Kashish Kumar wins second prize in Elie Wiesel Ethics Essay Contest

Kashish Kumar, an Indian American student at Columbia University has won the second prize in 2025 Elie Wiesel Ethics Essay Contest recognizing next generation of changemakers.

Kumar’s essay, “A Symphony in Silence,” juxtaposes the environmental injustices experienced by marginalized communities in Taiwan and the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, emphasizing the ethical tension between silence and advocacy, according to an Elie Wiesel Foundation press release.

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“She highlights the suppressed voices of those harmed by industrial pollution and agrochemicals and reflects on the burden of bearing witness within systems designed to suppress dissent. Through musical metaphors and lived experiences, the essay underscores that justice requires both listening and sustained, courageous action.”

The Prize in Ethics Essay Contest, created in 1989 by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Professor Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion Wiesel, is an annual competition that challenges college students to contemplate an ethical theme or situation. 

The essays often stem from students’ personal experience or introspection. Winners are granted scholarships in varying amounts, totaling $19,000 and join an illustrious group of past recipients who have gone on to be ethically minded, principled changemakers in a wide range of fields. 

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“My parents not only believed in the power of moral education—they lived it,” said Elisha Wiesel, the son of the Wiesels and the Foundation’s Chairman. “Their classrooms extended beyond school walls and into everyday conversations, always encouraging curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking.  That legacy continues through this Contest, which they passionately helmed for many years and where we’re proud to not only amplify students’ voices but also celebrate their thoughtful, courageous work.”

In addition to their scholarships, winners are also awarded a trip to New York City for a seminar to discuss their essays among other ethical topics.  This year’s seminar will be led by Elie Wiesel’s former student and Contest Readers Committee member, Rabbi Avraham Rosen.  The day will end with a celebration of their achievement at the Lotos Club.

The Foundation will open submissions for the 2026 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest in fall 2025. The contest will be open to all undergraduate students enrolled full-time for the fall 2025 semester at accredited four-year colleges and universities.