MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Renee Young
Hadassah National Public Relations
ryoung@hadassah.org
212.303.8140
2018 Scholarship Winners from Edison, NJ and Atlanta, GA
May 11, 2018 – NEW YORK, NY – Hadassah has named its 2018 Leaders of Tomorrow Award for Young Women scholarship recipients, announced Ellen Hershkin, National President, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA). This highly selective, merit-based competition awards two high school women full tuition for four weeks at Young Judaea's Teen Summer Program in Israel. The 2018 HWZOA Leaders of Tomorrow Award recipients are: Allison M. Kashan, 17, a junior at John P. Stevens High School, Edison, NJ; Jereme R. Weiner, 17, a junior at North Atlanta High School, Atlanta, GA; and runner-up Melanie S. Silver, 17, a junior at Deerfield High School, Deerfield, IL. For over a century, Hadassah has enjoyed a productive relationship with Young Judaea, which has created a dynamic corps of young Jewish leaders who become active and engaged Jewish adults.
2018 marks the fifth year that HWZOA has awarded its Leaders of Tomorrow Award for Young Women to two young women in high school who have proven their leadership skills and shown the potential for even greater leadership roles, potentially in HWZOA. The two 2018 award recipients receive an all-expense paid trip to Israel, to participate in the annual summer Young Judaea Machon program, while the 2018 runner-up receives $1000 for the same Young Judaea Machon program. This program serves to deepen the recipients’ love for Israel and offer them a fresh perspective of a country to which they are already devoted. Upon their return, HWZOA will offer them many opportunities to share their rich experiences.
Ellen Hershkin states, “Since its inception, HWZOA’s mission has been to empower and inspire young women to take their place as leaders in their communities. Hadassah is proud to provide opportunities for leadership and personal growth for women of all ages. We congratulate these three exceptional young women for their achievements; especially their passion for Israel and the Jewish people.”
Barbara Spack, Hadassah National Chair, Young Judaea, states: “We were delighted to choose three young women who personify the passionate spirit and dedication of Hadassah’s organization’s values and mission. We know that Allison M. Kashan and Jereme R. Weiner, along with runner-up Melanie S. Silver, will continue to demonstrate their exceptional leadership skills as well as their noteworthy academic achievements as they grow to lead Hadassah groups in the future.”
Allison M. Kashan, 17, a junior at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ and a member of a 3-generation Life Member family, has a passion to change the world. Allison is Ofarim Tsofim Programmer for New Jersey Young Judaea, a Girl Scout, which provides her the opportunity to volunteer at local nursing homes and soup kitchens, a Safety Ambassador, Hebrew School Madricha and on the Girl Up Sponsorship Committee. A member of the National Honor Society, she is president and stage manager for the John P. Stevens Theatre Company. Allison feels “Extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to grow and learn in the Jewish homeland and expand upon my leadership skills.”
Jereme R. Weiner, 17, a junior at North Atlanta High School, Atlanta, GA, is a member of her school soccer team, the BBYO, Key Club, Beta Club, National Honors Society, Politics Club, Hiking Club, American Jewish Committee Leaders for Tomorrow Program, Creating Connected Communities (CCC) Leadership Development Program and the International Baccalaureate Mentor Program (IB Buddies). Jereme is part of a 3-generation Life Member family and active in her local Young Judaea which she feels strongly helped to root her Jewish identity in Zionist ideals. She looks forward to the opportunity this award will provide her “To further explore her Jewish identity and grow as a Jewish woman.”
2018 Hadassah Leaders of Tomorrow Award runner-up Melanie S. Silver, 17, is a junior at Deerfield High School, Deerfield, IL, where she is an active member of the Human Rights Club and the Girls Coding Club. Melanie is a board member of Young Judaea, and active at Congregation B’Nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim where she is a member of the Youth Group Board.
Young Judaea's Teen Summer Programs in Israel connect participants with the land of Israel, its culture, and its spirit. With award-winning educational programming and specialty touring options, Jewish teens experience the best of Israel while building leadership and social activism skills. Participants are offered a variety of distinctive trips with a focus on science, social entrepreneurship, advocacy and volunteering, to name a few. In addition to a weekend of leadership training at Tel Yehudah, Young Judaea's senior leadership camp, and a chance to explore personal special interests for one week of their trip in Israel, participants in Young Judaea's Israel Teen Summer Programs have every opportunity to travel the world and have an enduring impact on the communities around them. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/yjsummer.
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.