PA Cyber’s Holocaust Remembrance Video Earns Emmy Nomination

Cyber charter school shares survivor’s story to preserve Holocaust history.

August 27, 2025

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School’s (PA Cyber) Moments in History series received its third Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award nomination for its newest episode, “Melvin Goldman,” in the Education/Schools – Long Form Content category.

The film shares Melvin Goldman’s incredible journey from Nazi concentration camps to life in Pittsburgh. In it, Lee Goldman Kikel tells her father’s story using cassette tapes he left behind. Viewers learn about Goldman’s five years in the Jewish ghetto and concentration camps. He was 21 years old when Allied Forces liberated the concentration camps in 1945. He weighed 85 pounds and could not walk. He recovered for several years in Germany, and then a kind stranger sponsored his move to the United States, where he eventually raised a family and owned a popular jewelry store in Squirrel Hill.

Goldman recorded his memories on cassette tapes in the late 1970s. In them, he had stated he wanted his story preserved in a book. His daughter honored his request years after he passed away. Her book was adapted into a play and performed at the New Hazlett Theater Center for Performing Arts in Pittsburgh in 2023. She frequently tells her father’s story at events and has spoken to PA Cyber students several times. Earlier this year, on January 27—the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz—the school hosted a virtual and in-person video premiere and Q&A with Lee Goldman Kikel. Chatham University held a screening of the video this past summer on June 4, Holocaust Survivor Day.

Despite Goldman’s experiences, he was always positive and upbeat, said Lee Goldman Kikel. “He was tolerant and accepting of others. If he can live like that, others can too.”

Scot Rutledge, the video’s producer and PA Cyber’s Director of Marketing and Communications, said, “The school’s leadership instantly recognized a rare opportunity to share this story with the school community and the public as a whole. It’s important that we make Moments in History available to anyone who wants to learn.” The series is available on PA Cyber's YouTube channel. Due to YouTube’s age restriction, account users 18 years and older may access it.

Whitney Conjeski, a PA Cyber history teacher, emphasized the importance of telling these stories: “Learning about the Holocaust is essential to understanding the consequences of unchecked hatred and prejudice. By studying this history, we honor survivors, remember the victims, and empower future generations to stand against injustice, ensuring that 'never again' is not just a phrase but a commitment to humanity.”

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television with the Emmy Award. The Emmys host 19 regional ceremonies across the country every year, including the Mid-Atlantic regional competition. Nominations were announced in August, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards will take place at the awards gala on September 20.

Media Contact

Jennie Harris / jennie.harris@pacyber.org

About PA Cyber

Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School is the most experienced online public school in Pennsylvania. PA Cyber’s online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and curricula choices connect Pennsylvania students and families with state-certified and highly qualified teachers and rich academic content aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment to any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.