Eva Lassman Awards
Eva Lassman is a hero. She was not only a survivor of the Holocaust, but also an unyielding advocate for educating people about the genocide of 6 million Jews and 5 million people of other nationalities, religions and viewpoints under Nazi Germany during World War II. She was a member of the Spokane community, where she was a wife, mother, and holocaust educator. Her inspirational story is continued in many ways, including several awards in her honor that are given by the Gonzaga Institute for Hate Studies.
Eva would say that constant vigilance is needed to overcome racism and anti-Semitism, adding that we must learn from the mistakes made before us and do everything we can to prevent something like this from ever happening again. The Gonzaga Institute for Hate Studies honors Eva and her legacy by recognizing outstanding students interested in doing research related to better understanding and countering hatred in any of its manifestations as well as individuals and organizations that take action against hate.
For more information about Eva's incredible life, see:
Donations
If you are interested in making a gift to the Eva Lassman Memorial Fund, you can do so by contacting the Institute at (509) 313-3665 or through email.
Eva Lassman Memorial Student Research Award (ELMSRA) Application
Annual Submission Deadline: March 1
Each year, in honor of the life and memory of Holocaust survivor and educator Eva Lassman, the Institute for Hate Studies presents the Eva Lassman Memorial Student Research Award. Annually one $1,000 award and additional smaller award(s) support Gonzaga undergraduate or graduate students who are engaged in research projects that address issues of hate.
Any student currently enrolled and in good standing in an undergraduate, graduate or professional studies program (e.g. law, business, leadership) at Gonzaga may apply. Award recipient must remain enrolled and in good standing at Gonzaga during the award period.
Recipients:
2020
Primary Award: Manojprabhakran Thirupal, Doctoral Student in Leadership Studies. White Supremacy in the Northwest.
Secondary Award: Christopher Combs, Bachelor of Arts with a major in History and a minor in Spanish. Gay in Cuba: Analyzing Sexual Stigmatization through the Lens of Class-based Experiences in a “Classless” Society
2019
Rev. Terry Jane Stewart, Doctoral Student in Leadership Studies. Fowler's Stages of Faith, Images of God, and Othering: An Exploratory Case Study of United Methodist Leaders.
2018
Taylor Carnevale, Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Relations and minors in Solidarity and Social Justice and Economics. From Advocate to Extremist: Othering as a mobilization tactic in domestic terror.
2017 Inaugural Endowed Award Recipient
Marnie Rorholm, Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. The Pink Triangle Prisoners: Memorializing Homophobia and the Holocaust
Take Action Against Hate Award Recipients:
2020
- Leslie McAuley, Whitworth Office of Church Engagement Coordinator of Reconciliation Calling Community
- Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, Dean Lynch, President
2019
- Jordan Tyrus Reidt, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Education and Social Justice from Western Washington University
- The Spokesman Review, Stacey Cowles, Publisher; Rob Curley, Editor.
2017
- Ken S. Stern, J.D., Executive Director of the Justus & Karin Rosenberg Foundation
- International Network for Hate Studies (Mark Walters, University of Sussex and Jennifer Schweppe, University of Limerick)