senior at Solon High School, at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and museum co-founder Milton Maltz presided over the program.

More than 1,200 students from the seven eligible Northeast Ohio counties shared their stories by entering the essay contest. Nearly half of them were juniors and seniors eligible for the $100,000 scholarship.

The top ten finalists, who scored 90 percent or higher on the written essays, made up less than 1 percent of the total essays received.

Read Soble's winning essay, other winners

Maltz museum spokesman Adam Teresi said the essays were personal, compelling and powerful, each describing an act of discrimination and the students' suggestions on how to overcome hatred and bigotry.

Judges that included Ohio House Speaker/state Rep. Armond Budish, (D-Beachwood), state Rep. Josh Mandel, (R-Lyndhurst) and Cleveland Indians President Paul Dolan heard the 10 finalists read their essays out loud.

Scholarship finalists who received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond were: Sophie Grodsinsky, a senior at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls; Sarah Harris, a senior at Electronic Schoolroom of Tomorrow; Chelsa Lewis-Bevel, a senior at Success Tech Academy in Cleveland; Alex Port, a junior at Solon High School; Justina Wong, a senior at Independence High School; and Kelly Yarber, a senior at Strongsville High School.

The museum, opened in 2005, hopes to introduce visitors to the beauty and diversity of the Jewish heritage in the context of the American heritage.

It also promotes an understanding of the Jewish heritage and builds bridges of appreciation, tolerance and understanding with those of other races, religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Other students receiving awards included the High School Overall winner of a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond was Lauren M. McCafferty, a senior at Olmsted Falls High School.

The 12th Grade Winner of a $500 U.S. Savings Bond was Jane Yiyi Zhang, of Oberlin High School; and the 11th Grade Winner of a $200 U.S. Savings Bond was Cassidy Artz, a junior at Hathaway Brown School.

The Middle School Overall winner of a $500 Savings bond was Divya Thomas of Kenston Middle School in Bainbridge.

Other winners included first place ($200 Savings bond) and second place ($100 Savings bond) for 6th grade: First place, Divya Madhaven of Brecksville/Broadview Heights and second place Dina Rini of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic school; 7th grade first place was Becca Cain of R.B. Chamberlin Middle School and second place winner was Lukash Kowcz of Brecksville/Broadview Heights.

The 8th grade first place winner was Lyssa Collins of St. Paul Lutheran School and second place winner was Jake Amato of Holy Trinity School.

The 9th grade first place winner was Theodore Wilson III of the Arts Academy and second place was Hannah Sellers of Kenston High School.

The 10th grade first place winner was Michelle Hoffman of Kenston High School in Bainbridge and the second place winner was Alexis McNichol of Brush High School in South Euclid.