In the library inside Dominion High School in Sterling, Holocaust survivor Jack Wagschal shares a harrowing story.
"You always had to look over your back to see if somebody wasn't going to kill you, or stab you, or stone you," he said.
The 81-year-old was a young child living in Antwerp, Belgium when the Gestapo took his father and his mother and transported them to Auschwitz. Wagschal and his two siblings found shelter at an orphanage but at times had no shelter at all.
"We were hiding in the woods and I spent three weeks in the woods you know, eating berries," Wagschal said.
His young audience had questions: "How can we stop something like the Holocaust from happening again?" one student asked.
They also shared their own stories of discrimination.
"His mom was very southern, traditional and she actually remarked to my sister who is Indian also and said, "Wow, you have such good English," said 15-year-old Sonal Prakash.
"It's really hard being a part of the LGBTQ community and hearing kids in the hallway say, 'Oh that's so gay' in a very derogatory way," said Savannah Nelson.
It was an exchange of painful experiences generations apart meant to build awareness, understanding, and unity.
Wagschal's advice was to forgive, but never forget.
"Don't ever forget that," he said.
After World War II ended, Wagschal was reunited with his family. To this day he avoids foods like peanut butter and popcorn which were government surplus foods that he frequently consumed during the Holocaust.