Now in its 15th year, the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation has made possible the Claire Friedlander Upstander Awards, in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC.) The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) annually honors middle school and high school students on Long Island who confront intolerance, prejudice, or other forms of social injustice with the Claire Friedlander Upstander Award. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship.
The recent event held at Fresh Meadow Country Club, Lake Success, NY, celebrated the extraordinary actions of young people who embody the values of courage, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to standing up for others in the face of hate and injustice. The Claire Friedlander Upstander Awards competition is open to students enrolled in a middle school or high school on Long Island. In order to be eligible, a teacher, guidance counselor, or another adult who is not a family member submits a brief letter of nomination in addition, the student is asked to write to a 500-word essay on what actions they have taken that make them upstanders.
The award presentations, introduced by Claire Friedlander Family Foundation Board Members Courtney Klein and Kelly Klein, were accompanied by powerful video tributes showcasing the stories of each honoree.
The 2025 Upstander Award honorees included:
- Molly Deblinger, 12th grade, Half Hollow Hills High School West
- Jackson Maurino, 12th grade, Babylon Junior-Senior High School
- Ella Ben-Hamo, 11th grade, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School
- Kyle Lee, 11th grade, Portledge School
Claire Friedlander Family Foundation President Peter J. Klein said “during this current climate, it is critical to recognize students who make a difference in their communities and schools by acting as upstanders against hate crimes, bullying and hate speech.” Klein continued, “our founder, Claire Friedlander, was a Holocaust survivor and an upstander herself, so it’s essential that we support HMTC’s efforts to reward and recognize Long Island students for setting examples of tolerance and understanding.”
Click here to learn more about how you can support HMTC.
