Teacher reception honors 2018 Friedman Scholars

The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) hosted a teacher reception on July 29 honoring the BHEC’s 2018 Friedman Scholars. This year, 14 teachers from across Alabama have received scholarships funded by Brenda and Fred Friedman to attend advanced training seminars in Holocaust studies.

These teachers included Gail Yeilding from Chelsea High School, who attended the Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights, and Liesl Harris of Jefferson State Community College’s Shelby-Hoover Campus, who attended Yad Vashem International Seminar for Educators.

The scholarship program, now in its 13th year, has sent more than 100 teachers to advanced training seminars in major cities in the US, Europe and Israel. Teachers return to their classrooms with deeper knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust and how to communicate the lessons of this time in history more effectively to their students. At the reception, participating teachers gave brief reports on their experiences.

“My time as a Friedman Scholar has been invaluable. Every training I went to was fantastic, I gained a great amount of perspective and met great teachers who I will stay in touch with for life,” Yeilding said.

The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center seeks to educate the people of Alabama about the history of the Holocaust so that new generations will apply the lessons of the Holocaust to the construction of a more just, humane and tolerant future. Organized in 2002, the BHEC provides programming throughout the state of Alabama for teachers, students, civic groups and communities.

Submitted by Birmingham Holocaust Education Center