The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), in collaboration with PeerK12, announced on Thursday the launch of the San Diego Jewish American Heritage Month Student Contest.

PRESS RELEASE 

Thursday, March 19, SAN DIEGO, CA – The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), in collaboration with PeerK12, announced on Thursday the launch of the San Diego Jewish American Heritage Month Student Contest.

The creative competition - full details of which are available HERE - is open to all high school juniors and seniors from San Diego County who plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university.

Jews have played an integral role in the great American story for nearly four centuries, richly contributing to the nation’s culture, economy, and civic life. From the early colonial period to contemporary times, Jewish citizens have been at the forefront of advancing and defending American freedom, security, prosperity, and innovation, while maintaining a strong faith-based communal identity.

The history of San Diego is no different, with Jewish pioneers arriving in the mid-1800s and quickly becoming an inseparable part of the growing port city’s social fabriC.

The San Diego Jewish American Heritage Month Student Contest offers participants an opportunity to explore this history and its lasting influence by submitting essays in three categories: Jewish Individuals Who Shaped America, Jewish Leadership; Partnership in Advancing Social Cause, and Jewish Ideas and Cultural Contributions to Society.

“We receive reports every day of antisemitic incidents in K–12 schools across San Diego - it’s a clear call to action,” said Tamar Caspi, co-founder of PeerK12. “This contest gives Jewish and non-Jewish students alike a proactive, educational way to build understanding and take a leadership role countering hate in their schools.”

The contest launch comes just two days following the San Diego City Council adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which CAM welcomed as a “landmark moment” for the city. 

“After San Diego took an important stand against antisemitism with the adoption of the IHRA definition, we’re excited to launch this contest to engage students in learning about Jewish American heritage and its impact on our country,” said CAM Jewish American Heritage Director Lenore Zach. “This is an incredible moment - not just to teach history, but to help shape how it’s understood and carried forward by the next generation.”

Entries will be accepted through Friday, May 22.

Up to $30,000 in scholarships will be awarded. Winners will be recognized at a JAHM reception in San Diego in May.

CAM’s partners for the project include PeerK12 and Tikvah Fund. A similar initiative is being led by CAM in Iowa this year, as well as Virginia last year. For more information and to submit an entry, please visit:

jahm.combatantisemitism.org/sandiego2026 or peerk12.org/jahmcontest2026.

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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), whose Global Advisory Board is chaired by former Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky, is a global coalition uniting more than 850 partner organizations and hundreds of thousands of individuals across diverse backgrounds to fight antisemitism in all its forms. By mobilizing communities, advancing innovative tools, and working with governments and civil society, CAM drives collaborative action to protect Jewish life and uphold democratic values worldwide.

PeerK12 (Partners for Equality and Educational Responsibility in K-12) is dedicated to unapologetically fighting institutionalized Jew-hatred in K-12 education. Founded in 2021, the grassroots movement operates on the front lines within school districts by defending Jewish civil rights, confronting extremist agendas, and protecting merit-based education through legislative accountability, policy advocacy, and legal enforcement.