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SENIOR HONORS & AWARDS
| |  Valedictorian ~ Micah Steinbrecher
Salutatorian ~
Sarah Rohan
Summa Cum Laude ~
Joseph Lerer
Magna Cum Laude ~
Daley Epstein
Judaic Studies Award sponsored by the Sylvia & William Epstein Golden Wedding Anniversary Fund
Sophie Geller & Libby Panipinto
Gabbai Award
for exceptional service and dedication to religious ritual Ethan Prescott |
Commencement 2010
| | Yavneh Academy of Dallas is pleased to announce the award of Valedictorian to Micah Steinbrecher and the honor of Salutatorian to Sarah Rohan. Joseph Lerer is the school's Summa Cum Laude recipient and Daley Epstein, graduated Magna Cum Laude. Sophie Geller and Libby Panipinto received Judaic Studies Awards, sponsored by the Sylvia and William Epstein Golden Wedding Anniversary Fund and Ethan Prescott received the Gabbai Award for excellence and dedication to religious ritual. All honors were shared during commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 30 at Congregation Tiferet Israel.
"For the past 18 years, we have been backseat drivers in our own lives," said Micah. "Our control is limited by the real drivers: our parents, our community, and our Jewish faith. We have little authority in major decisions, and when we make the wrong decision, the consequences are mitigated. Today this no longer applies. These 'drivers' no longer have an absolute grip on our destiny. Their roles have changed and this ceremony marks the day these values jump into the backseat, and we make our own decisions. Today, these values no longer lead us, they merely guide us."
"Today is a day of thanksgiving for our faculty, who have tagged their aspirations on our endeavors. It is a day of thanksgiving for Mr. O'Quinn, who came out of retirement when Yavneh's future was tottering on the brink. And most importantly, it is a day of thanksgiving for our parents," said Micah. "Every child in this room, graduate or not, do not walk out of this auditorium today without looking your parents in the eye and thanking them from the bottom of your heart for sending you to Yavneh."
Seniors Ilan Attar, Elizabeth Chatham, Mark Cheirif, Devora Cohen, Sahar David, and Rebecca Schisler led the Star Spangled Banner and Hatikvah, and Joshua Karnett, Libby Panipinto, and Ethan Prescott welcomed all to the commencement. Michael Bierman, Sophie Geller, Paige Koeppel, Rebecca Lipinsky, Julie Meltzer, Mollie Mirsky thanked Yavneh devotees Daniel Prescott and Richard Rohan, and the law firm of Carrington Coleman for their roles in supporting the school. Mitchell Blumka offered the afternoon's dvar Torah.
Arielle Burstein, Jaclyn Peiser, Miles Pulitzer, presented the profile of Yavneh Academy's fifteenth graduating class and, Daniel Moskowitz read "The Yavneh Student," his poem outlining a typical day and the commitment as such.
The members of Yavneh's Class of 2010 have received more than two million dollars in merit scholarships and they served 11,668 volunteer hours. They recorded an average score of 1764 on the SAT exams, an average score of 28 on the ACT and Mark Cheirif was named a National Hispanic Scholar, Daley Epstein, a National Merit Finalist, and Micah Steinbrecher, a National Merit Commendee.
Students Against Terrorism raised more than $41,000 for One Family Fund's Sderot AfterShock Project with the 8th Annual Points for Peace Basketball tournament, Uniting Students of Dallas raised over $15,000 for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation during an evening that featured Texas' Supreme Court Justice, Wallace Jefferson, and hosted its fourth annual Mix-It-Up Diversity Awareness Day.
Yavneh seniors received more than a dozen local, state, and national journalism awards. They were instrumental in the growth of the Music Ensemble and Theatre departments, featured in The Miracle Worker, The Diary of Anne Frank, Herschel and the Hanukah Goblins, Alice in Wonderland, and A Dybbuk. David Goldenberg brought Pink Day, a national program of Sharsheret to Yavneh, and Rebecca Schisler received the Joe M. and Doris Russell Dealey Award of Achievement in first place, and Evan Mitzner, Libby Panipinto, and Bess Reisberg were named finalists in the Fourteenth Annual, Dallas Public Library "Express Yourself" Youth Poetry Competition.
