Upstanders sought by the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County

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The Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County is looking for middle school and high school Upstanders for the 10th annual Friedlander Upstander Award.

Winners receive a $2,500 scholarship.

Upstanders confront intolerance, prejudice or other forms of social injustice. An Upstander is also a person who stands up for others, and does not allow bigotry, hatred, or intolerance to happen without intervention.

Because of a rise in hate speech, hate crimes and bullying on Long Island and nationally, those who make a difference in their schools and communities by acting as Upstanders are more important than ever, HMTC officials said.

Every year the Glen Cove-based HMTC honors middle school and high school from across Long Island who have demonstrated the actions of an Upstander. The student’s action could be one of intervention or prevention, big or small.

Students interested in applying must be enrolled in a middle school or high school on Long Island, must have a brief nomination letter from a teacher, guidance counselor or other adult who is not a family member, and must write a 500-word essay on what actions they have taken that make them an Upstanders.

Applications for the Friedlander Upstander Award are due Tuesday April 7. For more information or to apply contact Helen Turner, Director of Youth Education at HMTC, at (516) 571-8040 or helenturner@hmtcli.org or visit www.hmtcli.org/friedlanderaward.

The awards will be presented at Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center’s annual Tolerance Benefit on Monday, May 4 at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Tpke. in Westbury.