The Star Project
recipients: Heather Hollands, Gwinn High School, MI; Amy Laitinen, Gwinn High School, MI
date: 2009

After participating in the summer seminar, Upper Peninsula Writing Project teachers Heather Hollands and Amy Laitinen wanted to bring a Holocaust survivor to their rural school district. A mini-grant from the Memorial Library helped to fund the visit of survivor Inge Auerbacher in May 2010 and to launch “The Star Project,” which engaged their entire community in cross-curricular connections and spanned the entire school year. Elementary, middle school and high school students along with faculty, staff, and area businesses helped welcome Inge and considered the lessons of the Holocaust.

Hollands and Laitinen created a digital story to help chronicle the journey. Watch the video