(Fort Worth) — For the first time, Beth-El Congregation’s brotherhood and sisterhood have combined forces and funds to award $2,000 scholarships to five graduating seniors who grew up at the temple and are heading to college. In previous years, Men of Reform Judaism awarded scholarships, while Women of Reform Judaism did not.
Each of the five winners has a high academic average and remains involved in Jewish organizations and mitzvah projects. Four served as madrichim (teachers’ aides) in the Religious School. On their applications, one of the college-bound seniors expressed the goal of tikkun olam — “to make the world a better place.” Another wrote that through Jewish youth groups, “we hope to provide a place for teens to connect on their Jewish journey.”
The scholarship winners, all graduates of public schools, are:
Erin Beck-Johnson, daughter of Elizabeth Beck and Denny Johnson. Erin, co-president of the Fort Worth Temple Youth Group (FWFTY) and a graduate of Young Women’s Leadership Academy, will attend Texas Tech University. A descendant of Texas Jewish pioneers, her maternal ancestors were among the immigrant Jews who, in 1893, constructed B’nai Abraham, an Orthodox shul in Brenham. The historic house of worship was physically moved in 2014 to the Dell Jewish Community Campus in Austin, where Erin’s confirmation class took a meaningful field trip.
Emily Florsheim, daughter of Kimberly and Henry Florsheim of Cedar Hill, graduated from Texas Tech High, an online school, and will enroll this fall at Texas A&M University. After participating in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Teen Fellowship Program, the JTA published her essay, “How Small-Town Jewish Teens Like Me Stay Connected in the Bible Belt.” It explores how, in an evangelical state, she connected with her Jewish roots. (Read Emily’s essay on page 17 of this week’s TJP.)
Isaac Isgur, son of Shoshana Thoma-Isgur and Ben Isgur, graduated from R.L. Paschal High School and is headed to the University of Georgia, where he will study business. He played football, ran track and was co-president of Paschal’s Jewish Leadership Club, which educates Jews and non-Jews about Judaism. An Eagle Scout, Isaac received recognition from the local Jewish War Veterans post for placing Jewish symbols on veterans’ graves at Congregation Ahavath Sholom’s century-old cemetery.
Connor Maxon, son of Katie and Dave Maxon, graduated from I.M. Terrell Academy and will enroll at Emporia State University in Kansas. As president of the Temple Youth Group, he oversaw FWFTY’s growth from two members into an active group with a strong executive board that hosted lock-ins, organized a trip to New York and spearheaded construction of a gaga pit. Connor also volunteers twice a week in the emergency department of the John Peter Smith Health Network.
Leo Simanek, son of Valerie and Eric Simanek, will be a freshman at Indiana University, where his older brother is a student and his oldest brother graduated. At R.L. Paschal High School, Leo played varsity basketball and varsity golf. As a member of the Young Men’s Service League, a nonprofit that engages mothers and their teenage sons, he performed more than 20 hours of community service. At Beth-El, the mitzvah projects that impacted him most were assembling bags of food for the Women’s Shelter and the Food Bank.
