Meet Our Inaugural Scholars

Eithan Ackerman will graduate this spring from Thales Academy in Apex, North Carolina, where he serves as Student Body President and Vice President of the North Carolina Junior Classical League. A national champion in Latin recitation and public speaking, Eithan has won the Coolidge Cup and the Rumbaugh Oratory Competition. He founded his school’s Philosophy Club, captains the debate team, and has competed at the Harvard Debate Classic. His original Passover flag design flew at Rockefeller Center as part of the 2023 Flag Project. Eithan also coaches youth hockey with the Carolina Hurricanes youth program and has interned with pro-Israel political campaigns.

Jude Berg will graduate this spring from Ingraham High School in Seattle, Washington. An IB Diploma candidate, Jude serves as a team steward and varsity rower for Pocock Youth Rowing and competed at the 2024 Youth National Championship in Sarasota. He is founding president of his school’s pickleball club, a counselor at Camp JCA Shalom, and a long-time participant in United Synagogue Youth. Jude has led multi-day outdoor expeditions and worked to combat antisemitism and misinformation through student-led initiatives. Passionate about Jewish ideas, philosophy, and civic discourse, Jude aspires to lead a life of courage, curiosity, and character.

Sally Brown is a sophomore at the University of Florida, originally from Lake Worth, Florida. She is a co-founder and Managing Editor of The Florida Finibus, a student-led publication dedicated to restoring the American intellectual tradition in campus media. Sally is a member of the Hamilton School’s Society of Fellows, serves on the Conservative Religious Life Committee at UF Hillel, and has interned on a White House-affiliated cybersecurity taskforce. A Russian language scholar and FLAS Fellow, she has conducted policy research on AI, national security, and democracy, and contributed to both campus programming and academic outreach through the Hamilton School.

Ronnier Canizares will graduate this spring from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School in Florida. He is Captain of his High School’s Appellate Law Team, President of the Social Studies Honor Society, and founder of the Future Civic Leaders Initiative, which has mentored hundreds of students in civics, law, and history. Ronnier also leads his school’s Christian Ministry and has worked as a file clerk at a family law firm. He advocates passionately for U.S.–Israel relations and Jewish-Christian understanding.

Sabrina Colacicchi will graduate this spring as Salutatorian of The Adelson School in Las Vegas. Born in Luxembourg, she moved to the U.S. on July 4th, symbolizing her embrace of American liberty. She has won awards in national mock trial competitions as both “Best Witness” and “Best Attorney” and is a state finalist in DECA. Sabrina is an alumna of the StandWithUs Kenneth Leventhal Internship, an intern with the Republican Jewish Coalition, and serves on the board of NCSY. She co-founded her school’s Jewish Life Organization, volunteers for the Friendship Circle, and is an advocate for Western civilization and the Jewish people in public, civic, and educational arenas.

Sari D’Agostino will graduate this spring from Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she ranks in the top 5% of her class. She serves as Senior Year Chorus Co-President, chapter president of United Synagogue Youth, and a teacher at Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta. A Latin scholar and AP Capstone Diploma recipient, Sari has earned national awards through the National Junior Classical League and the Georgia Department of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy in Latin. She works as a counselor at Camp Barney Medintz and participates in musical theater and varsity softball, where she is team co-captain. Sari is passionate about classical studies, Jewish education, and civic leadership.

Robert (Robbie) Eskenazi will graduate this spring from Wilton High School in Connecticut with a deep commitment to both Jewish and civic life. He is President of Model Congress, Co-President of the Jewish Alliance Club, and a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. After returning from a summer in Poland and Israel, Robbie embraced Jewish practice and co-founded a Jewish cultural awareness club at his school. He is a CTeen Student Ambassador, has volunteered with the Friendship Circle, an organization that helps children with special needs, and worked at Camp Gan Izzy, a Jewish day camp. An enthusiastic learner, Robbie is self-taught in Hebrew, dedicated to understanding AI, and hopes to combine PPEL studies, finance, and technology to serve the Jewish people and the broader world.

AJ Horowitz, from Yeshivat Frisch in New Jersey, will join our program in Fall 2026 after completing a year of learning in Israel. He is a three-time national champion and varsity captain in wrestling and president of both the debate team and choir. AJ is also a passionate Jewish educator, having introduced peers to tefillin and Jewish texts in both Jewish and interfaith settings. He interned at a fragrance R&D lab in Istanbul after teaching himself Turkish, and raised over $27,000 to equip his school’s wrestling team. AJ seeks to bring a blend of strength, strategy, and scholarship to everything he does and is an alumnus of the Tikvah Scholars Program, the Tikvah Solomon Fellowship, and the Wharton Global Youth Program.

