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SENIOR HONORS & AWARDS
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Valedictorian ~
Aaron Liener
Salutatorian ~
Mica Esquenazi
Magna Cum Laude ~
Brittney Herson
Judaic Studies Award sponsored by the Sylvia & William Epstein Golden Wedding Anniversary Fund ~
Laura Kreditor &
Shayna Dunsky
Jewish Ritual/Gabbai
Exceptional Service ~ Asriel Agronin
Dvar Torah ~ Zoe Klein
Exemplar ~ Shayna Dunsky, Zoe Klein & Aaron Liener
Prudential Spirit Community Initiative Award Distinguished Finalist ~
Brittney Herson |
 "I came to Yavneh, 10 years ago, under the rarest of circumstances. We were in portable buildings, and we had 32 students in the entire school. I believe that G-d wants Yavneh in Dallas and that He blesses the school because of the efforts which it makes.
I do not worry about the future because I know that it is in the hands of these children, and I know them to be strong. You depart today, keepers of the faith. You bare the torch of those teens who have fallen and you depart from a school which was built by those who, as teens, survived the Holocaust. You have them to thank.
Yavneh is a great school because it joins faculty who are incredibly talented and who give their lives to the school, with students who are sincere in their desire to learn and to make a better world. It is the great honor of my life to have spent my time here and I look forward to the future you will make."
Thoughts from Donald R. O'Quinn, Head of School to his
Senior Class students on the occasion of their commencement:
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Asriel Agronin ~ Yeshivat Lev HaTorah/Israel
Texas A&M
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"Asriel, you were are Gabbai. An organized young man. Given an assignment you are always thorough and on time, if not early. Each year you've grown in positive attitude and strength. You are the guy who comes through!"
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Michelle Bach ~ University of Florida
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"You've lived through hard times and mastered them with grace and a happy spirit. Each year you've grown in attitude and strength."
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Sarah Blasnik ~ Undecided
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"You march to your own drumbeat. You are one of the most talented artists that I've ever known. You have your own world and today begins your life."
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Peter Bokov ~ University of Texas at San Antonio
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"You leave us a tall and handsome young man who looks and acts like the doctor you'll someday be. The world is saving the worst illnesses for you to cure, and I have no doubts you will succeed."
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Emily Cohen ~ American University
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"You have one of the finest mathematical minds that is combined with great strength. There aren't many lady engineers but you will be one and there's a bright future in your life."
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Ariella Coretz ~ Brookhaven College
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"I remember our interview in the trailer at Park Central. I didn't speak Russian and you didn't speak much English, and yet we understood each other just fine. You are a talented woman. America was built by people like you, for people like you."
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Shayna Dunsky ~ Tafnit Mizrachi/Israel
University of Maryland
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"You have always risen to the challenges set before you and I've never known you to be negative, not even for a moment. You are a strong and rare person."
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Mica Esquenazi ~ Stanford University
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"Carol Seets said you were one of the strongest students she'd ever known and she was right. You have driven hard and you've never stopped. You've produced many adventures and your concern about the world around you will last."
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Eliana Gershon ~ University of Michigan
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"You have a quiet personality and a strong belief. Your spirit shines through and, in receiving the prize for a 2008 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown Award (Comic Cartoon), you made everyone proud. I wish you well."
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Sara Greenberg ~ Goucher College
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"You've fought illness and you've won. We've studied together and it was great to have you one-on-one. You carry a fight and you've done well."
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Brittney Herson ~ University of Texas at Austin
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"You ran the smoothest Points For Peace we've held and you did it in your soft tone. You are an executive, and you never forget that you are a lady."
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Patrisiya Khunteyev ~ St. Edwards University
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"You came to us late but you worked hard. We appreciate the time we had together."
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Zoe Klein ~ Machon Maayan/Israel
University of Maryland
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"You, sitting on the floor of the elevator, and looking up with a smile, is a cherished memory. You are always an inspiring young lady and you are a respected young woman."
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Corey Kleinman ~ University of Colorado at Boulder
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"You overcame barriers to become a leader, and the victories are yours!"
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David Kravitz ~ Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi/Israel
University of Maryland
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"You are a great student, bright with much potential."
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Laura Kreditor ~ Machon Maayan/Israel
Boston University
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"Laura - a beautiful, natural model. You're a good person and a positive influence. You'll make the world a better place."
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Aaron Liener ~ Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi/Israel
University of Texas at Austin
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"I don't know many kids who are still at school studying on Friday afternoons, working at five o'clock. Newspapers rarely do stories on good kids like you, but everyone who has worked with you, knows that you are a strong pillar."
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Michael Meltzer ~ Young Judaea YearCourse/Israel
University of Maryland
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"You make a promise and you keep it. I'll look forward to seeing you get that hair into a helmet. You will be a strong man in the world and our world won't be the same without you."
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Alexa Meyers ~ University of Arizona
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"You have a made a success of yourself. We wish you well and we'll miss you."
