Black and white image of a man smiling, wearing a suit jacket. The text below the image says "Perseverence: One Holocaust Survivor's Journey" and there is an image of an Emmy statue on the right side.

PA Cyber’s Holocaust Remembrance Video Earns Regional Emmy® Award

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

September 24, 2025

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) is celebrating the announcement of a Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Award for “Moments in History: Melvin Goldman” in the Education/Schools – Long Form Content category. This marks the first Regional Emmy® Award for the school’s Moments in History series, which now has earned three consecutive nominations.

“To be awarded this honor is truly a testament to the quality PA Cyber brings to furthering education, not only to our students but to anyone who wants to learn,” said Scot Rutledge, video producer and PA Cyber’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “The school’s leadership recognized an extraordinary story in Lee Goldman Kikel and her family’s history and wanted to make it accessible to the public.” The Moments in History series is available on PA Cyber's YouTube channel.

“Earning this award is not only a recognition of our school’s creative work, but also a reflection of our responsibility as educators,” said Brian Hayden, PA Cyber’s CEO. “Through this film, we are ensuring that anyone can understand the lessons of resilience and hope that emerge from even the darkest chapters of history.”

The film highlights the remarkable journey of Holocaust survivor Melvin Goldman, 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—PA Cyber hosted a video premiere and Q&A with Lee Goldman Kikel for students and their families. The video was also screened at Chatham University this past summer on June 4, Holocaust Survivor Day.

“Melvin’s story resonates with a diverse range of audiences,” Lee Goldman Kikel said. “I have been thrilled to see that others have found inspiration in his words and story as I share my family’s memory. It has been an honor to work with PA Cyber on this short film, and I am elated to see this project receive this award.”

PA Cyber history teacher Whitney Conjeski 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. Nineteen regional Emmy® ceremonies are held across the country annually, including the Mid-Atlantic regional competition. This year’s regional winners were announced at a gala on September 20, following nominations in August. The complete list of recipients is available on the Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards website.

A woman speaks to a reporter at a PA Cyber office location. — At the video premiere in January, Lee Goldman Kikel tells a reporter, "We lost over 100 members of our family."

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 longest-operating 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.

Three adults sit in a seated discussion on a theater stage.

Emily Loeb (left), a director at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, facilitated a Q&A with author and speaker Lee Goldman Kikel (middle) and video producer Scot Rutledge (right) at Chatham University on June 4, Holocaust Survivor Day.

"Through this film, we are ensuring that anyone can understand the lessons of resilience and hope that emerge from even the darkest chapters of history."
– PA Cyber CEO Brian Hayden