David Veeder offered greetings from the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas and Leon Zeligson, a beloved staple at Yavneh's commencement ceremonies, accompanied the students during the processional and recessional. Naomi Schrager presented the Judaics awards and Yavneh Academy's Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum and Congregation Beth Torah's Rabbi Adam Raskin shared blessings for the future.
"There's no doubt that this class represents the best and the brightest graduates in this city, but that is not ultimately what convinced me of the greatness of this school," said Rabbi Raskin. "Where I saw the soul of this school and the depth of this class was when you were all faced with what might have been the most difficult test you have taken all of your of Yavneh education. It was a test of your humanity. It was a test of your ability to show compassion, and love, and sensitivity when, shortly after the beginning of this year, one of your classmates experienced the most devastating loss imaginable. This classmate of yours is here today with his dad and his sister, but his precious mother is observing this occasion, with great pride I believe, from the heavens, rather than in a seat by his side."
"You demonstrated that this Torah is a powerful, living, relevant, life-altering document and you mustered everything that you learned and offered it to one of your own in the form of comfort and presence and hope," said Rabbi Raskin. "You demonstrated then in ways that brought tears to my eyes and more importantly that gave me such hope and confidence, that this school has prepared you not just intellectually, not just with the facts and figures, the names and dates...but this school has shaped your souls, it has molded your character as people who will undoubtedly succeed on the college campus-nearly any high school can do that-but this school has made you into Jews who understand the significance of your tradition, the meaning of living a life of Torah and mitzvoth, the power that each one of you possesses to touch another person's soul, to be a transformative presence along the journey of life."
Leon Ziligson returned as our processional accompianist and Assistant Principals Chad Baruch and Dr. Tim Cloward shared in the ceremony as President of the Board, Carol Kreditor, and Past President Mike Zucker presented the students with their diplomas. Head of School Donald O'Quinn bid each student a personal farewell and the group his respect.
"Each of you will be a blessing unto this world," said Mr. O'Quinn. "You leave here a family and you made the Yavneh family a stronger one."
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Thoughts from Donald R. O'Quinn, Head of School, to his Senior Class students on the occasion of their commencement.
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Ilan Attar ~ Yeshivat Derech Etz ChaimLev
Brandeis University
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"ILAN, you are a quiet gentleman, and you are appreciated for the example that you set in Judaic Studies and for the fact that, when you gave your word, you kept it."
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Michael Bierman ~ University of Maryland
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"MICHAEL, you bloomed in your Junior year and became one of our most articulate writers and speakers."
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Mitchell Blumka ~ Ohr Sameyach - Chai Israel
Millsaps College
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"MITCHELL, we watched you grow from a boy, to a tall, handsome man."
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Noy Bolurian ~ University of Texas at Dallas
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"NOY, you arrived at Yavneh in your Sophomore year, and you ran full steam into Dr. Paula Harvey. You struggled, but you never gave up."
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Arielle Burstein ~ Barnard College of Columbia University
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"ARIELLE, you are a unique individual. The first time we met, I knew you marched to your own drummer. You've become a poised, young lady and you will make Barnard a better place."
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Elizabeth Chatham ~ Eugene Lang College - The New School for Liberal Arts
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"LIZZIE, you walk into a room and, before you leave, you will always light it up with beauty, grace, and style."
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Mark Cheirif ~ Yeshivat Derech Etz Chaim
University of Texas at Austin
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"MARK, your first two weeks at Yavneh you had many of your teachers believing you didn't speak English. Today you graduate as a National Hispanic Scholar, a fun loving nature, with much intelligence beneath your smile."
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Devora Cohen ~ Fashion Institute of Technology & Stern College
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"DEVORA, you came with your sweet spirit from Israel, you mastered the English language, you work hard, and you are a tribute to the Cohen legacy. You fit right in to Yavneh's society with a bright smile."
