May 19, 2006 -- Stern College for Women honored its own on Monday, May 8, when it announced the valedictorians for both general and Jewish studies as well as the recipients of a host of other awards.

Leah Olive, a graduating senior from Skokie, IL, was named as the valedictorian for both general studies and the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies, which is something of a rarity.

Dean Karen Bacon, the Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of Stern College for Women, said she could only recall one time in the school’s recent history where one young woman held the top grade point average in both the Jewish and secular studies programs at the college.

“Leah’s outstanding academic record is a reflection of her strong intellectual abilities and interests applied to the study of Torah and the liberal arts and sciences,” Dean Bacon said. “She has taken the best that we have to offer in the tradition of Torah Umadda and made it her own.”

Valedictorians of the Sy Syms School of Business at Stern College were Jacqueline (Rivka) Kukuy of Thornhill, Ontario, and Janna Almo of Seattle, WA.

Dr. Jacob Wisse was named the Lillian F. and William L. Silber Professor of the Year. Dr. Wisse, an associate professor in Art History, just completed his first full year at Stern.

Dr. Joshua Bacon, associate professor of Psychology, was chosen for an award by the senior class. Dr. Nora Nachumi, assistant professor of English, was awarded by the junior class.

Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, an instructor in Jewish Studies, was honored for successfully developing the Basic Jewish Studies program that just completed its first year.

Professor Peninnah Schram was given the Dean Karen Bacon Award for an Outstanding Senior Faculty Member. Dr. David Glaser, assistant professor of Music, composer, and recent recipient of an American Academy of Arts and Letters award was presented with the Dean Karen Bacon Award For an Outstanding Junior Faculty Member.

Other awards included:

American Institute of Chemists Award for Excellence in Chemistry
Chana Levine

Miriam Araten Memorial Award for Excellence in Bible
Shifra Cooper
Devorah Dickstein
Karen Feit

Professor Daniel Block Memorial Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science
Dana Glasner

Jacob Bluttal Award (established by Mrs. Dora Bluttal) for Excellence in Behavioral Sciences
Elana Goldmintz

Eastern College Athletic Conference Merit Award to Outstanding Scholar-Athlete
Janna Almo

Mr. and Mrs. H.I. Feldman Award for Excellence in Biology
Sarah Weinerman

Bryna Miller Fertig Memorial Award for Volunteer Work with Hospital Patients
Talia Weiss

Malka Fishhaut Memorial Award (established by Rabbi and Mrs. Earl Fishhaut and the late Rabbi Leon Fishhaut) for Excellence in Jewish Studies
Elana Goldmintz
Chana Levine
Gavriella Mintz

Abe Fleishaker Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish History
Malka Krupka
Leah Olive

Esther Fleishaker Memorial Award for Excellence in Bible
Lauren Miller

Sol and Sarah Friedland Memorial Award (established by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Friedland) for Excellence in Hebrew Literature
Rebecca Feiner
Leah Weiland

Herman Gerofsky Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish History
Aliza Brand
Rachel Simpser

Benjamin and Jennie Hammer Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Science
Eliana Baer
Tova Glatter
Elisheva Krausz

Professor Laurel Hatvary Award for Creative Writing
Elana Meyersdorf

Sara T. Herschfus Memorial Award (established by Dr. and Mrs. Morris Epstein) for Excellence in English
Emily Fischer (Advertising)
Shoshana Lichtenstein (Public Relations)
Sarah Rindner (Literature)

Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology
Malka Krupka

Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in History
Michal Bacon
Jennifer Kraut

Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Physics
Ilana Pister

Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Pre-Engineering
Avital Merl

Ida Lamport Hurewitz Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychology
Karen Feit

Prof. Moses L. Isaacs Memorial Award (established by Mrs. Elizabeth Isaacs) for Excellence in Chemistry
Chana Levine
Yardanna Platt

Ramie Kertzner Memorial Award for Strong Commitment to Chesed and Jewish Identity
Hillary Lewin

Moses Langer Memorial Award for Excellence in Sociology
Allison Hartman

Langfan Family Constitutional Oratorical Prize
First Place
Sarah Willig
Second Place
Michal Warshawsky
Third Place
Grace Charles
Ilana Levin

Jacob and Katie Lashin Memorial Award (established by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Friedland) for Creativity in the Biological Sciences
Frida Fridman
Helen Nissim

Rabbi Chaim Levine Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies
Allison Goldberg
Rachel Jacobson
Deborah Rybak
Jennifer Turk

Morris Lipton Memorial Award (established by Mr. and Mrs. H.I. Feldman) for Excellence in Art History
Annalisa Mainzer Hughes

Morris Lipton Memorial Award (established by Mr. and Mrs.
H.I. Feldman) for Excellence in Studio Art
Jennifer Barth
Chaya James
Estee Kukin

Dean David Mirsky Memorial Award for Excellence in English
Adrianne Eichen (Literature)
Laya Pelzner (Public Relations)
Rebecca Schechter (Advertising)
Barrie Zigman (Public Relations)
Yardanna Platt (Writing)

Marcia Pearlstein Memorial Award for Excellence in Hebraic Studies
Michal Bensoussan
Yadina Ebrani

Professor Nathaniel L. Remes Memorial Award (established by the Class of 1978) for Character, Personality and Service to Stern College for Women
Deena Hassan

Joseph Rosenberg Memorial Award (established by his sister and
brother-in-law, Livia and Sidney Turkel) for Excellence in Jewish Studies
Yael Sadan-Barach
Ariella Weisz

Constance Schwartzappel Memorial Award for Excellence in Philosophy
Elisheva Stern

Gloria Schrenzel Sheer Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies
Hava Abbe

Gilda R.S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Economics
Olena Zhuravska

Gilda R.S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in History
Aliza Holzer

Gilda R.S. Silverman Memorial Award (established by her parents, Esther and Bernard Schrenzel) for Excellence in Speech Pathology / Audiology
Rachel Ackerman
Rebecca Weisfogel

Gilda R.S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Philosophy
Shira Sturm

Gilda R.S. Silverman Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychology
Yael Grunseid

Phyllis Gordon Solomon Memorial Award (established by her parents, Wilferd and Balfoura Gordon) for Excellence in Pre-Law Studies
Mindi Guttman

Stern College Alumnae Association Award for Service to the College and Academic Achievement
Eliana Rudolph

Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Business Athletic Award to the Most Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete
Frida Fridman

Mrs. Ghity Stern Award for Stellar Character and Commitment to the Jewish Community
Cynthia Bernstein

Thompson Brooks/Cole Book Award in Chemistry
Dinah Zaghi

Lisa Wachtenheim Memorial Award for Service
Rivka Kahn

Phyllis Weidhorn Memorial Prize for Excellence in Theatre
Susan R. Nobel

Werthentheil Memorial Award to a Prospective Law Student for Academic Excellence
Elisheva Krausz
Jessica Taranda

Morris and Chaya Zuckerman Memorial Award for Best Research Paper in Jewish History
Miriam Goldman

Education Department Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Michele Ann Blechner

Education Department Award for Excellence in Commitment and Service in Early Childhood Education
Orlee Levin

Education Department Award for Excellence in Elementary Education
Debra Schwartzbard

History/Political Science Department Award for Dedication and Commitment to Social Justice
Cynthia Bernstein

Psychology Department Award for Excellence in Psychology
Devorah Dickstein
Leah Riber