Sycamore history teacher Tony Young was honored as the 2022 Terry Fear Holocaust Educator in Action award at the annual “An Evening of Light” with the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center. At a dinner at the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis], Young was one of five educators who were finalists for the award, and one of two who won. They were honored, along with two students, as winners who were recognized in front of the sold-out crowd at the inaugural event.
The CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center recognizes educators each year through the Terry Fear Holocaust Educator in Action Award, established in 2022. CANDLES honor Terry's legacy by presenting this award to educators who support Holocaust and Genocide Education. This award seeks to identify, support, and celebrate educators who live and teach in a way that honors the life and work of Terry Fear.
Young has taught History at Sycamore since 2004 and each year, and for many years, has taken his class to the CANDLES Museum in addition to coordinating the Sycamore trip to Washington DC and bringing in experts and guest speakers throughout the year to talk to his students. He focuses on teaching pre-WWII history beginning in the final six weeks of 7th Grade history classes and continues in 8th Grade for ten weeks with an exploration of the history of the Nazis and fascism in Germany, and the Holocaust.
"Do Justice. Love Mercy. March Proudly." These words guided Terry Fear, who served on the CANDLES Board of Directors and volunteered as a docent at the museum. Her dedication to Eva Kor’s mission was selfless and unwavering. As an educator for 35 years, she was a tireless advocate for social justice who promoted peace through Holocaust and genocide education. She believed the world could be a more compassionate place and worked tirelessly toward this goal.
CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center is a museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, which educates the public about the Holocaust. The museum was founded by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor, who with her twin sister Miriam was subjected to human experimentation under Josef Mengele at Auschwitz