Stop The Hate Contest
North Ridgeville Academic Center is proud to announce outstanding achievements in this year’s Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Stop the Hate Essay and Songwriting Competitions. Honors ELA students and their teacher, Mrs. Kelly Koehler, have earned top recognition among hundreds of submissions from across the region.
Two students were selected as finalists in the essay contest. Congratulations to eighth-grade student Reagan Eichenlaub and sixth-grade student Caleb Lehman. They were both selected as a finalist in the 6th–10th Grade Stop the Hate Essay Contest. Out of hundreds of submissions, their essays were chosen as one of just two finalists at their grade level. Awards for the essay contest include a $400 cash prize for first place and $100 for runner-up in each grade, with all finalists receiving a complimentary one-year family membership to the Maltz Museum.
In addition, Mrs. Koehler’s Honors ELA Grade 8 class earned First Place in the Middle School Stop the Hate Songwriting Contest for their original song, “We Will Rise.” The competition featured 46 unique and inspiring submissions from schools across the region. As the winning middle school class, North Ridgeville Academic Center students will perform “We Will Rise” at the Stop the Hate Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Tri-C Eastern Campus (4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills, OH 44122). The first-place honor also includes a $3,000 education grant to be used during the next school year, supporting continued enrichment opportunities for students.
Adding to the celebration, Mrs.Koehler has been named Stop the Hate Teacher of the Year in recognition of her leadership, collaboration, and commitment to fostering empathy and inclusion in her classroom. Mrs. Koehler shared, “This award truly means more to me than I can fully put into words. Creating a classroom where students feel seen, valued, and safe to be exactly who they are has always been at the heart of my work. I want my students not only to recognize and accept the differences within our community, but to celebrate them, and to understand that those differences are what make us stronger. Watching them thoughtfully examine the world around them, identify injustice, and commit themselves to being part of the solution fills me with overwhelming pride. Their courage, compassion, and willingness to grow inspire me every single day. I absolutely love what I do, and these students are the reason why.”
These recognitions highlight North Ridgeville Academic Center’s ongoing commitment to empowering students to use their voices to promote respect, empathy, and positive change.