Holocaust and Genocide: The Importance of Hope and Resistance

The Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education will hold the 38th Annual Akron-Summit Holocaust Commemoration and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Akron-Summit County Public Main Library Auditorium, beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m. Guests are asked to arrive by 5:15 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

This year’s theme, “Holocaust & Genocide: The Importance of Hope & Resistance,” highlights the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of hatred, persecution, and injustice. The program will reflect on the courage of those who resisted oppression and the power of hope to sustain individuals and communities through unimaginable adversity.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Andrew Laszlo Jr., who is dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of his late father, renowned cinematographer and Holocaust survivor Andrew Laszlo Sr..

Andrew Laszlo Sr. survived imprisonment in Bergen-Belsen before immigrating to the United States, where he built an extraordinary career as a cinematographer, earning acclaim for his work on productions such as Shōgun and Rambo: First Blood. After fifty years of silence about his wartime experiences, he presented his son with a memoir on January 17, 1997 — the 50th anniversary of his arrival in America. That memoir was later published as Footnote to History: From Hungary to America.

Andrew Laszlo Jr., a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College, was raised in Roslyn, New York. He retired in 2021 following a 42-year career as a wealth manager at Morgan Stanley. Today, he resides in Montana and speaks across the country — including appearances at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and Montana State University Billings — fulfilling his mission to ensure that his father’s story of survival, resilience, and achievement continues to educate future generations.

The winners of the 38th Annual Akron-Summit Holocaust Arts & Writing Contest will be recognized during the ceremony. This annual contest invites Summit County students in grades 6–12 to reflect upon the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides through original art and writing. The contest promotes historical understanding, empathy, and civic responsibility among young people in our community.

Winning student artwork and writing will be on display at the Akron-Summit County Public Main Library from March 13, 2026 through April 16, 2026, and will also be available online at AkronSummitHolocaustEducation.org. A list of the winners and their schools is available upon request.

The ceremony will be hosted by Martin H. Belsky, University of Akron Professor and Dean Emeritus and President of the Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education.

The Akron-Summit Council on Holocaust & Genocide Education is supported by Summit County, the City of Akron, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Jewish Akron, and generous donations from members of the community. To help continue Holocaust education and awareness efforts for youth in our region, donations may be made at: AkronSummitHolocaustEducation.org/donate