TEENS : Scholarships

Funding for St. Louis Teens Only

The Stuart I. Pessin Award  

Pessin Award Winners

Pessin Award Application Details

Israel Teen Fellows Merit-Based Israel Grant Scholarship

Israel  Experience Center 2010 Israel Scholarship Applicaiton

Stuart I. Pessin Award

The Central Agency for Jewish Education and the Jewish Federation annouced the availability of merit-based scholarships for high school students participating in Israel experience program in 2010.

$1,250 Israel scholarships will be awarded to two outstanding St. Louis teenagers on the basis of their activities in the Jewish Community and their commitment to continued Jewish education and participation.

The two awards, which are allocated from the Stuart I. Pessin scholarship fund, compliment the existing Israel grant program that is already administered by CAJE and distributed on the basis of financial need.  The merit-based scholarships provide an alternative means or select students to receive community funds by demonstraing their commitment to Judaism and the St. Louis Jewish community.

Application Details

2010 STUART I. PESSIN MERIT-BASED ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIPS
HAVE BEEN AWARDED. 

CAJE Announces 2010 Stuart I. Pessin Israel Merit Scholarship Awardees

Hannah Kaiser	Ethan Bennett

The Central Agency for Jewish Education announces that Ethan Bennett and Hannah Kaiser have been awarded the 2010 Stuart I. Pessin Israel Teen Merit Scholarship. The awardees were chosen on the basis of their activities in the Jewish community, commitment to continued Jewish education and high school achievement.

Ethan Bennett is a senior at Parkway Central High School and will be attending The Netzer Year in the fall. Hannah Kaiser is a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and will be attending Machon Maayan in the fall.

Bennett's resume includes chapter and regional leadership positions with NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) and active involvement in JAM – Jewish and Muslim Teen Dialogue Group. iTag – Israel Teen Advocacy Group and Student to Student.  He is a member of the International Thespian Society and National Art Honor Society. 

Kaiser’s resume boasts active involvement in JSU (Jewish Student Union), Spoede Elementary School Mentor Program, Student-to-Student and Big Siblings Program.  She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Rambler Yearbook and a member of the National Honor society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society.

The two awards, which are allocated from the Stuart I. Pessin scholarship fund, compliment the existing Israel grant program administered by CAJE and funded by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. The merit-based award provides a means for select high school students to receive community funds by demonstrating their commitment to Judaism and the St. Louis Jewish community.

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2010 Israel Teen Fellows Merit-Based Israel Grant

Five St. Louis teens are going to Israel this summer after receiving merit-based Israel scholarships. CAJE calls this group Israel Teen Fellows.  To prepare for their trip, teens learn about cultures that contribute to the makeup of Israel's society through dance, food, music and discussion.

Israel Teen Fellows learn about Israel food and dance with Rachel Armosa and Israel Experience Center Director, Karen Rader

$3,000 merit-based grants for travel to Israel will be awarded to 5 teens affiliated with a Conservative or Reform Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri.

To apply:

• Must currently by in 9th - 11th grade
• Plan to attend an accredited and approved peer-based Israel program
• Write an essay answering the question: 

Why is it important for you as a Jewish teen to go to Israel?

• Essay should be no more than two pages, 12 point font, doubled paced. Include your name on the backside of the essay.
• Submit a resume of activities and community involvement.  Include your name on the backside of the resume.
• Attend two mandatory pre-trip meetings on April 11, 2010 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) and May 2, 2010 (3:30-5 p.m.)

NOTE: An interview may be required by the selection committee.

After the trip:

• Have at least one parent or guardian attend the post-trip meeting with you on August 29, 2010.
• Share your Isael Experience through presentations to your ongregation's youth group and upper grade religious school classes.
• Be willing to participate in St. Louis Jewish communal activities.
• Write an essay about what the Israel Experience meant to you.  Essay should be at least one page and can be used for presentations and possibly submitted to jewishinstlouis.org and/or the Jewish Light for publication.  Post-trip essays will be due by August 29, 2010.

MERIT-BASED ISRAEL GRANT HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR 2010.

For any questions regarding the applicaton, contact Karen Rader at (314) 442-3756.

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Israel Experience Center Scholarship

The objective of the Israel Experience Center is to encourage and enable every St. Louis Jewish teen to participate in a quality educational Israel experience.  It is our intention to maximize the number of teens going to Israel by making the Israel experience available, accessible and affordable.

The Israel Experience Center provides need-based scholarship assistance to help make those trips affordable.  Generous funding is made available from the St. Louis Jewish Federation's Sam, Charles and Mamie Rich Education Fund.

To be eligible to receive financial aid, the applicant must:

• Demonstrate family financial need
• Be a resident of the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area
• Be a high school student

Limited funds are available for interest-free loans and can be awarded for up to $500.  Repayment begins six months after the loan is received and must be paid in full at the end of two years.

All applications are held in strict confidence and the committee review process is anonymous.

ISRAEL EXPERIENCE CENTER
2010 ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN AWARD.

For any questions regarding the applicaton, contact Karen Rader at (314) 442-3756.

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