"Coming to Yavneh and Dallas' Jewish Community as given my family and I the chance to share my religion," said Stephanie - a native of Pharr, Texas. "Before our move here, it was a struggle to keep kosher, and so much of Jewish life is community - and we were missing that."

"With family history that is Hispanic, Scottish, and Greek, I feel I have a strong ancestry and it's very important to me. As a Jew, I want to continue to grow and to know more about our religion, our descendents that are Sephardic, and where I come from," said Stephanie who moved to Dallas in time to begin her sophomore year at Yavneh. "Our family has the intention to make aliyah, and I believe that our moving to Dallas has been a stepping stone to growing to be able to make that commitment at some point."

"Stephanie's quietness is deceiving. Behind that shy exterior is a deep and insightful young woman who works hard to be the best person she can be," said English teacher, Bonnie Atkins. "She is devoted to her family's culture and religious beliefs and, although she is the youngest of her siblings, she supports her parents by helping around the house, at their store, and with them in the Jewish community. Stephanie's dedication to herself and the people she loves will be her greatest strength and characteristic that will set her apart in the future."

"Stephanie is eager to learn, and her attendance and attention is remarkable," said Science faculty member, Lourdes Linzey. "She is able to complete multiple tasks with favorable results despite pressure and she always strives to excel. Stephanie is unassuming and always ready to learn and understand the principle involved in chemistry. Her enthusiasm, attitude and demeanor lead me to believe that she has the drive to become successful in all her undertaking."

Stephanie is the daughter of Yafah and Elishema and the younger sister of Jaret, Andrew, and Faith '11. Very involved in her congregation, Achdut Israel, Stephanie spends many Saturday nights readying the shul for the following week's services and also represents her shul as a regular volunteer at the Kosher Chili Cookoff. On campus, Stephanie is a member of the Yavneh Lady Bulldog Soccer and Volleyball teams as well as a member of Hashinui/Environmental Club, Kids Korner, and Students4Students.

Readying to participate on the March of the Living, learning about the history of the Holocaust, and the depth of anti-Semitism in our history, is something that Stephanie appreciates more with each lesson. "I've never been out of Texas, other than to see family in Mexico, and I'm so excited to go to Israel and on the March," she said. "I'm excited to take the trip with thousands of Jews from around the world - all of us experiencing at the same time the lessons to pass on to future generations. It's our history and I'm proud to learn it and to share it so that it's not forgotten."

After graduation, Stephanie plans to remain in Dallas to complete her General Ed basics at Brookhaven College before pursuing a higher degree. In addition to wanting to work with an organization that services communities in crisis, and in the aftermath of emergency situations, she is considering a future as an art therapist. Stephanie enjoys working with people and finds art - almost indescribable - in how it allows one to express themselves and "exhale." "Although I'm working on my painting, I really love sketching - there's so much you can do with pen and pencil," she said. "I hope to have the chance to give people the outlet to express themselves through art."

"I've been truly impressed with Stephanie's focus and drive," said Associate Principal, Dr. Tim Cloward. "She is an extremely hard-worker and she has put her shoulder to the wheel and made herself successful. I've been truly impressed with her work and it is obvious that she thinks deeply and has a fine mind."    

Between Stephanie's find mind - her clear heart - and her desire always to put others first, Yavneh will boast proudly to have been a base in her "stepping stone," of becoming a fine, Jewish education woman. 

Kol Hakavod to Yavneh's Students4Students who have reached their goal of earning $17,000, enough to cover the construction costs of a schoolhouse in the Goz Amer refugee camp in Chad to benefit 900 Darfur refugee children.

Students4Students, which already raised more than $10,000 and donated that to build a school in Azezo in Northwestern Ethiopia, partnered with the Jewish World Watch Sister Schools Project to build this second school. In April, the organization hosted a movie screening of "3 Points," which details the fforts of NBA All Star, Atlanta Hawk Tracy McGrady's humanitarian efforts in the Darfur region.

"Our work supporting quality education in the camps would not be possible without student groups like Students4Students who understand the importance of education and care enough to make sure that their peers around world especially refugees also have access to a good education," said Olabukunola Williams, of the Enough Project/Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools Program. "The hope that education in refugee camps brings is immeasurable and during my recent trip to the camps, I've shared stories of the students like yours who answered the call to make an investment in a better future for Darfuris and Darfur. The tangible impacts of the group's fundraising efforts will last a lifetime." 

"We're blessed at Yavneh to receive an incredible secular education coupled with lessons of morals, values, and the foundation of our Jewish tradition," said Rachel Siegel '13, who co-founded S4S with Dalit Agronin '12 and Jori Epstein '12, and who this year carries its torch with co-President, Lauren Siegel '14. "It's that education, and the respect we have for it, that makes us want

Students4Students 2012-2013

and need to help others."

"Our $17,000 will build the school," said Rachel. "It will take another $33,000 to provide a teacher, security, supplies, and training but it's a start and we are very proud of being able to make a difference. Our campus at Yavneh is incredible and we wanted to share the blessing of the opportunity for a place in which to learn."

To be a part of building S4S' school-building efforts, email s4sdarfur@gmail.com 

or call 214.295.3500.