Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman joined local Jewish students, community leaders and the United Jewish Community/Jewish Federation of Las Vegas (UJC/JFLV) representatives last week to announce the establishment of the David Ezra UNLV/Hillel Opportunity Scholarship Fund. Ezra, a Las Vegas real estate executive and CEO of Ezra International Realty, a real-estate brokerage specializing in high-rise condominiums, donated $50,000 to create the scholarship and provide opportunities for Jewish students to expand their educational and cultural experiences on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus through their involvement in Hillel.
"The goal of this scholarship is to help UNLV's Hillel chapter to become one of the strongest in the country," Ezra said. "I am also challenging other entrepreneurs to join me in growing this scholarship to a level so that every deserving Jewish student has the opportunity to get an education and experience Jewish life on campus."
Joining Ezra and Goodman at the event were Robin Greenspun, a member of the Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Board of Directors and chairman of the UNLV Hillel Board; Leonard Stone, a board member of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas; Meyer Bodoff, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas; and Drew T. Lesicko, the director of Jewish student life at UNLV Hillel.
The David Ezra UNLV/Hillel Opportunity Scholarship Fund will be given over a two-year period to subsidize the cost of attendance at UNLV for one year at a time. Students will be asked to complete an application, as well as present an essay explaining their interest in the opportunity to contribute to Jewish life on campus. Applicants will also be required to participate in the interview process and present financial information confirming their need for assistance
"In creating this scholarship, our intention is to create an environment that will benefit young Jewish students through their journey of academia," Ezra said. "I want to help create future leaders who will give back to the community, the school and the very program that reached out to them."
Bodoff said the organization is honored to be the recipient of the sizable donation.
"The scholarship is important for the future of Hillel," Bodoff said. "We are confident this will generate a new crop of leadership in the community and a new avenue for students in need."
"Las Vegas is the fastest growing Jewish community in the country. We must find new and innovative ways to deliver services to our campus community. This scholarship will provide a new motivation for student leaders. The scholarship lets our students focus on learning and gaining experience and frees them from having to work their way through school," Lesicko added.