Most of the 38 recipients. Back row (from left): Jennifer Webb, Jacob Stewart, Vikrant Shirvaikar, Lauren Wood, Aaron Tverye, Adhitya Jayasinghe, Daniel Butbul, Benjamin Weia Middle row: Kaitlin Klarer, Ariella Stromberg, Osnut Moyal, Ashlyn Mattingly, Sharon Lougheed, Angela Liu, Grace Hugh, Stephanie Mokashi, Alexander Hirschberg, Marli Olschwanger Bottom row: Saler Axel, Noemi Rosales Santillan, Edgar Lazo, Madalyn Barnett, Cindy Villalta-Fuentes, Lorenzo Alba, Louise Rothschild, Jocelyne AndradeSubmitted by Mona Allen on behalf of the DJCF
College Scholarship Co-Chair Brad Roth (left) with the family of Vikrant Shirvaika. Vikrant (far right) received a perfect SAT score and will be a freshman at UT Austin studying economics and applied mathematics.
College Scholarship Co-Chair Mike Kottwitz congratulates Cindy Villalta-Fuentes (in blue) as she is surrounded by her friends. Cindy worked seven days a week, attended classes simultaneously and after 11 months, mastered the English language after moving to America not knowing a word of English. She will be transferring to UT Austin.
Peerly Butbul with son Daniel Butbul
A young man who received a perfect SAT score … an incoming freshman whose dream is to perform stem-cell research to find a possible cure for Alzheimer’s disease … and a rising senior who completed 350 documented volunteer hours since she began her freshman year and has already been accepted into medical school.
It was a gathering of the best and the brightest on Monday, May 18, when the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation’s (DJCF) held its 24th Annual Scholarship Reception at Temple Shalom.
“We are thrilled to recognize these amazing students,” said Meyer Bodoff, president and CEO of the DJCF. “Each scholarship represents the passion and vision of our fund holders, who are not only creating their own legacy, but also helping impact the lives of these young men and women and the community. Our donors made a difference — an educational difference — in the lives of so many. ”
The 38 students were awarded 26 different endowed scholarships totaling almost $110,000 that were created by donors to honor loved ones, and preserve the memory of families and community leaders. Michael Kottwitz and Brad Roth, co-chairs of the DJCF Scholarship Committee, read a description of each fund and a bit about each recipient’s background, school they attend or plan to attend, and the career they want to pursue. Students were asked to stand while they were being honored from the podium. Over the years, more than $1.7 million has been awarded to over 450 students.
In his opening remarks, Chair of the DJCF Board of Trustees Alan Klein paraphrased Brad Roth: “Hard work? This is a passion, this is fun. This is what being part of the community is all about.” Alan thanked both Brad and Mike Kottwitz for all the hard work as co-chairs of the Scholarship Committee. Later Mike added, “I was on 12 different boards and committees about four years ago. I decided to leave every one of them to simplify my life, except this one. That is how much I enjoy doing this.”
For more than 40 years, the DJCF has worked with individuals, families and businesses to provide planned giving opportunities that fund a wide variety of nonprofit and charitable organizations of all faiths throughout the greater Dallas area, North America and overseas. Overnight Jewish camp scholarships, college scholarships and awards for infertility or adoption of Jewish children are just some of the many specialty funds the DJCF is known for.
The media event sponsor was the Texas Jewish Post, and it featured live music by The Mazik Bros. On Sept. 20, the DJCF will honor its donors and fundholders as it partners with the AT&T Performing Arts Center to present a recital featuring world-renowned Itzhak Perlman on violin and Emanuel Ax on piano.
Tickets for the recital go on sale on July 8. Visit the DJCF website (www.djcf.org) for more information.
