habaim!habaim!

2009 Graduations and Achievements

“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction
that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.” 
- Theodore Isaac Rubin

As usual, we have an outstanding and illustrious group to commemorate.  Mazal tov to ALL these children and their families on their graduations and achievements...


Graduates:

Jason Albert, son of Sharon and Jed Albert, graduated from the University of Rochester where he double majored in Mathematics and Economics.  Jason received his Economics Degree with Distinction, was selected to be a member of the Economics Honor Society - Omicron Delta Epsilon, and was awarded 2nd place in the William Morse Hasting Essay Prize for his senior thesis, "A New Proposal to End Inflation".  Jason was awarded a fellowship from the Institute for Humane Studies.  He will be attending Georgetown University in the fall where he will be pursuing a Doctoral Degree in economics.

Beth Archer, daughter of Debbie and Keith Archer, moved up from West Hollow Middle School to Half Hollow Hills High School East. 

Matthew Berman, son of Andrea Berman Liebowitz, graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Business.  He will remain in New Orleans and will be working for an advertising agency.

Jed Cohen, son of Mort and Arlyne Cohen, graduated with honors from the Gallatin School of New York University.

Larissa Dale, daughter of Carrie and Jim Dale, graduated from Paumanok Elementary School as well as the Half Hollow Hills "AHAP" Program.  She’ll move up to West Hollow Middle School, her dad’s alma mater.

Jake Delouya, son of Shari and David Delouya, graduated from West Hollow Middle School. 

Matthew Diamond, son of Samantha and Mark Diamond, graduated from West Hollow Middle School.

Elliot Figueroa, son of Leslie and Ray Figueroa, graduated from Walt Whitman High School with an Advanced Regents Diploma. He is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the National Business and Marketing Honor Society of New york State.  Elliot received The President’s Silver Award for Community Service and has been a member of DECA, as well.  He was offered several scholarships at various schools to study business including Johnston and Wales, Chapel Hill, CW Post LIU, and Hofstra University.  Elliot will be attending Bernard Baruch College in New York City. 

Daniel Friedman, son of Debbie and Robert Friedman, received his Master's Degree in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Emily Friedman, daughter of Debbie and Robert Friedman, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Academic Distinction from Cornell University.  Emily had a double major in Spanish and American Studies.

Julia Goldberg, daughter of Pamela Basuk and Ed Goldberg, graduated Half Hollow Hills High School East as Valedictorian, receiving Gold Medals in Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.  She is President of the Spanish Honor Society and is a National AP Scholar, National Merit Finalist, and Finalist in LISEF and Intel ISEF.  With the alto saxophone she was SCMEA All-County, first Chair, and NYSSMA All-State alternate.  Julia also enjoys the piano, painting, and was a member of the varsity tennis team, attaining All-Division.  She will attend Yale University in the fall.

Michael Greenblatt, son of Dorie and Mark Greenblatt, graduated Half Hollow Hills High School East.  Michael is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, on the varsity soccer teem, a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and an AP Scholar with Honor.  He’ll be attending Tulane University this fall. 

Joshua Gutes, son of Sherry and Greg Gutes, received a Masters Degree in Education from Adelphi University.

Allison Hecht, daughter of Amy and Allen Hecht, graduated from West Hollow Middle School to Half Hollow Hills High School East.

Sara Hecht, daughter of Amy and Allen Hecht, graduated from High School East, where she was a Senior class officer, member of National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and Tri-M.  She also graduated from the Huntington School of Fine Arts.  Sara will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall to study Art and Design.

Beverly Holtz, daughter of Nirit Holtz, graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East and will be attending SUNY Potsdam in the fall, where she’ll study Natural Science.

Yael Jacknis, daughter or Suri and Rabbi Ian Jacknis, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College.  Yael was a member of the Oracle Society, IC’s Honor Socieity, and Phi Kappa Phi, a national Honor Society.
 
Jamie Kauffman, daughter of Amy and Mitchell Kauffman, graduated from Chestnut Hill Elementary School and will be going to West Hollow Middle School.

Kayla Kauffman, daughter of Amy and Mitchell Kauffman, graduated from West Hollow Middle School and will move up to High School East.  Earlier this month, she played her great grandmother’s violin on stage at Lincoln Center with the Gemini Youth Orchestra. 

Zachary Lanz, son of Leora and Alain Lanz, graduated Birchwood Intermediate School and will move up to Silas Wood Middle School this fall. 

Joelle Lichtman, daughter of Gwen and Stuart Lichtman, graduated from Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology with a major in Design and Environmental Analysis and a certificate in Gerontology.  She will be returning to Cornell in the fall to obtain her Masters.  Over the summer, Joelle will be taking courses to become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and she also plans to become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

Our member Andrea Berman Liebowitz graduated from C.W. Post University with her second Masters Degree in Educational Technology.

Ben Lippman, son of Karen and Eric Lippman, moved up from Sunquam Elementary to West Hollow Middle School.

Amanda Luper, daughter of Gail Glickman and Alan Luper, moved up from eighth grade and will begin High School East as a freshman in the fall.

Jayme Mintz, daughter of Mandy and Gary Mintz, graduated from Stimson Middle School and will be going to Walt Whitman High School.  Jayme received awards in Science, Technology, a gold medal for Spanish, and the Presidential Academic Excellence Award.

