A Student Initiative Brings Hope and Holocaust Remembrance to CDS
Sometimes the most powerful lessons come not from a textbook, but from the voice of someone who has a story to tell. At CDS, one student’s vision turned into an experience that allowed our community to listen, reflect, and honor stories that must never be forgotten.
Inspired by a desire to better understand history and its lasting impact, tenth grade student Denah L. '28 took the initiative to bring a powerful learning experience to our campus. She organized two impactful activities, welcoming Judy Ludin, daughter of Holocaust survivors and docent at The Florida Holocaust Museum, to share her family’s story with our students, and coordinating participation in The Butterfly Project, a global Holocaust education and art initiative honoring the 1.5 million children who lost their lives during the Holocaust. Through Denah’s leadership, these experiences are creating a powerful opportunity for reflection for our entire community.
Judy Ludin, Daughter of Holocaust Survivors
On Monday, January 26, our students had the opportunity to hear from Judy Ludin. Through her work, she carries forward the stories of her parents and others who endured the unimaginable. Born in Michigan and now a longtime resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, Mrs. Ludin spent much of her career serving nonprofit organizations before retiring in 2020. Today, she dedicates her time to education, ensuring that these histories are not forgotten.
During her visit, Mrs. Ludin shared the stories of two Holocaust survivors, Ernst and Marietta Drucker, both of whom grew up in Vienna, Austria, before immigrating to the United States. Marietta, born in Vienna in 1928, was just nine years old when she escaped Nazi persecution on the Kindertransport, one of the roughly 10,000 children sent by their parents to safety, of which only about 1,000 survived. After arriving in Great Britain, Marietta lived with several foster families before being reunited with her parents years later, a moment she remembered as profoundly joyful amid a childhood marked by loss and displacement.
Ernst Drucker’s journey reflected a different, yet equally powerful, path of survival. Born in Vienna in 1919, Ernst escaped the Holocaust through a circuitous route that ultimately led him to the United States. Not long after arriving, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, choosing to fight for the freedoms he had been denied. On June 8, 1944, D-Day Plus One, Ernst stormed the beaches of Normandy as part of the Allied forces. He went on to serve as a counterintelligence officer, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and became a United States citizen while in active service. After the war, he returned to New York City, where he met Marietta, and together they began rebuilding their lives.
The Druckers eventually settled in Detroit, Michigan, where they raised their two daughters, Judy and Debbie, and built a business they ran together for thirty five years. In time, family and warmer weather drew them to St. Petersburg, Florida, where both Ernst and Marietta devoted themselves to decades of service and community activism.
At age eighty six, Ernst decided it was time to write his life story, hoping to share with his five grandsons how, when he was about their age, his parents encouraged him and his twin brother to leave their native Vienna as the Nazis began their takeover of Austria. Ernst passed away in 2012 at the age of ninety two, leaving behind a powerful account of survival, service, and resilience. Marietta continued her commitment to education and community work until her passing in 2019. Married for sixty years, their lives stand as a testament to endurance, purpose, and the lasting power of remembrance.
The Butterfly Project, a Global Holocaust Education and Art Initiative
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, students in grades eight through twelve participated in The Butterfly Project during advisory throughout the week. The Butterfly Project is a global Holocaust education and art initiative that honors the 1.5 million children who were murdered during the Holocaust. Rooted in reflection, education, and creative expression, the project invites students to listen to the story of a Holocaust survivor and then paint ceramic butterflies, each one representing a child whose life was taken. The butterfly has become a powerful symbol of remembrance, resilience, and hope, reminding students that even in the darkest moments of history, humanity and compassion must endure.
The vision of The Butterfly Project is as ambitious as it is meaningful. Its goal is to create 1.5 million butterflies worldwide, one for each child lost. After they are painted, the butterflies are displayed throughout communities in installations such as murals, transforming public spaces into places of remembrance and reflection. These displays serve not only as memorials, but also as a call to stand against hate, bigotry, and indifference in all forms.
This week's experiences stand as a powerful reminder of what happens when student voice meets purpose. Through Denah L.’s leadership, our CDS community was given the opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect together, ensuring that stories of the past continue to be shared for generations to come. At Carrollwood Day School, students are encouraged to step forward when something matters to them, turning curiosity into action and compassion into leadership. Denah’s initiative reflects what is possible when young people are trusted to engage deeply with history and its enduring lessons. Her work reminds our community that remembrance is not passive. It is something we carry, protect, and pass on. By creating space for these stories to be heard and honored, CDS empowers students to lead with empathy and purpose, allowing the lessons of the past to shape a more thoughtful and humane future.