This year’s graduation season began with plenty for Jewish Tidewater’s graduates and their families to celebrate.
Graduations provide time to recognize achievements, formally bid goodbye to a treasured educational institution, and move on to life’s next chapter. And celebrate!
This year, Jewish Tidewater has much to collectively feel proud of and celebrate – with so many graduating from respected schools, earning impressive degrees and awards, and planning rewarding futures.
Jewish News is excited to celebrate these outstanding graduates and cheer them on for their next steps. Mazel Tov!
Got a Jewish graduate?
If your graduate is not included here, please submit their information by June 28 for the July 15, 2024 issue. Include: Graduate’s name, school, achievements, what’s next, and parents’ names.
Email to: news@ujft.org. Be sure to put GRADUATE in the subject line.
Leila Abrams
Princess Anne High School
International Baccalaureate Program
Next: University of Virginia
Leila is the daughter of
Rachel and Marc Abrams.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Noah Alperin
James Madison University
Honors College with distinction and Cum Laude from the College of Arts and Letters
Next: Noah plans to spend the next year working at his father’s law firm, Alperin Law, sitting for the LSAT, and applying to law school.
Noah is the son of
Lori and Scott Alperin.
Katie Auerbach
Norfolk Academy
Next: University of Connecticut, where Katie plans to study animal science on the path to veterinary school.
Katie is the daughter of
Leslie and Andrew Auerbach.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Rebecca Auerbach
Norfolk Academy
Norfolk Academy peer counselor, Duke of Edinburgh International Bronze Award Recipient, BBYO chapter board member.
Next: Syracuse University
Rebecca is the daughter of
Leslie and Andrew Auerbach.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Casey Barkan
First Colonial High School
Graduated with honors and
Summa Cum Laude
Next: University of Virginia
Casey is the son of
Lauren and Alex Barkan.
Casey is the grandson of
Sandi and Michael Barkan and Judy and Raymond Goldman.
Mia Barkan
Virginia Tech
President of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority,
Dean’s List
Next: Attending Ross University
School of Veterinary Medicine.
Mia is the daughter of
Jen and Andrew Barkan.
Sarah Blais
James Madison University
Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned the Student Achievement Award from the Health Sciences Department for scoring in the top 5% (#1 rank) out of 400 students on a general knowledge of science assessment.
Next: Medical University of
South Carolina, School of Nursing
Sarah is the daughter of
Pam and David Blais.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Sylvie Cardon
Tidewater Collegiate Academy
Next: Gap year in California
Sylvie is the daughter of
Elyse and David Cardon.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Allison Comess
University of Maryland
Next: University of Baltimore Law School
Allison is the daughter of Jill Comess. Allison is the granddaughter of
Allan and Jean (of blessed memory) Comess.
Kacey Cooper
Washington and Lee University
Kacey graduated with honors and completed a 2-year research lab in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences.
Next: Master of Science in Business/Brand Strategy at Virginia Commonwealth University
Kacey is the daughter of
Betsy and Erik Cooper.
Jordan Familant
College of Charleston
Jordan earned the Senior Senator of the Year Award for his work in student government. Jordan served as deputy chief of staff in Student Government Association and Ambassador and mentor for Hillel.
Next: Jordan is working for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
Jordan is the son of
Judit Roth and Bruce Familant.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Aiden Feigenbaum
American University
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Next: Headed to Seattle to work for Microsoft.
Aiden is the son of
Rachael and John Feigenbaum.
Hailey Foer
James Madison University
Master’s Degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Next: Hailey looks forward to becoming a teacher in the Virginia Beach Public Schools as well as a Religious School teacher at Ohef Sholom Temple.
Hailey is the daughter
of Tammi and Jerry Foer.
Carly Goldberg
Columbia High School Maplewood, N.J.
National Honor Society and track and cross-country athlete
Next: Carly will attend the University of South Carolina where she will major in retail management
Carly is the granddaughter of Anne and Sandy Goldberg.
Jacob Goldstein
Great Bridge High School
National Honor Society and an Honors Graduate
Next: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Civil Engineering, US Air Force ROTC, NCAA DIV III wrestler
Jacob is the son of
Joanne and Matthew Goldstein.
Isabella Leon
Norfolk Academy
High Honor Roll, Cum Laude Society, Batten Leadership Literacy Fellow, Virginia Thomas Bell Award (greatest achievement in the creative arts)
Next: William & Mary
Isabella is the daughter of
Lisa Finkel Leon and David Leon.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Anna Lisner
Georgia Institute of Technology
Anna earned Highest Honors and received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Next: Master’s at Georgia Tech
Anna is the daughter of
Diana and Charles Lisner.
