Abington Senior High School students recently listened to a presentation given by Mr. Fred Behrend, 97, a Holocaust survivor who served in the U.S. Army after fleeing Europe.
Mr. Behrend also trained Nazi prisoners of war in the U.S. and was featured in the documentary “Rebuilt from Broken Glass,” which premiered in 2022.
According to the district, the talk was facilitated by the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center in Elkins Park.
In related news, La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor announced that its Esports program, now in its sixth year with nearly 200 active members, recently teamed up with the Landon Vargas Foundation and Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, to provide gaming therapy to pediatric patients.
From their announcement:
Six students from La Salle traveled to Wilmington with Mr. Kurt Schollin and Mr. Conor Csongradi on Thursday, November 14 for an initial meet-and-greet to kick off this new endeavor. Representing La Salle were Matthew Hersh ‘26, Sawyer Roman ‘27, Stephen Jackson ‘25, Finley Mark ‘25, Cole Harbison ‘26, and Travis Wood ‘28.
Through this innovative initiative, students from La Salle will connect with young patients at Nemours Children’s Hospital by playing video games together to foster meaningful relationships and provide a sense of normalcy. Focusing on the therapeutic and social potential of gaming, the program aims to offer a welcome distraction from the hospital environment while empowering both students and patients to create joyful, shared experiences.
“I had a great time at the hospital yesterday spending time with the patients and really getting to know them. I am so glad that we could help these kids out and give them something to smile and laugh about during their day, and I hope to continue to build relationships and help them in the future,” said Matthew Hersh, a junior at La Salle College High School, and President of the Esports program.
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