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Hillel Names Eight Students Exemplars of Excellence
August 30, 2001Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend  (WASHINGTON, DC, August 28, 2001) – A U.S. Marine, a student of French from Moscow, and a Jewish journalist are among the eight students named the Philip H. and Susan Rudd Cohen Student Exemplars of Excellence by Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. The students were presented the awards for their outstanding contributions to their Jewish campus communities at Hillel's recent Charles Schusterman International Student Leaders Assembly in Honesdale, Penn.
"Exemplars of Excellence are leaders among leaders," explains Hillel President and International Director Richard M. Joel. "They bring Jewish renaissance to life on their campuses."
The Exemplars of Excellence are:
University of Michigan student Eric Bukstein of Pittsburgh, Penn. Bukstein, a junior, is vice-chair of the governing board at Michigan Hillel and has revitalized the Israel group on campus. After clashes between the Jewish and Arab students on campus, Bukstein organized Jewish students for rallies, educational events, a conference and dialogues. In response to anti-Israel newspaper articles, Bukstein met with campus newspaper officials to make them aware of the complicated situation in Israel in order to get fairer coverage.
University of California, Berkeley student Scott Newman of Northridge, Calif. As president of Berkeley Hillel this past year, Newman, a senior, helped Jewish students cope with anti-Israel activities on campus and stand up for Israel. He created relationships between Hillel and University officials, which led him to co-chair the Office of Student Life's annual Leadership Symposium.
Texas A & M student Brette Peyton, El Paso, Tex. As the first vice-president and currently president of A & M Hillel, Peyton, a senior, has worked tirelessly to ensure all constituencies at Hillel have a voice. Due to her work, this summer was the first that Hillel had a full summer program. As a Hillel activist, she has worked with university officials to ensure the rights of non-Christians on campus. Peyton is an alumna of the first birthright israel trip.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) student Jason Rubin, Wesley Chapel, Fla. Before attending Virginia Tech, Rubin served in the U.S. Marines guarding U.S. embassies in Moscow and Trinidad. Rubin's Jewish identity flourished at Virginia Tech. He helped to build up Virginia Tech Hillel, with record attendances at programs this past year. He was a winter 2001 Hillel's birthright israel Program participant, and is currently Hillel president and a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Upon graduation, he will rejoin the Marines as a pilot.
Maria Sheykina, Moscow Hillel. Sheykina, a student of French at the Moscow Pedagogical University, has been active in Hillel for the past three years. She is a founding member of the Moscow Hillel Women's Choir, which will be touring the United States this fall. She coordinated the Passover Project 2000, was one of the first Schusterman Jewish Renaissance Fellows, and helped organize Rosh Hashana and other holiday services for the past two and a half years.
Clark University student Adrien Uretsky of Lincoln, Mass. Uretsky, a senior, has spent the last three years serving on the Clark Hillel Executive and General Boards. Mentoring other Jewish students at Hillel, Uretsky served as Hillel president, reaching out to the local community to create a connection between Hillel and local synagogues and Jewish agencies. Uretsky is currently creating the Clark Hillel Shabbat Siddur, which includes songs and prayers from all movements in Hebrew, translation and transliteration.
Queens College student Tina Weiss of Valley Spring, NY. For the past two years, Weiss, a senior, has served on the Queens College Executive Board, where she represented Hillel at various regional student meetings and conferences. She has helped the Orthodox community at Queens College understand more about the other Jewish movements. This past year, Weiss served as the liaison with KOACH and created social actions projects for Queens College Hillel, such as the "Jam If You Can" concert, where the admission price was canned food.
University of Maryland, College Park student Ariel Vegosen of Valley Spring, NY. Vegosen, a senior, piloted two Tzedek Hillel initiatives at Maryland. She was one of the first Maryland students to take the Urban Plunge, a 48-hour homeless immersion experience. She served as the Tzedek (justice) Fellow, planning social action programs for Maryland Hillel and was involved in Maryland's Tzedek Hunger and Homelessness Initiative. Vegosen was a founding traveler on Maryland's Alternative Spring Break to Irvine, Calif., and became a site lead for Maryland's Second Annual Spring Break in Memphis, which was crafted around a Black-Jewish dialogue. Immediately following the trip to Memphis, Vegosen left for a Passover mission to the Ukraine, providing seders to Jews in the region. In addition to her work at Hillel, Vegosen writes articles for The Washington Jewish Week and other Jewish publications.
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, is committed to creatively empowering and engaging Jewish students through its network of over 500 regional centers, campus Foundations and affiliates. Its long-standing dedication to building Jewish identity, while nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth in a pluralistic community, positions Hillel as a leader in building a stronger Jewish people and stronger Jewish future.
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