For the first time, the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation has given our Teen Center a grant to create the Abrons Youth Leadership Award. 

This prestigious scholarship celebrates high school Juniors and/or Seniors who: 

• Are fully enrolled and active members in the Teen Center
• Demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. 

The recipients embody Jewish values such as:

• Tikkun olam (repairing the world), 
• Chesed (kindness), 
• Kehilla (community)
• Inspiring others through their ruach and commitment to making a meaningful impact in their schools, communities, and beyond. 

This year, our committee has decided to award our two exceptional senior members who are active and enrolled in the Teen Center: Hadley Courtenay and Zephyr Kimmel. 

Both Hadley and Zephyr have been involved at the Temple from their time at the ECC to now being co-presidents of our ToaSTY (Temple Shaaray Tefila Youth) teen leadership council. 

They have demonstrated their excellence through their leadership skills, volunteerism at our community service events such as Midnight Run and the Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Cooking, and in their involvement in our programs. Both have attended the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar with the Religious Action Center where they lobbied on Reproductive Rights. Hadley has also created a club at John Jay High School called RUACH (Rise Up Against Hate) which combats antisemitism locally & globally. Zephyr has been involved in our Madrichim (teacher assistant) program for many years, serving as a role model and mentor to many students in various classes. 

We congratulate both students and their families on this well-deserved and prestigious award and wish them the best of luck this fall at the University of Pittsburgh for Hadley and McGill University for Zephyr.