Home

Scheck Hillel Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students

North Miami Beach, Florida – Scheck Hillel Community School seniors Gabrielle Kurzer '20 and Alex Wagenberg '20 have been named National Merit Commended Students, placing among the top scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship competition.
 
"I want to congratulate Gabi and Alex for this great accomplishment,” said Vanessa Donaher, Scheck Hillel's Head of School. "The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the most respected academic competitions in the country. We are so proud of them.” 
 
Students across the country enter the competition by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). 
 
Gabrielle was named a 2019 National AP Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction by the College Board. She is a Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassador and a member of the National Honor Society and Art Honor Society. She is the web editor of Scheck Hillel's student-run Roar Post, founder and president of the Design for the Community Club, and a volunteer at DesignLab Give. 
 
Alex was also recently recognized by the College Board as a 2019 AP Scholar with Distinction. This year, he was elected High School President and is a Diller Teen Fellow. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, co-president of the school's HIPAC Israel Advocacy Club, and a member of the varsity golf team. In the community, Alex founded ReCleat to gather and clean gently used sports equipment for underprivileged student-athletes and has previously volunteered with Kesher and Basketball Buddies.  
 
Both Gabrielle and Alex also were named National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars by the College Board. Scheck Hillel is honored to have graduated a significant roster of National Merit Scholars, Finalists, Semifinalists and Commended Students, and to carry the tradition into 2019. Most recently, Raquel DiMitri, Class of 2019 valedictorian, received a National Merit University of Miami Scholarship; she is enrolled in the University of Miami’s Foote Fellows Honors Program. Nathalie Fuhrman, Scheck Hillel’s Class of 2018 valedictorian, received the National Merit Northwestern University Scholarship. Her peers - Keith Bonwitt, Roy Glazer and Max Peicher - were named 2018 National Merit Commended Students. Keith attends the University of Pennsylvania, Roy studies at the University of Maryland, and Max attends Tufts University. Jordana Zackon, Class of 2017 valedictorian, was also named a National Merit Commended Student and attends Washington University in St. Louis. Scheck Hillel's 2016 salutatorian, Ariel Gelrud, was a National Merit Scholar and will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Scheck Hillel Community School
Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students 18 months-Grade 12 to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity and values through an individualized college preparatory curriculum highlighted by Design/STEM, Capstone, college dual enrollment, arts, athletics and community service. Its 14-acres include a 115,000-sq.-ft athletic complex with academic expansion plans. Set within a nurturing, diverse community, Scheck Hillel is one of the world's largest Jewish community day schools and a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. For more information about Scheck Hillel Community School or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact our Admissions office at 305.931.2831x173 or write to admissions@eHillel.org.

About National Merit Scholarship Corporation
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The majority of National Merit Scholarships provided each year are made possible by the support of approximately 400 independent corporate and college sponsors. These sponsors join NMSC in its efforts to enhance educational opportunities for America’s scholastically talented youth and to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.
Back