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Nicole Danilewitz ~ University of Michigan
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"NICOLE, you are quiet and reserved, a lady with an aura of grace about you."
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Sahar David ~ The Israel Experience at Bar Ilan University
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"SAHAR, you, Dr. Cloward, and I graduate together! We love you and within you there is a good man who will be a success."
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Noah Donnenfield ~ Texas A&M University
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"NOAH, you came to us from Highland Park and their loss, was our gain. We know the number of hours required to fulfill the Eagle Scout ranking, and your service shows dedication. You are a good man with a good heart."
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Joseph Elbaz ~ University of Miami
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"SEFI, you have a bright and intelligent mind. As you leave Yavneh, quit pretending otherwise and let people know just how smart you are."
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Daley Epstein ~ University of Texas at Austin
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"DALEY, the first game you played as a Lady Bulldog, you were knocked flat. You got back up and you were back in the game. I realized that week that you bring 110% to everything that you do. You are an achiever of great courage."
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Sophie Geller ~ Machon Maayan
Stern College
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"SOPHIE, You are a gracious lady who represents her faith well. It is my honor and pleasure to know you."
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David Goldenberg ~ University of Texas at Dallas
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"DAVID, we've had a great two years together and it is our loss that it was only two years. You are a hard working young man with great potential."
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Leezi Greenberg ~ Southern Methodist University
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"LEEZI, you leave us a healthy, vibrant, and vivacious young woman who loves life. You are a talented writer and a bright mind - the last of your family to walk our halls."
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Joshua Karnett ~ Syracuse University
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
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"JOSHUA, you come through every time! You are the 'go to' for good sage advice. Whenever you are called upon to produce, you always do your best."
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Dylan Kaye ~ Texas A&M University
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"DYLAN, where is your yarmulKAYE? :) You can solve a physics problem with the best and you have a sharp mind, and a natural talent for engineering."
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Hannah Kessler ~ Eckerd College
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"HANNAH, the lady from Maine. You are quiet but sweet, gracious, and a pleasure to teach."
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Matthew Kirby ~ Colorado State University
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"MATTHEW, you are a natural actor and a good student. We appreciate your use of your talents.
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Paige Koeppel ~ University of Texas at Austin
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"PAIGE, I think you may be the most diversely talented person I've met in my career and you are always one with a happy spirit."
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Joseph Lerer ~ Harvard College
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"JOSEPH, you were a man of courage who asked to come to Yavneh, over any other school, and you were successful here. You have always been a magnificent student."
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Rebecca Lipinsky ~ American University
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"REBECCA, everybody loves and respect you. You represent the very best of us and you live a life, as close to the mission of our school, as anyone I've known."
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Julie Meltzer ~ Young Judaea Year Course
New York University
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"JULIE, you are the great ship that has weathered the storm, and now sail for a new life with many adventures."
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Mollie Mirsky ~ Texas Woman's University
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"MOLLIE, you do everything well! You are great on the basketball court, in the classroom, and you have a beautiful disposition."
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Evan Mitzner ~ Colorado State University
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"EVAN, you found yourself here at Yavneh and you will have a good life!"
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Daniel Moskowitz ~ Aardvark Israel
Brandeis University
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"DANIEL, you stepped out of the shadows and revealed your great intellect. You blossomed in the light, as a great writer who is deeply profound."
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Libby Panipinto ~ Young Judaea Year Course
Undecided
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Scholarship Recipient
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"LIBBY, you work harder than all of the seniors, turning in every assignment with a businesslike fashion. We celebrate your growth with you as you leave here a competent, young woman. You have been an example of the Judaics we live and learn here and we are better because you were here."
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Jaclyn Peiser ~ Goucher College
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"JACLYN, You ran the best Color Wars and you saved the event for the future. You demonstrated that when you set your mind to something, you will see it through and you are one of the strongest presences on the campus."
