This year’s first-place winner of the Anti-Defamation League Arizona’s Herb Goldberg Moral Courage Essay Contest for 2021 is Emma Schwarz, a 10th grader at Verde Valley School in Sedona. Her essay, “A Generational Legacy” won her a $2,500 scholarship. Read her essay here.
The annual essay contest was created by the Goldberg Foundation to honor the family’s patriarch, Herb Goldberg, who lived a life of moral courage. The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12. The prompt asks students to reflect on the concept of moral courage in a 350 to 700 word essay.
The second-place winner is Alondra Aceves Lopez, a ninth grader at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix. She received a $1,500 scholarship. Read her essay, “What is Moral Courage to Me?”
The third-place winner is Jessica Benites Olmedo, an 11th grader at Gateway Early College High School in Phoenix. She received a $1,000 scholarship. Read her essay, “Moral Courage.”
Essays were judged by ADL Arizona’s Education Committee and community volunteers. All identifying information was removed before judging.
For more information on the Herb Goldberg Moral Courage Essay Contest, visit adl.org.