2025 Florida Educator Scholarship

In honor and remembrance of Toshimi Abe-Janiga

Like so many of her colleagues and friends, we were devastated by the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of Holocaust educator Toshimi Abe-Janiga of Palm Beach, Florida. Toshimi became part of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI) community in 2014 as a participant in our New York City seminar. She then presented at TOLI’s seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2019 on the life and legacy of Japanese diplomat, Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust by providing them with transit visas. Toshimi created the Holocaust Legacy Project to teach the lessons of Sugihara’s courageous actions to students in the US, Japan, and Lithuania.

“A teacher-leader whose professional competence, intellectual acuity, compassion for others and strength of character inspired colleagues and students to strive for excellence.” – Rose Gatens, Toshimi’s mentor at Florida Atlantic University

Toshimi’s dedication to teaching complex histories, her thoughtful engagement and encouragement of students, collaborative mindset, and commitment to continued personal growth exemplify the very best of an individual, a human being and a teacher.

To honor Toshimi’s memory, TOLI is providing an opportunity for two current middle school, high school or college teachers in Florida to attend any 2025 TOLI US regional summer seminar listed here. Full travel, housing and seminar expenses will be covered.

Criteria for consideration:

Proven commitment to teaching the Holocaust and human rights
Excellence in scholarship and professional achievement
Clearly articulated teaching philosophy
Teachers from Palm Beach County and Broward County will be prioritized, but applications from all areas of Florida are welcome

Applications due by Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Toshimi Scholarship Application for Florida Educators

Name(Required)

First Last

Home Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Personal Email(Required)

Primary Phone(Required)

Secondary Phone

Name of School(Required)

Name of School District(Required)

School Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

School Email Address(Required)

Have you previously attended a TOLI seminar?(Required)

If you answered "Yes," please list each LOCATION and YEAR of the seminar(s) you attended.

Which TOLI seminar are you interested in attending?(Required)

What is your background in Holocaust education?(Required)

Please include: Experience in teaching, curriculum development, and/or development of professional learning presentations among other roles

Please list any awards or recognitions you have earned in the past five years.

Which subjects/courses do you generally teach?(Required)

Please specify by grade level.

Please identify the typical age range of the students with whom you engage.(Required)

What is the total number of students in your school?(Required)

What is the total number of students you will reach in classes where you teach about the Holocaust in 2025-26?(Required)

What is the potential number of students you could reach outside your classroom through extracurricular activities?(Required)

Please describe your own interest in teaching about the Holocaust.(Required)

Specifically, please address the following: 1. What inspires you to pursue this field? What aspects of this subject resonate with you on a personal level? 2. What texts (books, films, etc.) have been most influential on your thinking regarding the Holocaust? Please discuss at least one text or film in depth and describe the impact it has had on you or how it has affected your thinking. 3. Describe a meaningful project or accomplishment related to the teaching or engagement on this topic. What did you learn from the experience?