The Helyn B. Reich Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Helyn B. Reich, wife of founding AZM President Seymour D. Reich. Reich scholarships are awarded each fall and spring to a limited number of American students who have chosen to study at one of several designated Israeli universities or post-college long-term programs in Israel. The scholarship seeks to recognize candidates who have demonstrated academic excellence, pro-Israel activity in their personal lives, and a dedicated commitment to future involvement with the Jewish and Zionist community in the United States.
The American Zionist Movement is pleased to announce the winners of the Spring 2008 Helyn B. Reich Memorial Scholarship. The recipients are accomplished young Americans Zionists dedicated to AZM’s mission, who are thrilled to be spending the next year living and immersing themselves in Israel.
Lee’at Bachar is spending her junior year abroad at the University of Haifa.
During her first semester there, she volunteered to teach English to underprivileged Ethiopian students. A Hebrew and Jewish Studies major at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, she has served as the Communicator Director of the Jewish Cultural Collective and as editor of her campus’ Jewish newspaper.
“I envision my future relationship to Zionism as critical to my identity and my happiness in life”
Bill Glucroft, a recent graduate of Emerson College, will be studying at the University of Haifa this spring. Beyond his B.S. in Print & Multimedia Journalism, he has cultivated practical experience as a founder of an independent videography and photography company, and as a freelance photographer and reporter. His work has been published in the Jerusalem Post, New York Times Magazine, and the Boston Globe.
“My Jewishness, and my attachment to Israel, is central to who I am… While in Israel, I seek to explore what Zionism means given today’s political realities… This is a sense I can gain only from being on the ground, experiencing Israel first-hand in a diverse, educational and Jewish environment.”
Sophia Krentzman, a junior at the University of Massachusetts, will be spending her spring semester at the University of Haifa.
An anthropology major, she has devoted her time outside the classroom to founding an Israeli dance troupe on campus and serving on the board of her Hillel’s Student Alliance for Israel, planning events and Israel awareness programs.
“I believe that the continuation of the State of Israel is one of the most important issues facing Jews in the modern world. I will be proud to contribute as much as possible to furthering that cause.”
Marla Schuchman will participate in an internship in marketing and advertising in Tel Aviv through Israel Career Experience. Currently she serves as the Israel Travel Specialist for the Reform Movement, a partnership position between ARZA and the Israel Ministry of Tourism. She is a graduate of NYU, where she was an officer of the Israel club, Gesher.
“My Zionism reflects a desire to work with Israel to affect change both in Israel and abroad.”
Adam Molner will be attending the Israel Career Experience program, with an internship in journalism at Haaretz in Tel Aviv. A graduate of Michigan State University in sociology, Adam was inspired by a recent Birthright trip to learn more about Israel and become involved as a volunteer in the Jewish community.
“After seeing how Israel takes care of Jews around the world, I saw that it was my responsibility as a Jew to help other Jews.”
