Caroline Friend’s journey to becoming the winner of the Student Voices Short Film Contest first began two years ago – when she entered the contest and lost.That didn’t deter her from entering again this year, and her dedication paid off. The jury awarded her film Helen Lewis: A Survivor’s Story first place for the 2015 competition, putting Friend well on her way to her goal of becoming a historical filmmaker.

USC Shoah Foundation’s student association, DEFY, is working with other University of Southern California student groups to produce several on-campus events in observation of April’s Human Rights and Genocide Awareness Month.