UWG News Archive

Holocaust Speaker

October 17, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA -Phi Sigma Pi, National Honor Fraternity, and Alpha Kappa Psi, Professional Business Fraternity, will be hosting Sylvia Wygoda, chairman emeritus of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in TLC I303 at the University of West Georgia.

The event is intended to educate West Georgia students and faculty about the Holocaust itself and the personal effects that this major part of history had on the lives of survivors and their families.

Wygoda will tell the story of her father, Herman Wygoda, who was a survivor of the Holocaust. His story was told in the book In the Shadow of the Swastica, written by her brother Mark.

Wygoda is the Executive Director of the Commission and serves as its liason with the Georgia General Assembly and several public and private organizations.

“I am very excited to have such a distinguished speaker who is so passionate about her work come to tell her father’s story,” said Peter Weinzeirl, president of Alpha Kappa Psi. “I think this will be a good opportunity for students to reflect on our history.”

As the chief spokesperson for Holocaust Education for Georgia, Wygoda develops programs and speaks professionally to the public as well as coordinats statewide events such as the official “Days of Remembrance” observance that occurs annually and the State of Georgia Holocaust Art and Writing Contest.

Through her lectures, Wygoda aspires to “help students strive to be better citizens by informing them and helping them understand the Holocaust.” She also wants them “to learn to treat others with respect, decency and realize that they should embrace each other’s differences.”

Wygoda also serves as the executive producer and director of the award winning video documentary Prejudice and Hate: Georgians and the Holocaust and Teacher to Teacher. She is also the executive director of the Thomas B. Murphy Holocaust Teacher Training and Resource Center at UWG’s Ingram Library. The Murphy Center is a resource center for teachers to help them incorporate the lessons of the Holocaust and diversity in their classrooms. The center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to all University students and faculty.

In 2002, Wygoda was named the first recipient of the Spirit of Anne Frank Distinguished Service Award for Promoting Holocaust Education by the Anne Frank Center of the United States. The same year she received a commendation for her contributions to the field of Holocaust Education throughout Georgia and the nation. She was also recognized by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains for her service to the community, nation and humanity by being named recipient of the Legion of Honor Award.

The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust is sponsoring the Anne Frank Exhibit at Kennesaw State University. The exhibit, the largest Anne Frank exhibit in the world, will open on Nov. 14 and is free of charge to the public. The hours of the exhibit will be Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

The Commission is looking for volunteers and training sessions will be held from Oct.
21 - 28. There will be a special student training session on Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. For more information about volunteering, contact Ellen Fein at (678) 797-2083.

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