Over 100 high school-aged teenagers, all part of the Colel Chabad scholarship program, joined a celebratory end of the year award ceremony in Jerusalem this week, marking completion of another successful school year.
The scholarships were given by the Colel Chabad organization, Israel’s longest running social services organization, in cooperation with the Barad family of New York and the Meromim Foundation.
The ceremony was honored by the attendance of Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem.
“It was very exciting and emotional, especially to see students who just graduated from 12th grade who began their journey in our program with complex difficulties, both academic and emotional, finish their high school careers with top grades and awards of excellence,” said Itzik Marton, of the Chesed Menachem Mendel Scholarship Program.
The academic scholarships are allocated based on the student’s success throughout the year, and scholarships are given based on the number of points accrued following test results. The students are all supported by an educational committee headed by educational director Rabbi Dr. Amram Blau, and a dedicated team of project coordinators.
Additionally, the students are given support and enrichment throughout the school year, allowing those who struggle to get the help they need, and those who excel to reach even higher levels.
“When you have a student who at age nine was suffering from learning disabilities, put in the effort, graduates with honors and is accepted into the engineering corps of the army, it continues to inspire us all,” said Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Director of Colel Chabad. “All of these children deserve nothing less.”