With much pomp, and full of circumstance, Yavneh Academy's Class of 2014 graduated on Sunday, June 1.  As the school celebrates its twentieth anniversary, close to 600 faculty, students and their friends and families came together on the school's Schultz Rosenberg Campus.

Yavneh's 2014 graduates are Shanee Abouzaglo, Niv Avneri, Sarah Barnett, Ella Baum, Ben Calmenson, Jordan Cope, Hannah Delagi, Jason Epstein, Jacob Feist, Michelle Friedstadt, Daniel Granat, Nathasha Guaqueta, Itai Guttman, Zachary Harmon, Adam Karnett, Talia Klein, Samuel Kleinman, Gary Levine, Hanna Liebermann, Valerie Lopez, Logan Luskey, Alexis Riche, Dalya Romaner, David Rudomin, Osher Saboni, Adam Schor, Lauren Siegel, Erin Smith, Adam Steinbrecher, Dania Tanur, Yonah Taurog, and Michael Teplitskiy. 

The 32 members of Yavneh Academy's graduating class received acceptances to 61 universities, colleges, and Israel study programs, and more than $2.5 million in scholarships, and together they served over 22,950hours of community service.  With 15 of the 32 students earning an academic average of 94 percent or more, the most in the history of the school, the class' AP, SAT and ACT test scores by far exceeded both national and Texas state averages, placing its students among the most academically.Co-Valedictorians, Talia Klein and Alexis Riche both dedicated themselves, with academic averages of above 100 points.

"My classmates and I truly solidified our interests, values, and character as a result of our mentors' care, support, and knowledge, and of course as a result of the nurturing environment that is Yavneh. Yavneh beautifully instills in its students Jewish values and ideals through experiential learning and through its reaching out to the greater community," said Klein, who will study in Israel next year, at Midreshet Moriah, and then at the University of Maryland's Honors Program.  "Today is a celebration of all of our achievements- academic, social, and personal. In this school that emphasizes Jewish values, we have been taught how to integrate subject matter learned in the classroom to situations outside the classroom. And as a result of my Yavneh education, I have faith. "

"If I can tell you all one skill that will serve me better than almost anything I learned here in high school, it is that, this year in particular, I learned how to listen to other people. When we are disappointed, we want to pull into ourselves or lash out. It is better to do neither. It is better to reach out to those who can and will guide us through it," was the key to Riche's message, she bound for George Washington University in the fall.  "Our friends offer valuable perspectives, topic changes, or just plain affection. What our teachers offer us is experience. They will open up to us if we work for it, if we want it. Trust me, you will forget what you and your friend gossiped about during any given free period; you will not forget a true life lesson that comes about during a conversation with teachers who are willing to truly communicate with you on a more personal level.

"Just as without one of the 613 commandments, the Torah would be incomplete, so too would our grade be incomplete without one member in our graduating class today," was the message by Epstein and Tanur who delivered the dvar Torah, this the week of Shavuot."

Dr. Portnoy expressed his thanks to Yavneh's Board of Directors, parents, families, friends, supporters, and faculty, a nod to staff members not returning, and a warm appreciation and welcome to the school's alumni, "our greatest joy, the best indicators of our success."

Prior to certifying the class for graduation, Dr. Portnoy, continuing a tradition started by former Head of School Don O'Quinn (in attendance too to congratulate the graduates), spoke to each student aloud, recalling a memory from over the past four years, or sharing with the audience special traits, honors, and talents of each child. In addition, he sang a tribute to the "Great Class of 2014," set to the tune of "A Modern Major General" from Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance."  

"To our seniors, when you have finished your education - whether in Los Angeles or New York, Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, Boston or Austin, or anywhere else: come back to Dallas," he said of the Class of 2014 which this year alone has helped to raise close to $90,000 to help numerous causes around the world.   "While travel and new experiences are an important part of life, this is your home, and we want you to come back, most certainly to visit, but also to live. This is a special place, a place you will always belong, and I'm told that, once you start your own family, free babysitting is part of the deal."

During their time as Bulldogs, the seniors, with their 88 student-peers, participated in Students Against Terrorism and the Points for Peace basketball tournament, Helping Hands for the Homeless, and Students for Students.  They have volunteered for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas' Super Sunday Phone-a-thon and the Dallas Kosher Chili Cookoff.  They sent funds and students to support victims of weather storms and terror, they built sukkahs for neighbors, and they wore Pink to raised funds to remember those who've succumbed to illness, also supporting medical success for the future.   As Bulldog athletes, they won national women's basketball championships, the Varsity Bulldog Basketball team finished 10-0, its winningest season in history as district champions, and they helped begin the school's Bulldog soccer, golf, and track programs.

The students thanked Yavneh devotees, Office Manager and "School Mom," LuAnn Pitlik who doles out candy and listens to the trials and tribulations of every Yavneh student, always with the kindness, sensitivity and support that is uniquely hers,and

Ben '04, and Asher - for more than a decade one of the Bulldog's most passionate fans - continue to be dedicated to the school.

Jay Kleinman, the father of Samuel '14, Jamie '11, and Corey '09, as president, spoke on behalf of Yavneh's Board of Directors, then joining Assistant Principal Dr. Tim Cloward, Dr. Portnoy, and Board Past-President, Pam Fine, mother of David '08, Ben '05, and Samuel '03, presenting each student with their diploma.  Cindy Moskowitz, mother of Clara '13, Daniel '10, and Zac '08, as chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas conferred greetings on behalf of the community and Leon Zeligson, who has accompanied Yavneh's  seniors down the graduation aisle for more than a decade, returned to do so again.     

The students dedicated a mezuzah, purchased while they were in Israel during the March of the Living tour, as a legacy of their class.  The mezuzah was hung at the entrance of the Don O'Quinn Student Lounge, following the commencement, certain to be a daily reminder of its donors, to all who follow.  

Yavneh's Associate Principal of Judaic Programming and Curriculum, Naomi Schrager presented the school's Sylvia and William Epstein Golden Wedding Anniversary Fund Awards for Excellence in Judaic Studies honors to Talia Klein, Hanna Liebermann, and Yonah Taurog, and the Gabbai awards to Itai Guttman and Dalya Romaner, and Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum, Associate Principal of Judaic Curriculum, leaving the group with final guidance and blessing. 

"Lord of the universe, fulfill the wishes of my heart for good; grant my desire, give me my request, even unto me and make us worthy to do thy will with a perfect heart; and deliver me from the evil inclination. O grant our portion in thy Law; make us worthy to have thy divine presence abiding with us; vouchsafe unto us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord," said Rabbi Tannenbaum, as the ceremony came to an end. "So also may it be thy will, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, that I may be fitted to do such deeds as are good in thy sight, and to walk in the way of the upright before thee."

Click here to read Talia Klein's commencement address

Click here to read Alexis Riche's commencement address

Click here to read Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum's blessing