As reported by the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle:

The Pittsburgh District of the Zionist Organization of America has long believed a trip to Israel helps Jewish Students feel the history of the Jewish people and to cement their Jewish identity. The ZOA Israel Scholarship Committee was established in 1962, and since then hundreds of Pittsburgh Jewish high school students have received ZOA scholarships.

The program continues today through the vision of ZOA members who have funded endowments dedicated to this effort. ZOA is thankful to Avraham and Pattu Anouchi, Bernard and Esther Klionsky, Harold and Marla Scheinman, the late Thelma Esman and the family of the late Natalie and Ivan Novick, who have funded the ZOA Israel Scholarship Program.

Chairwoman Juile Paris and committee members evaluated each student’s application, looking at the student’s participation in Jewish studies, activities, volunteerism and essays on “What the State of Israel and Zionism means to me.”

This year’s recipients of $1,000 Israel scholarships are Avigdor Felder, Tanya Markel and Ariel Schwartz. Tanya will be attending Campy YTT (Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow); Avigdor will be attending NCSY Kollel Camp; and Ariel will travel to Israel as part of the Emma Kaufmann Counselor in Training program.