Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion/Cincinnati awarded prizes to outstanding students at Graduation

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, awarded prizes for outstanding academic achievement, community involvement, and sermon delivery during its graduation ceremony held on May 30, 2002 at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Amberley Village. Rabbi Kenneth E. Ehrlich, Dean of Cincinnati Campus of HUC-JIR, announced the prize recipients during the ceremony and later commented, “We are proud of all of our students and we congratulate those whose special achievements we were able to recognize this evening; and, we recognize with deepest gratitude those whose generous endorsement of our efforts make these prizes possible.”

Three prizes were awarded for academic achievement. JONATHAN ROOS AND LAUREN WERBER shared the SIMON LAZARUS MEMORIAL PRIZE for that student of the graduating class who upon the recommendation of the faculty has attained the highest academic standing. JOSHUA GARROWAY received the NATHAN STERN PRIZE to be awarded to the student who completes the program leading to the degree of Master of Arts with the highest academic standing. DAVID EVERSON AND DEBRA WRIGHT shared the B'NAI ZION HEBREW AWARD to be awarded to a rabbinical\graduate student who, in the judgment of the faculty, has achieved the highest proficiency in Hebrew.

Five prizes were awarded for community involvement. ALAN COOK AND VICTORIA TUCKMAN shared the ROBERT L. ADLER PRIZE awarded to a rabbinical student on the Cincinnati campus who best exemplifies Robert Adler’s values in making contributions to the community. JEREMY BARRAS received the FERDINAND M. ISSERMAN PRIZE awarded to the senior rabbinical student who in the judgment of the faculty contributes the most toward the development of community relations. DANIEL PLOTKIN AND SCOTT NAGEL shared the RABBI FREDERICK C. SCHWARTZ PRIZE awarded to a rabbinical student who in the judgment of the faculty has made the most significant contribution to furthering the goals and objectives of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations’ camping system for youth and NFTY. BINAH WING received the STEPHEN N. LEVINSON MEMORIAL PRIZE to be awarded to that member of the senior class who has rendered the most significant service to HUC-JIR and its student body. KAREN COMPANEZ, DEBRA KASSOFF, JONATHAN ROOS AND VICTORIA TUCKMAN shared the WOMEN OF REFORM JUDAISM CENTENNIAL PRIZE to be awarded to that rabbinic, education, or communal service student whose academic and professional record at HUC-JIR indicates, in the judgment of the faculty, the greatest contribution made toward the expansion and development of the role of women in Judaism.

Three prizes were awarded for sermon delivery. KAREN COMPANEZ received the ISRAEL BETTAN MEMORIAL PRIZE to be awarded to that senior student who has been most creative and imaginative in his/her pulpit presentation. JONATHAN ROOS received the CORA KAHN PRIZE to be awarded to that graduating senior whose sermon delivery and oratory are considered best during his/her senior year. JOSHUA GARROWAY received the RABBI MORRIS H. YOUNGERMAN MEMORIAL PRIZE to be awarded for the best sermon preached in the Chapel during the academic year.

During graduation, Rabbi David Ellenson, president of HUC-JIR, conferred Doctor of Philosophy degrees upon Eldon Clem, Hélène M. Dallaire, John M. Engle, Robert M. Gerth, Joshua L. Moss, and Karla R. Suomala. In addition, Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters was conferred upon Pamela W. Barr, Jeremy A. Barras, Karen N. Bodney, Alan S. Cook, Kari H. Field, Joshua D. Garroway, Eric S. Goldberg, Clauio J. Kogan, M.D., Anne Persin, Yair D. Robinson, Jonathan S. Siger, and Phyllis A. Sommer. Master of Arts was conferred upon Stephen N. Self and David B. Smith. Master of Philosophy in Hebraic and Cognate Studies was conferred upon Aurelian Botica, John D. Brolley, Jeffrey L. Cooley, N. Blake Hearson, and In Seh Lee.

The College-Institute bestowed Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, upon Dr. Bernard Reisman, founding director of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute, the Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service, and the Fisher/Bernstein Institute for Leadership in Jewish Philanthropy at Brandeis University; Dr. Eric Friedland, Sanders Professor Emeritus of Judaic Studies with a joint appointment at University of Dayton, United Theological Seminary, Antioch College, and Wright State University; and Ms. Ruth Gay, researcher and author, whose works include The Jews of Germany: A Historical Portrait and Unfinished People: Jewish Immigrants to the United States: 1880-1914.