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Jonathan Mishler ~ Young Judaea YearCourse/Israel
University of Arkansas
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"You are a strong mathematician with a strong mind. I worried about you but, in the end, you were successful. Your life begins today as you depart a grown man.
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Eve Moel ~ American University
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"You are a heroine to me. You've shown more improvement than anyone, and you have discipline and unending drive. You are someone to be admired."
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Ariel Osterreicher ~ Collin College
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"You've come from being a lost young man to a blessing to all who are around you. You've overcome much to be an admirable, celebrated man."
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Zeke Quittner-Strom ~ Young Judaea YearCourse/Israel
Tufts University
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"You have a deeply-probing intellect, and you are a budding, young intellectual. Your future will be interesting to see."
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Natalie Taub ~ Young Judaea YearCourse/Israel
University of Colorado at Boulder
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"You are a first class lady. Always quiet, organized, and you get the job done. You brought a quiet class here with you and you are deeply respected and appreciated."
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Ethan Waranch ~ Young Judaea YearCourse/Israel
University of Arkansas
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"You rarely wore a shirt in compliance with the dress code but you were a happy and respected student. You have a broad and bright mind and your talents are many. Thank you for studying physics with me. You are a happy part of my life."
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Sol Weiner ~ AmeriCorps
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"You were supposed to teach me to play the banjo. You march to your own beat. I'll never forget a day when we had many lunches left over and while the rest of the students went home, you packed them up and delivered them to the homeless downtown. You look after others without a word. You see the need, and you act."
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Elizabeth Weinstein ~ Emory University
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"I spent three years worrying about your adventures, but you've done well. You've shared in many solid activities and you helped bring care of the world to our school. Whoever teaches you has a challenge because you are a whirlwind who never rests."
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Shelley Widom ~ University of Kansas
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"You came to us in the middle of your high school career and on the edge. You've been tested in life and you handled it as well, and with as much class, as I can imagine. For that, I appreciate who you are."
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William Zalstein ~ Derech/Israel
University of Texas at San Antonio
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"You're going to miss us. We'll miss you too! Your life begins now in the adult world and you have the power and drive to do well."
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YAVNEH END-OF-YEAR AWARDS
FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, and JUNIORS HONORED
May 22, 2009
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Jewish Thought & Law
11th grade ~ Paige Koeppel & Mark Cheirif
10th grade ~ Melissa Diamond & Jared Katz
9th grade ~ Jordan Prescott & Ilana Wernick |
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Chumash 11th grade ~ Libby Panipinto 10th grade ~ Sarah Weiss 9th grade ~ Reid Cohen & Gabby Steinbrecher |
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 Oral Law
11th grade ~
Mitchell Blumka & Rebecca Lipinsky
10th grade ~
Samuel Slomowitz & Shelbi Karlebach
9th grade ~
Dalit Agronin & Benji Liener |
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Hebrew Language
11th grade ~ Sergiy Rozhdestvenskyy & Aliza Greenberg
10th grade ~ Jared Katz & Leigh Bonner
9th grade ~ Reid Cohen & Jasmin Sidisin
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Science
11th grade ~
Micah Steinbrecher & Sarah Rohan
10th grade ~
Sam Slomowitz & Leigh Bonner
9th grade ~
Benji Liener & Evie Denemark |
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Mathematics 11th grade ~ Micah Steinbrecher & Noy Bolurian 10th grade ~ Sarah Weiss & Samuel Slomowitz 9th grade ~ Reid Cohen, Jori Epstein& Jillian Herstein |
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 English
11th grade ~ Micah Steinbrecher & Becky Schisler
10th grade ~ Shimon Wolk & Leora Mitzner
9th grade ~ Bryan Benaim & Ilana Wernick |
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Social Studies 11th grade ~
Daniel Moskowitz & Sarah Rohan
10th grade ~
Elan Kogutt & Abbie Denemark
9th grade ~
Jake Greif & Jillian Herstein
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Journalism
Daley Epstein, Arielle Burstein
& Ethan Prescott
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Mock TrialDalit Agronin, Jori Epstein & Samuel Epstein
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Foreign Language (Spanish) Leora Mitzner & Dylan Kaye
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Visual Arts Mitchell Blumka & Noy Bolurian |
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Music Leora Mitzner & Samuel Slomowitz |
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Theatre
Arielle Burstein & Sahar David
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Creative Writing Mitchell Blumka & Becky Schisler |
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Davening (Prayer) Libby Panipinto & Ethan Prescott |
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Ruach (Spirit) Jaclyn Peiser, Mark Cheirif
& Ilan Attar |
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Mensch
Miles Pulitzer & Dvora Cohen
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Brandeis Book Award for
Social Action & Civic Engagement Daniel Moskowitz |
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Principal's Award Libby Panipinto, Lizzie Chatham & Joe Lerer (not pictured) |
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Bulldog Award Rebecca Lipinsky & Joshua Karnett | |
