Reflecting back at the Hebrew Academy 6th Grade Class of 2010. Standing: Rifka Silverman, Austin Kramer, Arianna (Ari) Lipton, Jules Millison, Channa Schachet-Briskin, Brett Pomerantz, Hunter Brown. Seated: Adam Epstein, Emma Segaloff, Ellie Gordon, Hanan Sibony, Ely Bloch, Emma Rosenblum.
Who doesn’t love a good before/after story? Hebrew Academy graduates from the Class of 2010 make a great one. And from the look of the photos, some pretty impressive growth happened in just a few short years. These students make HAT proud with their good hearts and good deeds, not to mention very notable academic achievements: Echols Scholar, National Merit Scholar Finalist, Dorsey Leadership Scholar and Capstone Scholar, to name a few. Read on to find out what these scholars have been up to since their HAT days and where they are headed next.
Where they are now
Ely Bloch—Since HAT graduation, Ely attended Torah Day School, Yeshivas Aish Kodesh (YAK) and Maury High School. Last summer Ely toured Israel, where he will study next year. Upon his return, Ely will attend either the University of Maryland or Yeshiva University in N.Y.
Hunter Brown—Hunter is a recent graduate of Norfolk Academy and is a National Merit Scholar Finalist. Hunter will attend the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar.
Adam Epstein—Adam attended Kempsville Middle School and is a recent graduate of the Global Studies World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School. Adam will attend the University of Virginia.
Ellie Gordon—Ellie is a recent graduate of Norfolk Academy. Ellie will follow her passion for International Relations at The School of International Service at American University.
Austin Kramer—Austin is a graduate of Cape Henry Collegiate School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Austin will attend Clemson University.
Arianna (Ari) Lipton—Ari attends the Health and Sciences Academy at Bayside High School, where she is captain of the track team. She will attend the Honors Program at Christopher Newport University and will be in the President’s Leadership Program.
Josh Mitnick—Josh is a recent graduate of Kempsville High School, where he was on the cross-country team and served on the Yearbook committee. He will study neuroscience at George Mason University.
Brett Pomerantz—Brett attends Western Branch High School. Brett will attend the Virginia Tech College of Engineering in the fall in the Galileo Engineering Living Learning Community.
Channa Schachet-Briskin—Channa attends Virginia Beach Friends School. Channa was selected as a Dorsey Leadership Scholar at Goucher College in Baltimore, Md. She will major in Communications and Media Studies, following a gap year focusing on Jewish education.
Hanan Sibony—After HAT graduation, Hanan and his family moved to Israel in Bet Shemesh, where he attended Yeshivas Hakayitz. Hanan will soon begin his service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Rifka Silverman—Rifka attends the Global Studies and World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School. Rifka will be attending Old Dominion University in the fall.
Emma Rosenblum—Emma attends Cox High School. Emma will attend the College of Charleston, with her first semester in London.
Emma Segaloff—Since graduating from HAT, Emma enjoyed her middle school years at Norfolk Academy and her high school years at Norfolk Collegiate. Emma looks forward to attending the University of Colorado in Boulder this fall.
Gillian Blais—Past HAT student Gillian Blais will graduate from the American Hebrew Academy, in Greensboro, N. C. This fall she will attend American University.
Becca Cohen—Past HAT student Becca Cohen and her family moved to New York, so she was thrilled to attend the gathering and reunite with her old friends. After leaving HAT, she started playing soccer, serving as goalie on her middle school and varsity high school soccer teams. She will pursue her love of soccer in the fall, playing for Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Zach Kell—Previous HAT student Zach Kell developed a passion for foreign languages in high school and was selected as one of 45 students in Virginia to study with the Governor’s Foreign Language Academy at Washington and Lee University last summer for immersion in German and Chinese. This Fall, Zach will study as a Capstone Scholar at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
by Dee Dee Becker