This will be a brief post because I am just in from Jamestown, NY, where I spent the day with close to a thousand sixth graders, brought by bus from their schools for an event sponsored by the Robert H. Jackson Center. Robert H. Jackson, who was from that area, was the chief prosceutor at the Nuremburg Trial of the Nazi war criminals, and went on to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The center that bears his name is intended to advance the legacy of Justice Jackson through education, exhibits, and by pursuing the relevance of his ideas for current and future generations, with special emphasis on educating young people on issues of justice and fairness. A remarkable place with remarkable goals.

I promised nine sixth graders that I would list their names and I am delighted to do so. Each of these kids - with whom I shared a spaghetti dinner last night - received an award from the Jackson Center and the New York State Bar Association for essays about my book "Number the Stars." Some of them came long distances from other parts of the state with parents, siblings, and teachers, to receive their awards, and it was wonderful to see their pride, well-deserved, and their smiles.

So: Here they are, i hope withtheir names spelled correctly, and in no particular order:

Jordan Nelson
Gregory Hoitink
Lillie Gabreski
Mohamed Alsayyidi
Alexis Racette
Sasha Rampersaud
Sabrina Esclavon
Samantha Thomas
Emily Roach

True winners, each of them!