Stuart I. Pessin Merit-Based Scholarship
The Stuart I. Pessin merit-based grant awards four St. Louis teens $1500 toward their Israel experience. The grant is open to current high school students participating in a 2025 Israel experience. Candidates will be considered based on their application and a combination of academic and personal achievements.
The application for 2025 Stuart I. Pessin has closed. Applications for 2026 will open next year.
2025 Stuart I. Pessin Award Winners
Jewish Federation of St. Louis is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the Stuart I. Pessin Award: Jacob Berger, Esther Howley, Meira Levison and Mimsy Staum.
The awards, which are allocated from the Stuart I. Pessin Scholarship Fund, complement the existing Israel grant program funded by Jewish Federation of St. Louis. The merit-based award provides a means for select high school students to receive community funds by demonstrating their commitment to Judaism and the St. Louis Jewish community.
Jacob Berger is a sophomore at Parkway Center HS and a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth. In school, he is involved in Student Council, Boys Golf Team, Marching Band and Jewish Student Union (JSU). He is currently Vice President of his JSU chapter. This summer Jacob will be attending NCSY TJJ in Israel.
Esther Howley is a senior at Esther Miller Bais Yaakov St. Louis and a member of U City Shul. She has been active in her school shabbaton, Big Sister Little Sister and head of the yearly Lag B’Omer retreat. She has also been involved with United Jewish Sisters (UJSP) and the Jewish Girls Shabbat Youth Group. This fall Esther will be attending Tomer Devorah Seminary.
Meira Levison is a sophomore at Kadima HS and a member of U City Shul. In school she has been active in Better Together, Mock Trial, Kolainu Newpaper and the Spirit committee. She is involved in NCSY and JSU. This summer Meira will be attending NCSY GIVE.
Mimsy Staum is a senior at Esther Miller Bais Yaacov St. Louis and a member of Tpheris Israel (TICK). This year she is the G.O. President and involved with the school-wide shabbaton. She has also been active with and held leadership positions in United Jewish Sisters Program (UJSP) and Bnos. This fall Mimsy will be attending Bnos Sarah Seminary.
Previous Stuart I. Pessin Awardees
2024 Yaffa Goldman, Sari Gross, Rivka Kowalsky, Jenna Wasserman
2023 Sadie Levy, Chaya Kula, Nash Pratt, Georgia Bland
2022 Sarah Rumfelt, Yechiel Shulman, Zoe Klevens
2021 Liam Harir, Liam Oiknine, Hayley Lerner, Noah Kleinlehrer
2020 Amarah Friedman, Rachel Perera, Halle Wasserman, Ethan Winograd
2019 Jonah Boyer, Emma Cantor, Amit Harir & Kobi Recht
2018 Jacob Mann & Melissa Rush
2017 Rina Gersten & Yonah Shafner
2016 Aaron Koshner & Eitan Oberlander
2015 Kyla Gersten & Rachel Somorov
2014 Sarah Casteel & Jonathan Samuels
2013 Ryan Finkelstein & David Iken
2012 Andrew Brick & Noah Oberlander
2011 Shira LeDeaux & Miranda Siler
2010 Ethan Bennett & Hannah Kaiser
2009 Hannah Barg & Jennifer Koshner
2008 Lior Melnick & Stuart Portman
2007 Jennifer Levy & Phillip Weber
2006 Alana Baron & Donna Iken
2005 Jamie Dalin & Avraham Rovinsky
If you have any questions, contact Karen Rader at krader@jfedstl.org.