Holocaust Museum honors 87 teens with Anne Frank Humanitarian Awards

Brian and Debbie Taub with daughter Abbey view exhibit at Holocaust Museum. It’s the Max Girlings and Abbey Taub of the world who may be the ones that save it.

These two teens, Girling from Plant City High and Taub from H.B. Plant High in South Tampa, are among 87 honored by the Florida Holocaust Museum with the 2010 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award at receptions June 2-3. The honorees, all high school juniors, attend public, private and parochial schools in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. There is no religious or ethnic requirement in order to qualify.

Each school nominates students who have made a conscious decision to spend their time improving the lives of others. In the case of Girling and Taub, both were involved with the Best Buddies program, founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer network designed to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As part of Girling’s work with Best Buddies, he started and ran a tennis program for special needs athletes.

Taub not only participates in the Best Buddies program and the Ecology Club at her school, but also volunteers with the Ophelia Project, where she helps promote girls’ self esteem. She also founded her own non-profit, Cooking for a Cause. The program brings teens together to cook meals for the needy and she is expanding the program to involve some of her mentally challenged schoolmates. After attending an Anti-Defamation League conference, she is also working with other area teens to create videos designed to educate the public on the many faces of discrimination.

All the other 85 honorees have all made similar contributions to their communities, participating in a host of good causes, from the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to domestic and foreign church mission trips, Habitat for Humanity, Metropolitan Ministries, Moffitt Cancer Center and the Ronald McDonald House. They have also served as mentors and tutors at local schools, helped out at the Hillsborough Equestrian Trail, at the Museum of Science and Industry, at retirement communities and nursing homes, Southeastern Guide Dogs and at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Gayle Sierens, co-anchor for WFLA-TV News Channel 8 and honorary co-chair of the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program, and Dr. Judy Genshaft, president of the University of South Florida, attended as special guest speakers at the awards receptions.

Since its inception in 2001, the Anne Frank awards have garnered 100 percent participation from all eligible high schools in the fivecounty area. Confidential nominations are submitted by the schools and reviewed by members of the award committee.

The honorees are recognized at their schools’ junior award ceremonies in addition to the museum’s receptions. Each receives a personalized glass plaque, a certificate and a one-year family membership to the museum.

The Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco 2010 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award honorees are:

Hillsborough honorees

Academy of the Holy Names, Ashley Johnson; Alonso High, Jacob Morello; Armwood High, Joshua Leibfried; Berkeley Preparatory, Reilly Dabbs; Blake High, Chase Shiflet; Bloomingdale High, Sarah Parsi; Brandon High, Rebecca Agrue; Cambridge Christian, Alyssa Wozniak; Chamberlain High, Erin Scruggs; Durant High, Andrew Randolph; East Bay High, Danny Rivera; Freedom High, Elisa Berson; Gaither High, Jordan See; Hillsborough High, Jonathan Freeman; Jefferson High, Nathaly Rodriguez; Jesuit High, Zachary Slagle; King High, Dorie Cross; Lennard High, Diana Jardines; Leto High, Andrea Macias-Herrera; Middleton High, Garrett Suarez; Newsome High, Abigail Ewbank; Plant City High, Max Girling; Plant High, Abbey Taub; Riverview High, Pamela Mayo; Robinson High, Harley Campbell; Sickles High, Kelsey Loftin; Spoto High, Mercedes Martin; Steinbrenner High, Jennifer Becker; Strawberry Crest, Sean Hollingsworth; Tampa Bay Technical, Madeleine Carrier; Tampa Catholic High, Angelica Hubaykah; Tampa Preparatory, Aerial Reese; Wharton High, Joseph Nestor.

Pinellas honorees

Admiral Farragut Academy, Leila Eltouny; Bayside High, Miranda Pack; Boca Ciega High,Tess Huttenlocker; Clearwater Central Catholic High, Matthew Atiyat; Clearwater High, Valiece Long; Countryside High, Decire Ramirez; Dixie Hollins High, Theresa Nguyen; Dunedin High, Miles Marinello; East Lake High, Julia Namm; Gibbs High, Keonna Welch; Indian Rocks Christian, Elizabeth Sullivan; Keswick Christian, Jessica Kiggins; Lakewood High, Zainub Khatoon; Largo High, Jocelyn Wildhack; Mavericks In Education, Elizabeth Arnold; Northeast High, Stacey Cox; Northside Christian, Olivia Chilcott; Osceola High, Lucio Lopez; Palm Harbor University High, Benjamin Winterhalter; Pinellas Park High, Brooke Robbins; Seminole High, Jordan Iuliucci; Shorecrest Preparatory, Tanja Gromadzki; St. Petersburg Catholic High, Sara Kesneck; St. Petersburg Collegiate High, Anthony Marugan-Wyatt; St. Petersburg High, Margaret Tobin; Tarpon Springs High, Leah Miller.

Pasco honorees

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High, Rachel Turn; Gulf High School, Melissa Morlan; Hudson High, Holly Pittmann; Mitchell High School, Sarah Holding; Land O’Lakes High, Julia Smith; Pasco High School, Mary Kassabaum; Ridgewood High, Emily Moschner; River Ridge High, Michelle O’Brien; Sunlake High School, Elaina Graham; Wesley Chapel High, Jillian Maister; Wiregrass Ranch High, Anthony Nardi; Zephyrhills High, Henry Skaggs.

* * *

The Museum is located at 55 Fifth Street South in downtown St. Petersburg. For more information call (727) 820-0100 or visit www. flholocaustmuseum.org.