There are four $1500 awards that will be granted. Grant is only open to current high school students participating on a 2024 Israel experience. Candidates will be considered on the basis of a combination of academic and personal achievement.
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Stuart I. Pessin Teen Israel Grant Application
Please submit this completed application along with:
- A personal statement answering the question: Given that many students share common experiences, what sets you apart and is unique about your interests and passions?
- A resume detailing extracurricular activities both in the Jewish community and the community at large, awards, honors, skills and talents.
2023 Stuart I. Pessin Award Winners
Jewish Federation of St. Louis is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Stuart I. Pessin Award: Sadie Levy, Chaya Kula, Nash Pratt, and Georgia Bland.
The awards, which are allocated from the Stuart I. Pessin Scholarship Fund, compliment 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.
Sadie Levy is a sophomore at Parkway Central High School and a member at United Hebrew Congregation. At school, Sadie is an honorable student- she is involved with Yearbook, Student Council, Dance Marathon, Basketball, and Soccer. She is also a member of JSU. She plays club soccer for Lou Fusz Athletics and will be competing at nationals. For school sports, in soccer she received second team all-conference, and first team all-conference for basketball. She attended Camp Sabra for eight years, and this year she will be returning as a counselor for her ninth year. She is very excited for her trip to Israel this summer on her Israel Bound trip.
Chaya Kula is a senior at Esther Miller Bais Yaakov, and a member of Agudas Israel. At school Chaya is head of Student Council and is involved in extracurricular activities. Throughout her high school years, she has headed many activities/programs some of which include a school overnight on Leadership training and choir head. Chaya takes part in yearly school performances, put on for the Jewish community, participating in drama and choir. She gives guitar lessons to girls in her community and plays at school kumzitzes. She leads a girls youth group on Shabbos afternoons and helps out around the community. This fall Chaya will be attending a year of seminary at Machon Bnos Yehuda in Israel.
Nash Pratt is a sophomore at Parkway Central High School and a member of Shaare Emeth. He plays on the varsity tennis team at school and at Forest Lake. Nash volunteers weekly as a madrich, he participates in confirmation and is the youth social action chair on the SETYG board. Nash is also serves on the adult social action committee and the immigration committee at Shaare Emeth. This summer, Nash will be traveling to Central Europe and Israel with BBYO.
Georgia Bland is a student at Ladue High School, and a member of congregation Shaare Emeth. At school, she plays field hockey and lacrosse. Georgia is also on the Dance Marathon Executive Board and raised over $1000 this year. Outside of school Georgia volunteers weekly with the National Charity League and plays club field hockey and dance. Georgia is very excited for Israel Bound this summer!
Previous Stuart I. Pessin Awardees
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 Ben Panet at BPanet@JFedSTL.org or 314-442-3881.