Micah Kopelman will graduate this spring from The Weber School in Atlanta, Georgia. He is captain of the varsity cross country and track teams, president of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter, and president of a 250-member BBYO chapter. Micah founded a Beit Midrash study group, serves on CTeen Atlanta’s board, and was a finalist in the Maimonides Moot Court competition. He has also led initiatives through the Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellowship and volunteered extensively with underserved youth. Micah brings a vibrant mix of intellectual depth, Zionist commitment, and entrepreneurial energy to every community he serves.

Gabriella Mayer will graduate this spring from John L. Miller Great Neck North High School in New York. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, captain of the varsity swim team, and an officer of DECA. Gabriella is also a Digital Media Editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, where she evaluates digital media strategies and explores AI applications in medicine, collaborating with leaders at Mount Sinai and Baylor on clinical research initiatives. She worked as a Childcare Counselor at Camp HASC, a summer program for individuals with special needs, and served as a student docent for the Anne Frank House exhibit, helping bring the initiative from Amsterdam to the United States. A fluent Russian speaker with intermediate proficiency in Hebrew, Gabriella is a passionate student of Jewish history, civic engagement, and biomedical innovation.

Phoebe Nissanoff will graduate this spring from Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is founder of Students for Friends of the IDF and was co-captain of the varsity volleyball team. Phoebe attended Alexander Muss High School in Israel during her Sophomore year in high school, has interned with the Jewish National Fund and was selected for the prestigious Sababa Fellowship. Phoebe is also an Alexander Muss ambassador and has used her leadership positions to advance Jewish education, historical awareness, and youth engagement in global Jewish affairs. Most recently, Phoebe was awarded the Pathfinder Scholarship in World Languages by The Palm Beach Post.

Lena Nadaner of Potomac, Maryland, recently completed a gap year in Jerusalem through the Hevruta Program at the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Tikvah Israel Fellowship where she studied Israeli politics, Jewish literature, and philosophy and volunteered in communities affected by war. A graduate of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, she served as Editor-in-Chief of The Lion’s Tale, leading the paper to national recognition. Lena has studied classical philosophy at St. John’s College and Jewish military strategy and Zionist thought through the Tikvah Scholars program and Tikvah Online Academy. She spread awareness about the ongoing Uyghur genocide by organizing presentations at various universities for the Uyghur American Association. Lena is energized about journalism, diplomacy, and leadership in defense of Jewish values and civic courage.

Catalina will graduate summa cum laude from Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. A six-time state champion in cross country and track, she was named Louisiana’s 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year and is a National Merit Finalist. Catalina leads a 200-member pro-life club, serves on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council, and tutors students for the ACT. She is president of her parish’s Catholic Youth Organization, a dedicated volunteer with Special Olympics and Teen CROSS, and a recipient of the national St. Timothy Award, the highest honor granted by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, for her service and leadership. A passionate advocate for classical education and the enduring values of the West, Catalina aspires to pursue law and public leadership grounded in moral and religious conviction.

Elena Ruiz, a graduate of Trinity School at Meadow View in Virginia, recently completed a gap year with Young Life in Edinburgh, Scotland, mentoring teens and leading youth programming. At Trinity, she co-founded a bioethics club, captained the varsity soccer team, and starred in school and community theater. A National Latin Exam awardee, Elena studied Latin, Koine Greek, Arabic, and Spanish, and is deeply engaged with Jewish and Christian texts. She plans to continue her study of classical thought, language, and moral leadership in service of Israel and the West.

Guy Taylor will graduate this spring from Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Baltimore. He is President of the National Honor Society, co-captain of the varsity tennis team, and an Eagle Scout. Guy leads his school’s AIPAC chapter and Israel advocacy committees, serves on the board of the JCC of Greater Baltimore, is a Diller Teen Fellow alum, and a recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal. For his Eagle Scout project, he built an outdoor classroom to serve both secular and Judaic studies. Guy’s commitment to Jewish education, community service, and Israel advocacy is rooted in his desire to sustain Jewish institutions and strengthen American civic life through philanthropy and leadership.