Tidewater Jewish Foundation recently announced Avi Malkin as the 2012 recipient of the Stein Family College Scholarship.
A native of Newport News, Malkin is a Menchville High School graduate, ranking 10th in a class of 390. After tossing around school ideas, he visited the College of William and Mary in April and it “stuck.” Malkin says that his AP Statistics teacher, Mr. Traner, really opened his eyes to numbers, got him excited about applying statistics in his everyday life, and ultimately gave him the push to pursue his interest in finance. Malkin is interested in the stock market and hopes to become an investment banker.
In addition to his academic record, Malkin spends much of his time volunteering and working at the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula. “The UJC is like my second family, my second home.”
He began attending summer camp at the UJC JCC when he was in kindergarten, and attended every year. “Camp has had a great impact on my life. It has helped to shape me into the person I am today,” he says. Now, Malkin works for the summer camp and helps to educate the younger Jewish generation.
It was also through camp and his work at the UJC that got Malkin interested in basketball, both playing on teams and coaching young children. Time permitting, he plans to continue playing basketball and volunteering his time when he’s at William & Mary.
“Thank you so much to the Stein family for your trust in me. I appreciate everything you have done and for making my college dreams a reality,” says Malkin.
The Stein Family College Scholarship annually awards $10,000 to a Jewish student from Hampton Roads who demonstrates a strong academic record, provides service to the Jewish community and demonstrates financial need.
The Scholarship is dedicated in loving memory to Arlene Shea Stein, wife of Gerald Stein and mother of Steve, Lisa, Craig and Debbie. Arlene had a deep love of learning and a strong belief that higher education should be accessible to all. Both Arlene and Jerry were unable to complete their college educations due to financial difficulties. The Stein children and grandchildren set up this scholarship as a testament to Arlene Stein and to honor the values she held dear.
Prior recipients of the Stein Family College Scholarship include Morgan Conley, 2009 (Brandeis University), Eric White, 2010 (University of Virginia), and Marissa Arager, 2011 (George Mason University).
For more information about the Stein Family College Scholarship, contact Shelby Tudor, donor services manager at TJF at 965-6104 or studor@ujft.org.