Graduations are a time to recognize achievements, formally bid farewell to a valued educational institution, prepare for the next steps along life’s journey, and of course, to celebrate!
Jewish Tidewater has much to applaud with its graduates – the awards, impressive degrees, and outstanding plans are all worthy of celebrations – the Jewish News wishes all these graduates and their families the heartiest of Mazel Tovs!
Sonya Reese Adler
Maury High School
Graduating with Honors, National Honor Society, Honorable Mention in District Art Contest
Next: James Madison University, majoring in Political Science
Sonya is the daughter of Ashley Adler and Josh Adler.
Adam Alper
Granby High School
International Baccalaureate Program
Next: American University
Adam is the son of Dr. Jennifer Rush and Dr. Jason Alper.
Avital Alpert
Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
Certificate of Meritorious Service
Next: Penn State, majoring in Biology
Avital is the daughter of Avi and Karen Alpert and the granddaughter of Reuven and Judy Rohn.
Lindsey Anderson
Green Run Collegiate
Next: University of Virginia as a Posse Scholar. She plans to major in Commerce with a concentration in management and a minor in Environmental Studies on a pre- Law track. She was also awarded a scholarship through the Green Run Collegiate Foundation.
Lindsey is the daughter of Rachel and Eric Anderson.
Zachary Armentrout
Norfolk Academy
Next: University of Virginia, majoring in Political Science
Zachary is the son of
Romy Radin and Tony Armentrout.
Carly Bartel
College of Charleston
Communications major with a minor in Jewish Studies
Next: Event planning in downtown Charleston
Carly is the daughter of Gary Bartel and Shannon Slade.
Nisan Bates
Project Amplify Dual Enrollment in Virginia Weslyan University and Tidewater Collegiate Academy
Named Scholar of the Year 2022, Bronze and Silver Girl Scout Awards
Nisan is the child of Mara and Ken Bates.
Zachary Bornstein
Virginia Tech
Major in Mathematics and Computational Modeling and Data Analytics
Next: Two-year graduate program at Virginia Tech
Zachary is the son of Chad and Lynne Bornstein
Aubrey Council
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
Honor Graduate, National Honor Society, and founding member of Saints Endowment Council
Next: William & Mary and plans to study business
Aubrey is the daughter of Kenda Goldberg Council and Michael Council
and the granddaughter of Kay and Don Goldberg..
Collin Crum
Norfolk Academy
Next: Florida State University
Collin is the son of
Drs. Rachel and Thom Crum.
Luke Atticus Dobrin
Norfolk Academy
Eagle Scout, Renaissance Reading scholar, bagpiper with Newport News Police Pipes and Drums and Siren City Pipe Band, Master Scuba Diver
Next: Hampden-Sydney College
Luke is the son of
Dr. Benjamin and Laura Pritchard Dobrin.
Ryan Hunter Dobrinsky
Cape Henry Collegiate
National Honor Society, Varsity Baseball
Next: Virginia Wesleyan University, commitment to play baseball at Virginia Wesleyan University
Ryan is the son of Robby and Tracy Dobrinsky
Amelia Fox
Loyola Marymount
University Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies
Delta Zeta Sorority (VP Finance), Belles Service Organization (focused on domestic violence awareness and prevention in the Los Angeles area)
Next: Community director at The Washington Center in Washington DC where she will provide housing supervision, programming, emergency assistance, and community facilitation services
for undergraduate students attending internships and seminars in D.C.
Mallory Gerstein
Virginia Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice December 2024
Member of VWU Camerata traveling choir which performed at Carnegie Hall Honor Societies, Iota Alpha Tau: Choir Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma: Criminal Justice Honor Society
Next: Mortuary Science program at Tidewater Community College.
Mallory is the daughter of Beth Gerstein and William Gerstein and the granddaughter of Dorothy and Edwin Salomonsky.
Ethan Goldberg
University of South Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Magna Cum Laude, Eta Sigma Delta International Honor Society for hospitality students, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Gamma Chi Chapter, Club Management Association of America, chapter board member, Sommelier level 1 certified
Next: International Hospitality graduate school master’s program and 9-month externship at Alotian Club, Arkansas.
Ethan is the grandson of Sandy and Anne Goldberg.
Matthew Gross
Loyola University New Orleans
College of Business Marketing/Finance
The College of Business scholarship awarded senior year
Next: Matt will join Strategies for Wealth as a Wealth Management Analyst in New York City.
Matthew is the son of Kim and Michael Gross
Megan Helman
First Colonial High School
Two-Time captain of FCHS Patriettes Dance Team, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, DanceSpace Dance Company.
Next: University of South Carolina
Megan is the daughter of Nancy and Phil Helman and the granddaughter of Dorothy and Edwin Salomonsky and Myra* and David Helman. *of blessed memory
Elizabeth Rachel Hughes
Temple University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre; University of the Arts
University of the Arts; Secretary of the Jewish Student Alliance, Distinguished Scholar/Artist Scholarship, Ira Brind Scholarship, Dean’s List
Next: Lizz is performing in a professional production of the musical Rent in Philadelphia and plans to move to New York City to pursue a career in musical theater.
