Dinar Yusufov
On behalf of the Stein family, the Tidewater Jewish Foundation recently announced that Dinar Yusufov of Chesapeake is the 2013–2014 recipient of the Stein Family College Scholarship. She is the fifth recipient of this award established in memory of Arlene Stein.
A recent graduate of Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach, Yusufov says she enjoyed the atmosphere of the school. “The administration is helpful. I received good guidance.” It was a psychology class that had the most impact on her during high school. “Taking this class showed me how having different perspectives on issues can be very important in life,” Dinar says.
At Tallwood, Yusufov was a member of the National Honor Society, varsity tennis, chorus and Noble teens. She has been an active volunteer with the Chabad House of Tidewater. In the summers of 2009 and 2010, Yusufov participated in a Counselorin- Training program at the Simon Family JCC. During this training she worked with children on their eating habits, teaching about junk food and the importance of fruits and vegetables, along with daily exercise. “I would try to get them involved. I tried coming up with rewards to motivate them. They seemed like they were enjoying themselves. And that was pure bliss,” says Yusufov.
In addition to her studies and volunteer work, Yusufov has a great passion for music. She began playing violin at age eight, singing at age 10, and playing guitar at age 15. “With music, I can meet new people who share the same interests as me and it feels wonderful,” she says.
In the fall, Yusufov will take her training and passion to James Madison University where she plans to major in food and nutrition sciences. Her brother currently attends JMU and she will share a room with her best friend since middle school. Yusufov says that being at JMU with her brother will be like having “a little piece of home.”
TJF and the Stein family wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors. B’hatzlacha!
Prior recipients of the Stein Family College Scholarship include Morgan Conley (Brandeis University, class of 2013), Eric Smith (University of Virginia, class of 2014), Marissa Arager (George Mason University, class of 2015), and Avi Malkin (William & Mary, class of 2016).
Contact Shelby Tudor with the Tidewater Jewish Foundation at 757‑965‑6105 for more information.
*of blessed memory
by Shelby Tudor