Annual Awards Ceremony Recognizes the Year’s Outstanding Achievements Stern College for Women recognized the accomplishments of its students and faculty on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at its annual awards ceremony. Dr. Karen Bacon, the Mordecai D. Katz and Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences, announced the valedictorians for both general and Jewish studies as a well as the recipients of a host of other awards. In her opening remarks, Dr. Bacon noted that “there are some people who rise above everyone else, who somehow distinguish themselves in some extraordinary way and reach beyond their grasp. And those are the young women who we are going to recognize this evening for special awards. All of them are remarkable for not only having completed with distinction our Torah Umadda [Torah and secular knowledge] curriculum but by the commitments they make in their lives to both the community, to the Jewish people, to the larger world and to being a kiddush Hashem [sanctification of the name] in everything they do and everywhere they go.”

Dr. Karen Bacon, flanked by the dozens of award to be given out

The valedictorian of general studies for Stern College is Peri Zundell. Zundell noted that she and her classmates were fortunate enough to receive the tools and resources to navigate their transformative years and essentially define themselves. “In this room alone we represent a host of different majors and different career plans, but we also all share a common connection to the Yeshiva University community and the Torah Umadda ideal upon which it was founded,” said Zundell. “We know who we are as individuals, but we also know who we are as members of the Yeshiva University family and what is expected of us for the betterment of the Jewish community and the broader society.” Rochel Hirsch was named valedictorian of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies. In her address she talked about how Jewish studies at Stern College is characterized by a remarkable diversity that allows students to study Tanakh, Torah, Talmud, Jewish history and philosophy. “Halacha [Jewish law] and Torah, in all its forms, are approached from many different vantage points,” said Hirsch. “For me, witnessing that multi-faceted Talmud Torah at an institutional level has inspired me and many of my peers.” Faculty Awards Lillian F. and William L. Silber Professor the Year Dr. Alyssa Schuck, clinical assistant professor of biology Dean Karen Bacon Faculty Award Dr. Marian Gidea, chairman of the mathematics department, and Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, instructor in Jewish Studies Senior Class Award for Outstanding Professor in General Studies Dr. Harvey Babich, chairman of the biology department, and Dr. Ann Peters, associate professor of English Senior Award for Outstanding Professor in Jewish Studies Mrs. Nechama Price, senior lecturer of Judaic Studies and Bible, and Rabbi Daniel Wolff, instructor in Jewish Studies Other Awards American Institute of Chemists Award for Excellence in Biochemistry Tehilla Berger American Institute of Chemists Award for Excellence in Chemistry Ilana Karp The Cengage Learning Book Award for Excellence in Chemistry Tzivia Linfield The Macmillian Publishing Book Award for Excellence in Chemistry Neda Shokrian The Lea and Alfons Blau Award in Life Sciences for a Student Entering a PhD Program Ilana Karp Miriam Araten Memorial Award for Excellence in Bible Adina Cohen Rochel Hirsch Michelle Miller Art Department Award for Excellence in Art History Tziporah Singer Biology Department Award for Excellence in Biology Rachel Fried Peri Zundell Biology Department Award for Creativity in the Biological Sciences Neda Shokrian Professor Daniel Block Memorial Award for Excellence in Mathematics Marjorie Liebling Jacob Bluttal Award for Excellence in Behavioral Sciences Talia Schiff Computer Science Department Award for Excellence in Computer Science Rachel Moskowitz Ilana Radinsky English Department Award for Creative Writing Sonia Betesh Rivka Reiter Aliza Chaya Esral Memorial Award for Excellence in Studio Art Rachel Feinberg Mr. & Mrs. H.I. Feldman Award for Excellence in Biology Rebecca Katz Bryna Miller Fertig Memorial Award for Volunteer Work with Cancer Patients Rebecca Lax Elizabeth Mandelbaum The Shayndel Feuerstein Award in Literature and Art Rochel Hirsch The Lawrence P. Fischer Memorial Award for Essay in Jewish History Zoe Abboudi Malka Fishhaut Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies Aviva Jacobs Michelle Laub Abe Fleishaker Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish History Shoshana Schreier Esther Rothman Esther Fleishaker Memorial Award for Excellence in Bible Temima Kanarfogel Rebecca Zami Sol and Sarah Friedland Memorial Award for Excellence in Hebrew Literature Leah Klahr Herman Gerofsky Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish History Rachel Fried Benjamin and Jennie Hammer Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Science Yael Blau Sara T. Herschfus Memorial Award for Excellence in English Leah Klahr Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology Allison Schachter Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychology Shira Wein Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Social Sciences Alyssa Wruble Rebecca Zami Prof. Moses L. Isaacs Memorial Award for Excellence in Chemistry Daniella Miller Morris and Esther Kermaier Memorial Award for a Student Pursuing the Field of Jewish Education Aviva Jacobs Shoshana Schreier Moses Langer Memorial Award for Excellence in Sociology Michelle Laub Langfan Family Constitutional Oratorical Prize - First Place Rachel Rosenberg Langfan Family Constitutional Oratorical Prize – Second Place Shayna Doretsky Langfan Family Constitutional Oratorical Prize – Third Place Ashira Pollack Jacob and Katie Lashin Memorial Award for Creativity in the Biological Sciences Nechama Dembitzer Rabbi Chaim Levine Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies Tehilla Berger Paulette Tawil Morris Lipton Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Rachel Shafier Mathematics Department Award for Excellence in Mathematics Ilana Radinsky The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Best Critical Essay Fayga Paley The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Best Short Story Submission in Creative Writing Shoshana Ciment The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Excellence in English Daniella Dyckman Fayga Paley The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Excellence in History Rochel Hirsch Shoshana Marder The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism Shoshana Ciment The Dean David and Sarrah Mirsky Memorial Award for Excellence in Philosophy Yael Blau Women’s Branch of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies Nicole Rothenberg Marcia Pearlstein Memorial Award for Excellence in Hebraic Studies Rebecca Askarinam Paulette Tawil Professor Nathaniel L. Remes Memorial Award for Character, Personality and Service to SCW Talia Schiff Joseph Rosenberg Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies and Ethics Yael Blau Eliana Kaufman Esther Rothman The Edward A. Rothman Memorial Award for the Best Paper on Issues in Judaism in Practice Shayna Herszage Constance Schwartzappel Memorial Award for Excellence in Speech Pathology & Audiology Eliana Kaufman Gilda R. S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education Leora Meyers Gilda R. S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Elementary Education Alyssa Roth Gilda R. S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Speech Pathology & Audiology Daniella Azose Nurit Esral Jordana Levine Phyllis Gordon Solomon Memorial Award for Excellence in Pre-law Studies Fayga Shulman The Esther Zuroff Alumnae Award for Service to the College and Academic Achievement Shirah Isaacs Office of Student Life Student Leadership Award Adina Cohen Shoshana Marder Shirel Swissa Lisa Wachtenheim Memorial Award for Service Yael Blau Susan R. Nobel Wertentheil Memorial Award to a Prospective Law Student Elizabeth Soclof Ariella Yomtobian