Jessica Mintz, daughter of Mandy and Gary Mintz, graduated from Stimson Middle School and will be going to Walt Whitman High School.  Jessica received awards for Science, English ,Technology, Spanish, the Presidential Academic Excellence Award, and received recognition for her volunteer work as an office runner.

Alyssa Rothman, daughter of Phyllis and Peter Rothman, moves up to Half Hollow Hills High School East from West Hollow Middle School, where she achieved High Honor Roll for three years.

Matthew Rothman, son of Phyllis and Peter Rothman, moves from Signal Hill Elementary School to West Hollow Middle School.

Lauren Rothstein, daughter of Lois and Howie Rothstein, graduated from the University of Michigan.  Lauren will be attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in the fall.

Justin Schuman, son of Peri and Peter Schacknow and Brian Schuman, graduated from Walt Whitman High School.  Justin made the Principal’s List, having achieved an average of 95 or greater each quarter of every year.  He was awarded a PTA Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the Friends of Oheka Otto Kahn Scholarship for Performing Arts, and the International Thespian Society Scholarship for Excellence and Versatility.  Justin attended his second All-State Choral Festival this year, performed a solo at the SCMEA/NYSCAME chorus concert, and choreographed and directed “Seussical”, the WWHS student-run musical.  He’ll be attending Northwestern University this fall, where he will major in Musical Theatre and minor in Dance.

Scott Schwartz, son of Pam and Jack Schwartz, graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East and will be going to Indiana University in September as a Business major.  Scott received a Business Honor Award, Silver Medal, and had the second highest academic average.

Alex Schweitzer, son of Susan and Neal Schweitzer, graduated from Walt Whitman High School and will be attending Roger Williams University.  Alex won a WWHS Citizenship Award.

Rory Stolzenberg, son of Sherry and Ira Stolzenberg, graduated from the Village School in Great Neck as a National Merit Scholar.  He’ll be attending the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar.

Jenna Teeman, daughter of Susan and Butch Teeman, graduated Half Hollow Hills High School East and will be attending the Business School at the University of Delaware.  Jenna was on the High Honor Roll every semester during high school.

Daniel Travis, son of Lisa and David Travis, graduated from Forest Park Elementary School and is moving up to the 6th grade at Candlewood Middle School

Joseph Weindling, son of Mary Jo and Moses Weindling, graduated from Birchwood Intermediate School and will move up to Silas Wood Middle School.  Joseph received the President's Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.


Achievements:

Lia Berger, daughter of Susane and Jeff Berger, a fourth grader, received a score of Outstanding on her NYSSMA Level Two Piano evaluation.

Emily Figueroa, daughter of Leslie and Ray Figueroa, is a rising senior at Walt Whitman High School.  She has been working very hard with her Competition Dance Team this year, winning the Platinum Award in their category - the highest award possible.  Most recently, the team was asked to perform at a fundraiser for cancer awareness.

Rebecca Harris, daughter of Caasi and Keith Harris, has been awarded the Elmira College Key in recognition of high scholastic achievement, leadership, citizenship and participation in extra-curricular activities.

Dara Kirshoff, daughter of Aileen and Robert Kirshoff, achieved a top score of "outstanding" on her NYSSMA vocal performance.  Dara will be starting high school this fall at Half Hollow Hills East.

Gabriel Kirshoff, son of Aileen and Robert Kirshoff, finished up a great year as president of the Junior class at Half Hollow Hills High School East.

Joshua Kurtzberg, son of Jackie and Brad Kurtzberg, won the South Huntington Teachers’ Association contest for his essay.  He was presented with the certificate and a $100 savings bond at a district board meeting.  Joshua just finished 6th Grade at Silas Wood Middle School; he also made the Honor Society.

Lauren Lichtman, daughter of Gwen and Stuart Lichtman, was promoted to financial analyst in the New York County District Attorney's Office after being instrumental in securing an indictment against a Chinese national and his company for fraudulently accessing New York banks and conspiring to sell long range missile and nuclear weapons materials to Iran. 

Adam Luper, son of Gail Glickman and Alan Luper, recently returned from a semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain.  After a summer internship at ISO in Jersey City, he will enter his senior year at the Kelley Business School / University of Indiana in Bloomington.  

Allison Mintz, daughter of Mandy and Gary Mintz, completed her first year at SUNY Albany, making the Dean's list both semesters.

Jordan Schuman, daughter of Peri and Peter Schacknow and Brian Schuman, was inducted into the American Sign Language, Tri-M, and International Thespian Honor Societies.  She received a perfect score on her Level 6 NYSSMA vocal solo, making her eligible for All-State next year.  This year, Jordan performed in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Chorus and played Gertrude in Walt Whitman High School’s production of Seussical.  She was also elected Rakevet Social Action / Tikkun Olam Vice President, and will serve on the USY Divisional Board this coming year.

Daniel Shnitkin, son of Robin and Mark Shnitkin, was honored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth based on his SAT scores.  He also received a Silver Medal in the Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University for his presentation on the Rubik's Cube, and was the first place Level 3 trophy winner at Eastern Athletics in Dix Hills this past fall and spring.  Daniel was also admitted to the National Junior Honor Society at West Hollow Middle School.

Corey Wasserman, son of Michele and David Wasserman, was inducted into the National Honor Society at Walt Whitman High School. 


Once again, mazal tov and yasher koah to all our students and their families!  May you continue to go m'hayil el hayil, from strength to strength.


Sisterhood simha cards can be ordered through e-mail or by phone from Mindy Maze, sisterhoodcards@shjc.org.