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Ethan Prescott ~ Israel Experience at Bar Ilan
Undecided
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"ETHAN, at the start of your ninth grade year, you came into prayers, looked me in the face, and you shook my hand - as man to man. We all appreciate the confidence and competence you bring to all you do, always stable and steady as can be."
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Miles Pulitzer ~ Yeshivat Reshit Yerushalayim
Boston University
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"MILES, you are a private man. Those who work with you, call you a magnetic leader and they do look for you to lead. I want to see you at BU, doing what you will do best."
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Bess Reisberg ~ Texas State University
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"BESS, you are the flower child of Yavneh. When I was living that life, those ladies certainly didn't dress as well or as beautifully as you. You are competent, and you are an anomaly. You are rock solid and we will always miss you."
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Sarah Rohan ~ Israel Experience at Bar Ilan University
University of Michigan
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"SARAH, you are strength, competence, and leadership. Someday, please remember the old Irishman who perceived who you were."
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Sergiy Rozdhdestvenskyy ~ University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Scholarship Recipient
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"SERGIY, you were a wayfaring traveler who came from the Ukraine, to Dallas, to North Carolina, and when you settled here, you came home. You will be a great scientist or engineer. We were lucky to have had you, as you are among the very best."
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Adam Sallmander ~ Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim
Undecided
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"ADAM, we wish you the best; your life begins today. You are a good person who will go out and find your way - taking with you, a good and kind heart.
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Rebecca Schisler ~ Wesleyan University
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Scholarship Recipient
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"REBECCA, you came to us in your Junior year and in the first two weeks, you showed us you were brilliant with deep intellect. You are a superb writer, and you will someday be a world renowned author."
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Micah Steinbrecher ~ Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi
Washington University in St. Louis
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"MICAH, a deep thinker. You are likely profound in the study of English but in science and math, your mind goes to that which is not the obvious. You are a young, intellectual giant who thinks deeply."
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YAVNEH END-OF-YEAR AWARDS
FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, and JUNIORS HONORED
May 26, 2010
| please note, not all awards were presented in every grade`
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Brandeis Book Award for Social Action & Civic Engagement
Leigh Bonner '11
Dallas Public Library - Joe M. & Doris Russell Dealey, 2010 Award of Achievement
Express Yourself Poetry Contest
Rebecca Schisler '12
Finalists: Evan Mitzner '12
Libby Panipinto '12
Bess Reisberg '12
Principal's Award
Justine Berman '12, Millie Blumka '12, and Jonathan Sulski '11
Headmaster's Award
Hannah Schepps '12 & Yaakov Stolovitsky '12
Bulldog Award ~ The Spirit of Yavneh
Leigh Bonner '11 & A.J. Burk '11 |
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YAVNEH END-OF-YEAR SPORTS AWARDS
May 3, 2010
| BULLDOG VARSITY BASKETBALL
Captain/MVP: Miles Pulitzer
Captains: Joshua Karnett, Joseph Lerer, Ethan Prescott, Micah Steinbrecher
Co-Captain: Elan Kogutt
BULLDOG MEN'S JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL
Defensive MVP: Joseph Kaufman
Offensive MVP: Jared Katz
MVP: Zev Klein
Additional Thanks: Shimi Wolk and Bulldog parents Avi Mitzner & Holly Lynn
LADY BULLDOG'S BASKETBALL
Captain & Offensive MVP: Jamie Kleinman
Defensive Player of the Year: Sarah Rohan
Sportsmanship Award: Rebecca Lipinsky
LADY BULLDOG VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY: Captain & MVP: Emily Rohan Most Improved Player: Jamie Kleinman
JUNIOR VARSITY: Captain & MVP: Sarah Weiss Most Improved Player: Jori Epstein
BULLDOG SOCCER
OffensiveMVP: Sahar David
DefensiveMVP: Michael Bierman
LADY BULLDOG SOCCER
Offensive MVP: Mollie Mirsky
Defensive MVP: Hannah Kessler
BULLDOG TENNIS
MVPs: Samuel Coretz &Jasmine Sidisin
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