Lizz is the daughter of Dorothy Shiloff Hughes and Ralph Hughes.
Leo Kamer
Johns Hopkins University
Honors graduate, Phi Beta Kappa
Next: Pursuing a master’s degree in international relations at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Leo is the son of
David Kamer and Marcia Samuels and grandson of
Linda and Stanley Samuels.
Ayla Eden Kell
Norfolk Academy
Next: University of Virginia
Ayla is the daughter of Gary and Jessica Kell
Sarah Kosovsky
Ocean Lakes High School
Math and Science Academy
Graduating with honors, 4.5 GPA, co-chair officer of National Honors Society, OLHS varsity field hockey team, The Stein Family College Scholarship 2025 recipient
Next: University of Virginia, majoring in Cognitive Science
Sarah is the daughter of Anna and Leon Kosovsky.
Owen Kulow
Norfolk Academy
Honor Roll, Aerospace Team Founder, All- Conference XC, Winter Track, Spring Track
Next: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Owen is the son of
Susu Kulow and Keith Kulow.
Emily Leon
Cape Henry Collegiate
Honor Roll, National Honor Society
Next: Emily will attend Young Judaea Year Course in Israel and then Allegheny College with a Trustee Scholarship.
Emily is the daughter of
Lisa Finkel Leon and David Leon.
Hebrew Academy (SIA) class of 2018
Silver Lerner
Norfolk Academy
BBYO president, track, broadcasting captain
Next: University of Maryland
Silver is the daughter of Brad and Stacey Lerner.
Abby Lichty
Virginia Commonwealth University
Master’s in clinical social work
SummaCumLaudeHonors
Abby is the daughter of
Jeff and Stephanie Lichty
and the granddaughter of Pearl and Richard Taylor
and Elaine Lichty and Sherm Lichty (of blessed memory).
Hannah Ackerman Mancoll
College of Charleston
Double major in commercial real estate, finance and hospitality tourism management
Next: Vice President of Commercial Land, Tristar Land
Hannah is the daughter of Robin and Matthew Mancoll.
Hayden Miller
Pace University
Lubin School of Business
Completed a year abroad at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, published in the James Madison University Undergraduate Journal for a personal essay on her great- grandfather’s life before and after the Holocaust.
Next: Hayden is pursuing opportunities in creative strategy and marketing in New York.
Hayden is the daughter of Amy and Daniel Miller.
Evan Nied
University of Virginia
B.A. in Politics with a minor in Entrepreneurship
JeffersonandEcholsScholar,Dean’sList, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
Next: A management consulting
internship at PwC Consulting in New York City. Next year, Evan plans to attend the UVA McIntire School to pursue an M.S. in Commerce.
Evan is the son of Emily and Joel Nied and the grandson of
Renee and Stephen Caplan.
Simone Nied
Kempsville High School,
Entrepreneurship and Business Academy
Valedictorian, The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Eagle Scout, E.E. Brickell Scholar, Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission, Virginia DECA State Officer,
P.E.O Scholar Award
Next: University of Pennsylvania
Simone is the daughter of Emily and Joel Nied and the granddaughter of Renee and Stephen Caplan
Jack Poorman
Norfolk Collegiate
Varsity Cross Country, Team Captain, Varsity Wrestling and Varsity Baseball. Works at Camp JCC during the summer and holidays.
Next: Radford University majoring in Kinesiology
Jack is the son of
Cara Scheffres and Steve Poorman.
Hebrew Academy class of 2018
Emily Carroll Priest
Maury High School
Member of National Honor Society, Honor Graduate; member of Maury Concert Orchestra (cello); holds rank of Ensign in Maury’s NJROTC Unit; member of the sailing team and received ALL VISA Girls Skipper Award for the Fall 2024 Season; Member of Girl Scout Troop 396
Next: Old Dominion University with a spot on the sailing team
Emily is the daughter of Sean and Jennifer Priest.
Abby Sabatino
Princess Anne High School
International Baccalaureate Program, National Honor Society, 3-time Basketball State Champion, 4-time Basketball Regional Champion, 2-year Varsity Basketball Captain, Varsity Cross Country and Lacrosse
Next: University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business
Abby is the daughter of Jennifer and Steve Sabatino.
Jamie Schechner
Hunter College High School, NYC
Starred in Applause NY production of Chicago Next: Emory University
Jamie is the son of
Jason Schechner and Danielle Schechner and the grandson of
Steve (OBM) and Marge Schechner.
Nate Simon
Kempsville High School
Entrepreneurship and Business Academy
Next: James Madison University
Nate is the son of
Carin and Mike Simon
and the grandson of
Joan and Eric Joffe
and Nancy and Sandy Simon of Atlanta.
Hebrew Academy (SIA) class of 2018
Danial Watts
Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management & Analytics with a Minor in International Business
Next: ProLion, a cybersecurity company, as a Business Development Representative
Danial is the son of Benita and Joseph Watts.
Hebrew Academy class of 2014
Josh Whiteman
Salem High School
Next: Woodrow Wilson Vocational School
Josh is the son of Allison Whiteman and Eddie Whiteman.