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Dr. Mark Thorsen of Ponderosa High School Honored as First-Ever Recipient
April 16, 2026, Denver, CO…Governor Jared Polis joined the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Mountain States region last night, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Temple Emanuel in Denver for the 45th Annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program, where he presented ADL’s inaugural Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education to Dr. Mark Thorsen, a Social Studies teacher at Ponderosa High School in Parker.
“81 years after the Holocaust, Colorado is as committed as ever to the promise of Never Again. From statewide high school Holocaust education to fighting hate of all kinds, we are building a Colorado for All. Congratulations to Dr. Mark Thorsen of Ponderosa High School for receiving the ADL’s Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education, for decades of impact helping to build a brighter future,” said Governor Polis.
The award, presented for the first time in the program’s 45-year history, recognizes a Colorado K-12 educator who goes above and beyond to ensure that the history and lessons of the Holocaust are not just taught, but felt, understood and carried forward by the next generation.
Governor Polis signed into law the Holocaust and Genocide Studies In Public Schools bill in 2020, mandating Holocaust and genocide education in all Colorado public high schools. This award was created to honor the dedicated teachers and educators who excel in this area.
Dr. Thorsen was selected unanimously by the award committee from a pool of eight applicants. Dr. Thorsen has taught Social Studies at Ponderosa High School in the Douglas County School District since 1996, bringing nearly 30 years of dedication to his students and community. An accomplished Holocaust scholar, he holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver, where his doctoral dissertation focused on teaching about genocide through the arts, a cross-curricular approach that brings the Holocaust to life in powerful and unexpected ways.
Rather than traditional essays or tests, Dr. Thorsen’s students produce original works (visual art, poetry, narrative, 3D design, dramatic scenes) evaluated through a unique EPIC rubric (Effort, Persuasion, Ideation, Creativity) and present their creative journey in café-style conversations, mirroring how victims maintained humanity through artistic expression.
“I have always felt that carrying the history of the Holocaust forward is both an obligation and a duty,” said Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education recipient Dr. Mark Thorsen. “And as my students face a world of increasing antisemitism and social media forces that make simple answers dangerously alluring, that sense of duty only grows stronger. Teaching and learning about the Holocaust is a cornerstone of empowering them to think critically, act empathetically and inherit a world that is just.”
Dr. Thorsen brings meaningful Holocaust education to life in his own classroom and equips educators across Colorado to do the same, setting him apart as this year’s award recipient and a model for the larger field.
“Educators like Dr. Thorsen are essential to ensuring that future generations understand the lessons of the Holocaust and recognize the dangers of hatred, bigotry and antisemitism,” said ADL Mountain States Regional Director Susan Rona. “His commitment to excellence inspires both his students and his colleagues, and we are honored to recognize him with this award.”
The event, held at Temple Emanuel in Denver, brought together over 1,000 community members, Holocaust survivors, family members, students and educators in person and online. The evening featured a keynote presentation from Holocaust survivor Agi Day, who then joined a panel discussion on Holocaust education moderated by Jennifer Goss, ADL Project Director for Echoes and Reflections, and included panelists Todd Hennessy, Board President of Colorado Holocaust Educators and Tiffany Williams, a World History and Sociology Teacher.
Panelists (from left to right) Jennifer Goss, Tiffany Williams, Agi Day and Todd Hennessy
The 2026 event was supported by 110 community partners, comprised of 53 Colorado public officials and 57 Jewish and non-Jewish communal organizations. This year’s program took place the day after Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking 81 years since the end of the Holocaust.
About Dr. Mark Thorsen
Dr. Mark Thorsen is a founding board member of Colorado Holocaust Educators, a nonprofit providing quality Holocaust and genocide resources and professional development to educators across the state.
He has served as a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow, an Auschwitz Jewish Center Faculty Fellow and a fellow of the Defiant Requiem Foundation. In 2025, he participated in the inaugural Yahad in Unum Educational Leadership Field Study in Poland and brought those lessons back to his classroom.
He was recognized in 2022 with the Mizel Museum Excellence in Holocaust Education Award and in 2016 was named Douglas County School District Secondary Teacher of the Year. Each year, he organizes Ponderosa High School’s Annual Human Rights Awareness Week, now in its sixteenth year.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913 to protect the Jewish people, ADL works to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all. In the face of rising antisemitism and extremism, we protect, advocate and educate, through a mix of programs and services using the latest innovations and technology, and seek to create a world without hate. The ADL Mountain States Region was founded in 1941 and serves Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. More at mountainstates.adl.org.
About the Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program
Now in its 45th year, the Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program is an annual partnership between ADL Mountain States and the Office of the Governor of Colorado. For 45 years, every sitting Governor of Colorado has participated in this program, affirming that the government of Colorado stands against discrimination and hatred in all forms.
