Below is information about our 2025 7th-8th Grade Student Leadership Day.
Our intensive Student Leadership Day programming engages students in 7th-8th grades with captivating, world-class Upstander speakers, interactive programs, and the opportunity to create an action plan to take back to their school. Student Leadership Day inspires the change-makers to build leadership skills, explore their roles as citizens, and develop a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, genocide, and other human rights issues. Students return to their communities with the tools and drive to promote acceptance and understanding.
We invite you to nominate up to ten of your 7th – 8th grade students to participate in this powerful day. The goal of Student Leadership Day is to increase awareness about the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights, and to help participants think about lessons we can learn from the past. Participating students will develop and carry out an action plan to address a social justice issue in their school, community, or the wider world. There is no cost for students to participate.
Date & Time
Choose between two dates/times:
Tuesday, February 18, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie IL 60077
Wednesday, February 19, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie IL 60077
Keynote Speaker
Steve Sheinkin
Award-winning Author
A former history textbook writer, Steve Sheinkin is now making amends by writing true stories that kids and teens actually want to read. His nonfiction books include Fallout, Bomb, Undefeated, The Port Chicago 50, and his newest title, Impossible Escape. Steve’s accolades include a Newbery Honor, three Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal and Honor, and three National Book Award finalist honors. Steve lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Participating schools will receive a copy of Impossible Escape.
Nomination Guidelines
NEW FOR 2024: Nominations are reviewed on a rolling basis until space is filled. If capacity has not been reached, the nomination deadline will be Tuesday, January 28 at 5:00 pm CT. You will be notified of your nomination status via email as soon as possible.
- A maximum of 10 students per school are permitted. Please consult with your colleagues before submitting your nomination letter.
- A teacher or administrator must participate in the program along with their students. Limit 2 teachers/chaperones per school.
- Students should be willing to actively participate in discussion and activities, meet new people and become student ambassadors for the Illinois Holocaust Museum in their schools and broader communities.
- Students in grades 7-8 in accredited schools or homeschools are eligible to participate.
- Students should have a sincere interest in enhancing their knowledge of the Holocaust, genocide, and/or human rights issues.
- Students should have shown an interest in leadership at school or in their communities or have shown an interest in creating social awareness. Schools are particularly encouraged to nominate students who are not yet leaders in their schools, but who have the potential to be. Suggested nomination criteria available by request.
- Students must participate in the entire program until 2:30 pm.
You will be notified of your nomination status via email within 48 hours of the close of the nomination period. Additional details and links will be provided at that time. Participating schools will be invited to apply for a “seed money” grant to help fund materials needed to carry out their action plan. Application guidelines will be provided to participating schools in early December.
Presenting Sponsor of Student Leadership Days:
Education Services: Bank of America; The Bill Bass Foundation; Charles and M.R. Shapiro Foundation; David P. Brody Charitable Trust; Dr. Scholl Foundation; Full Circle Foundation; Leah Gutman Education Fund; McGraw Foundation; PNC
Endowment: Barney and Anita Sidler Education Endowment; Congregation B’nai Sholom; The Harvey L. Miller Family Foundation Program Endowment Fund; The Mayor Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Education Fund; Moselle Mintz Schwartz Education Fund; Teachers Educational Endowment Fund
Photo credits: Robin Subar