Bergen County—Accomplished graduates from Bergen County who were the valedictorians of YU’d 83rd Commencement, prepare to em­bark on the next stage of life and apply their talents to a range of ca­reers, including law, medicine, ed­ucation and finance, they remem­bered the vibrant Jewish life and rich academic and extracurricular experiences that shaped their un­dergraduate years at YU.

Malia Weiss of Edison, NJ, one of two recipients of the Sy Syms School of Business Dean Harold Nieren­berg Memorial Valedictorian Award, described YU as “an oasis of Juda­ism and morality” that provides the best possible learning environment for Jewish Orthodox students who want to enter the world of business. Weiss explained that she chose YU because she always saw it as family, with the University’s consistent out­reach to its strong alumni base as an “indicator of the familial environ­ment on campus and throughout in­ternational communities touched by YU.”

Devorah Levinson of Highland Park, NJ, the valedictorian of the Stern College for Women, Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies, added that the YU experience chal­lenged her “to learn Torah in depth, grow in every aspect of Jewish ob­servance, and connect with Jews across the Orthodox spectrum.” Le­vison also notes that Stern College’s Legacy Program for Jewish Educa­tors was instrumental in preparing her for a career as teacher, allowing her “to fulfill a lifelong dream of en­hancing the lives and kindling the souls of Jewish children.”

Benjamin Lebowitz of Fair Lawn, NJ, was the second recipient of the Sy Syms School of Business, Dean Harold Nierenberg Memorial Vale­dictorian Award; Isaac Markel of Te­aneck, NJ was the valedictorian of the Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Pro­gram, and Aviyam Levinson of High­land Park, NJ was the valedictorian of the Yeshiva Program/Mazer School of Talmudic Studies.

Other 2014 valedictorians in­cluded Eli Shavalian, James Striar School of General Jewish Studies/ Mechinah Program; Natan Koloski , Isaac Breuer College; Eli Grunblatt, Yeshiva College; and Bella Wolf, Stern College for Women.