(Courtesy of Touro University) Touro University today announced the valedictorians of three undergraduate schools: Lander College for Men, Lander College for Women and Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush. Yonaton Rubin, Chana Schochet, Adelle Perkelvaid and Yisroel Fishman will be honored at Touro’s commencement ceremony, to be held on Sunday, May 29, at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

In total, 512 students will graduate from Touro’s Lander College for Women, Lander College of Arts and Sciences in Flatbush and Lander College for Men, while 119 students will graduate from Machon L’Parnasa and The School of Lifelong Education. The 2022 graduating class includes seniors from 13 states across the United States, and six foreign countries.

Chana Schochet, Valedictorian, Lander College for Women, The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School, Manhattan

This fall, Chana Schochet will begin medical school at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. It will be part of her long-term effort to create something positive out of a great tragedy. When Chana was 11, her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She struggled with it for four years. Through her exposure to hospitals and illness, Chana learned the value of medical research and health care. A careful decision-maker, Chana explored several facets of healthcare before settling on medicine. She did internships in cancer research at both the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Weizmann Institute in Israel; she taught science at the high school level in New York City and is currently working as a medical assistant in upstate New York.

Chana grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, as part of a small, close-knit Jewish community. At Lander College for Women, she was delighted to find small, thought-provoking classes, supportive faculty and great friends. “I came into Lander wide-eyed and not sure on what I wanted to do with my career. Touro gave me a clear message—here are people who believe in you and will help you as you navigate your way toward finding your best self,” she said.

Adelle Perkelvaid, Valedictorian, Lander College of Arts and Sciences Women’s Division, Flatbush, Brooklyn

Adelle Perkelvaid has been shadowing dentists and orthodontists since she was in high school. “I fell in love with the patient interaction and the mechanics,” she said. Right now, she is applying to dental school and preparing for a rewarding career.

Adelle interned at a research lab at the National Institutes of Health, where she developed strong relationships with principal investigators who continue to mentor her. However, her first and best role models are her parents, who run an endocrinology practice together and share the experience with their family. Adele grew up volunteering in the office and seeing the impact of quality care.

Although internships, shadowing and school work could keep her busy, Adelle makes time for community service. She has volunteered for Bikur Cholim, Chai Lifeline and Shaarei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. A biology honors major, Adelle was selected for the honors society at Lander College of Arts and Sciences.

Yisroel Fishman, Valedictorian, Lander College of Arts and Sciences Men’s Division, Flatbush, Brooklyn

It is no surprise that Yisroel Fishman is planning a career in psychology. He has always been dedicated to helping people. As the oldest of many siblings, he is accustomed to pitching in and skilled at connecting with people. “During the pandemic I observed how people’s mental health suffered, and I decided I want to be part of efforts to improve mental health in the long run,” he said.

A psychology honors major, Yisroel is already conducting research in the field of relational communications—the study of how people in relationships communicate with one another. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and hopes to go into practice and become a professor as well. He recently won first prize for his research at Brooklyn College’s 2022 Science Research Day.

Yisroel began building connections as soon as he arrived at Touro. He introduced himself to faculty and staff and promptly found mentors. He also started the Touro Free Tutoring Chat Q&A, a text service for students who need quick answers to academic questions.

Yonaton Rubin, Valedictorian, Lander College for Men, Kew Gardens Hills, Queens

Beneath Yonaton Rubin’s low-key demeanor is a highly motivated scholar and an astute legal mind. In his first semester, Yonaton excelled in an upper-level course on the Supreme Court and the Constitution. The practical experience with legal writing, arguing and reading solidified his desire to become a lawyer.

Yonaton’s ambition led him to go the extra mile throughout his time at Lander College for Men. In writing research papers, he not only evaluated current literature, he developed his own theory and then designed original research to test it. He combines his academic drive with a passion for helping others. While waiting to start law school, he is working as an educational aide at Ari Crown Hebrew Day School in Chicago. “If you want to change the world, education can be the most powerful tool,” he said.

For more information on Touro schools and programs visit www.touro.edu.