Celebrating student excellence

A “Celebration of Excellence,” the annual ceremony at which HAFTR High School recognizes and applauds students’ high academic performances as well as achievements in chesed/community service, Judaic Studies enrichment programs, art, and foreign languages, was held at Congregation Beth Sholom of Lawrence on May 21.
Freshmen were named to the Principals’ Honor Roll, and sophomores, juniors and seniors were inducted into the Deah Chapter of the National Honor Society. Principals Ms. Naomi Lippman and Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen congratulated students on their remarkable accomplishments, and then handed the microphone over to senior Isaak Garber, vice president of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society.
He presided over the candle-lighting ceremony, in which nine high-achieving juniors lit candles representing qualities valued by the honor society: Torah — Evan Harris; Scholarship — Rebecca Goldberg; Leadership — Katie Glickman; Character — Jason Elbaz; Service — Daniella Seelenfreund; Achievement — Michael Weissman; Creativity - Yonina Keschner; Commitment — Dena Gershkovich and Dedication — Renee Frenkel.
“Lighting the candle of creativity brought to my attention how much HAFTR has truly focused on making all of its students into an artist in their own way,” Yonina Keschner said. “It made me appreciate my creative skills as well as everyone else’s, not in the painting sense, but in the sense that we are all able to imagine what our future might hold and what we can do to be the best people possible.”
Miriam Friedman, president of the Deah Chapter and this year’s valedictorian, served as the event’s master of ceremonies. She spoke about “finding your heart within Google” and the importance for individuals to take control of their actions, especially during this technologically obsessed era.

“It was such an honor to speak at the Deah ceremony,” Friedman said. She extended her congratulations to all students who were inducted into Deah, which requires a 92 average or above in both General Studies and Judaic Studies. “It’s a really big accomplishment to be in Deah,” she added.
Julia Katz, Deah student of the year, compared her peers’ abilities to influence society to those of Malala Yousafzai, the teenage girl who spoke out against the Taliban to gain educational rights for women in Pakistan. “It was amazing to speak about Malala Yousafzai, who is such an inspirational young woman, and express the importance of having a strong sense of identity both for big things and everyday occurrences,” Katz said.
The ceremony concluded with incoming Deah president, Russell Charnoff, and Deah vice president, Joshua Lederer, reciting the official National Honor Society pledge. Students and their families were invited to the ballroom, where beautiful art and computer graphics displays were set up by faculty members Dale Malekoff and Wendy Friend.
As a member of HAFTR’s Art Institute, it was so nice to see my hard work displayed, and I believe that my classmates would agree. Science and math research projects, entered in various competitions, were also available for viewing. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing persistent efforts pay off, and all of the students recognized during the evening hope to continue to enjoy the satisfaction that hard work brings.