MTA is proud to introduce the valedictorian, salutatorian, and student speakers who will be presenting at this year’s commencement.
Binyamin Fox, Valedictorian
Binyamin Fox of Teaneck is this year’s MTA senior class valedictorian. He has enjoyed exploring his academic and extracurricular passions at MTA, both in and out of the classroom, as well as the unique leadership and Talmud Torah opportunities he has been afforded over the course of his high school experience. Binyamin proudly served as president of the debate team for two years; captain of the Model U.N. and Mock Trial teams; president of the Arista National Honors Society; executive editor of the Academy News; and co-editor-in-Chief of the Polis Academic Journal. Additionally, Binyamin has chaired the Township of Teaneck Youth Advisory Board and is a Tikvah Scholar. He is a recipient of the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award and Yeshiva University Torah U’Madda Book Award, and was named an AP Scholar with Honor. Binyamin cherishes the relationships he has built with his rebbeim, faculty and peers alike over the past four years, and will miss his time at MTA immensely. He looks forward to attending Yeshivat Har Etzion, followed by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University.
Shua Feigin, Salutatorian
Shua Feigin, from Teaneck, is this year’s MTA senior class salutatorian. Shua truly enjoyed his past four years at MTA, where he made incredible friends and formed close relationships with rebbeim and faculty. This past year, Shua wrote for and edited various MTA publications, including The Academy News, Polis, and Pirchei Yitzchak. He was a member of the Arista National Honors Society, where he was active in its peer tutoring program. Shua was part of MTA’s Yeshiva Fellowship and Honors College programs and also received the Brandeis University Book Award. Shua is grateful to everyone who has made the past four years such a wonderful and memorable experience for him. He looks forward to attending Yeshivat Ma’aleh Adumim next year, where he hopes to learn and grow, followed by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University.
Shimon Wildes, Invocation
Shimon Wildes, from Manhattan’s Upper West Side, will deliver the invocation at this year’s commencement. During his time at MTA, Shimon was a member of the Honors College and Yeshiva Fellowship programs; served as a Cub2Lion senior mentor; and participated in numerous programs and clubs, including debate, chorus, and the Makor Chaim Exchange Program. Additionally, Shimon placed first in the Yeshiva University Bronka Weintraub Bekiyus Program and received the Yeshiva University Torah U’Madda Award. On a daily basis, Shimon enjoyed learning and participating in his shiurim and classes, and relished creating meaningful relationships with his rebbeim, teachers and peers. He is grateful to all of those who have facilitated his positive MTA experience. Shimon looks forward to learning in Yeshivat Yishrei Lev next year and attending the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University afterwards.
Shimi Kaufman, Siyum on Maseches Pesachim
Shimi Kaufman of Monsey, New York, will make the siyum on Maseches Pesachim at this year’s commencement on behalf of all of the seniors who completed it. Shimi has enjoyed and gained from the many opportunities afforded to him by MTA. He served as editor-in-chief of Shema Koleinu and The Polis, wrote and edited articles for Pirchei Yitzchak, and was the captain of the MTA chorus. In addition, Shimi had the opportunity to attend daily shiur at the Mazer Yeshiva Program at Yeshiva University this year, studying under RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Eli Baruch Shulman. Shimi is grateful to his rebbeim and friends who helped him over the course of the last four years, and who made his high school experience truly incredible. Shimi is excited to study at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Eretz Yisrael next year, followed by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University.