Rachel Lisner
University of Virginia
Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Chemistry.
Next: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Rachel is the daughter of
Diana and Charles Lisner.
Sarah Lisner
University of Virginia
Duncan-Hyde Clark Award, Kenneth G Elzinga Scholarship, and the Julia Devlin Award in development economics
Next: Associate consultant at Bain & Company in Boston.
Sarah is the daughter of
Diana and Charles Lisner.
Noah Mendelson
University of Virginia
Noah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Leadership.
Noah is the son of
Sara and Judd Mendelson.
Jacob Morrissey
Granby High School
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Next: Jacob plans to attend
Tidewater Community College in the fall and transfer to University of Central Florida to become a sportscaster.
Jacob is the son of
Alyson and Chris Morrissey.
Sam Nossen
First Colonial High School
Legal Studies Academy
National Honor Society, Mock Trial Team, and Scholastic Bowl Team
Next: Sam will attend William & Mary.
Sam is the son of Joe and Bill Nossen.
Zev Pasternak
JR Tucker High School
Richmond, Va.
Honor Graduate
Next: Penn State University, Schreyer Honors College
Zev is the son of
Dr. Lori and Jake Pasternak.
Zev is the grandson of
Vivian and Burke Margulies.
Audrey Peck
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Phi Beta Kappa
Next: Audrey will be a special-projects manager for a joint initiative between UNC and Manchester City before moving to Melbourne, Australia in September.
Audrey is the daughter of
Stephanie and Paul Peck.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Jonathan Peck
James Madison University
Next: Jonathan will serve as a marketing intern this summer in the Old Dominion University Athletic Department.
Jonathan is the son of
Stephanie and Paul Peck.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Daniel Santo
Sherwood High School
Sandy Spring, Md.
Next: Daniel will attend Salisbury University where he plans to study to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Daniel is the son of
Deborah Schechner and Adam Santo. Daniel is the grandson of Dr. Steve and Marge Schechner.
Sophia Schechner
Walter Johnson High School Bethesda, Md.
Next: William & Mary
Sophia is the daughter of
Dr. Adam and Jessica Schechner. Sophia is the granddaughter of
Dr. Steve and Marge Schechner.
Noah Schranz
Granby High School
Next: UCLA
Noah is the son of
Joanna and Craig Schranz.
Joshua Schwarz
Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Science in Clinical Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Philosophy
Next: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Joshua is the son of Lora Schwarz.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Ilanit Sedek
University of Maryland
A. James Clark School of Engineering
Cum Laude, Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honors Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honors Society
Next: George Washington University’s
Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine Program
I
lanit is the daughter of
Naomi and Simon Sedek.
Izzy Seeman
Norfolk Collegiate School
AP Capstone Diploma
Next: Izzy will study in Israel and plans to attend College of Charleston, where she will major in business and minor in Jewish Studies.
Izzy is the daughter of
Patti and Paul Seeman.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Daniel Shames
Ft. Mill High School, Ft. Mill, S.C.
Bronfman Fellow
Next: Brown University
Daniel is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shames.
Alex Sherman
Kellam High School
Eagle Scout
Next: Alex will attend George Mason University where he will study Information Technology – Cybersecurity.
Alex is the son of
Linda and Eric Sherman.
Logan Simon
Norfolk Academy
Academic Achievement in Psychology Award and Helping Hands Award
Next: University of Georgia
Logan is the daughter of
Shelly and Britt Simon.
Hannah Stredler
Norfolk Academy
Cum Laude Society, Norfolk Academy AP Scholar Award, University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship Recipient
Next: University of Tennessee College
of Nursing
Hannah is the daughter of
Karen Mason and Andrew Stredler.
Rachael Stromberg
James Madison University
Honors Scholar with Distinction
v
Next: Rachael will be working as a preschool teacher at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center.
Rachael is the daughter of
Robin and Burle Stromberg.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013
Sam Stromberg
Norfolk Academy
Honor Roll, Varsity Baseball, volunteer basketball coach in Virginia Beach, member of several extracurricular clubs at school such as Livestrong
Next: University of South Carolina
Sam is the son of
Robin and Burle Stromberg.
Hebrew Academy class of 2017
Mitchell Tall
George Mason University
Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology with a concentration in Cyber Security
Next: a career in cyber security
Mitchell is the son of
Rebecca and Jeff Tall.
Skylar Tessler
University of Virginia
Highest Distinction
Next: William & Mary Law School
Skylar is the daughter of
Terry and Jeff Tessler.
Sanni-Jannah Jazz Wagenaar
Virginia Commonwealth University
Magna Cum Laude
Next: Sanni is working as an entomologist.
Sanni is the daughter of Mindy Brown.
Hebrew Academy class of 2013