Each year Hillel UW awards a number of deserving students and Jconnectors the “Nachshon Award”. This award is named after the Biblical character Nachshon ben Amminadav. The Midrash relates that during the Exodus, when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, it did not automatically part. The Israelites stood at the banks of the sea and wailed with despair, but Nachshon entered the waters. He walked in head-deep until the sea parted.
Nachshon is remembered as someone who took initiative, who was an innovator and who led the people in important times. He was a person who was willing to fill a void, to step up when nobody else was ready to do so. Hillel UW therefore is pleased to award the Nachshon Awards to people in our community who stepped up and initiated, who filled a void and truly showed passion and courage in leading our community.
Past Winners:
2022
Haley Masters (Undergraduate)
Elise Munerman (Undergraduate)
Bevin Katira (Jconnect)
Sarah Lapinski (Jconnect)
Samantha Schafrank (Jconnect)
2021
Hanna Krasnowsky (Undergraduate)
Gabby Vanderlaan (Undergraduate)
Talya Lehrich & Rachel Rosenberg (presented together) (Undergraduate)
Emma Heaslet (Jconnect)
Nina Garkavi (Jconnect)
2020
Binyamin Levin (Undergraduate)
Yuval Berenstein (Undergraduate)
Amelia Nathan (Undergraduate)
Jonathan Feller (Jconnect)
Sydney Fine (Jconnect)
2019
Noya Dolev (Undergraduate)
Jeremy Voss (Undergraduate)
James O’Connell (Jconnect)
Sarah Wallis (Jconnect)
Evelyn Fleischer (Student Staff)
Ian McNabb (Student Staff)
2018
Danielle Hamer (Undergraduate)
Melissa Valasky (Undergraduate)
Nick Montoni (Jconnect)
Bevin Fritz-Waters (Jconnect)
2017
Leah Haberman (Undergraduate)
Jessica Schwartz (Undergraduate)
Allix DeGraff (Jconnect)
Amanda Drasnin (Jconnect)
Alyson Roush (Board)
Jessica Schriger (Board)
2016
Robbie Ellenhorn (Undergraduate)
Megan Brumer (Undergraduate)
Liz Kent (Jconnect)
Marissa Freeman (Jconnect)
Excellence in Board Service awards: Elizabeth Siegel and Jon Newman
2015
Jodi Schwartz (Jconnect)
Leo Katsman (Jconnect)
Justin Sass (Undergraduate)
LB Lipney-Burger (Undergraduate)
Shayna Waldbaum (Undergraduate)
Excellence in Board Service awards: Aly Roush, Jonathan Schwartz
Special Award for dedication to Hillel to Gaby Natelson
2014
Ari Schorr
Paul Chodosh
Sonya Saepoff
Ruth Ferguson
2013
Haley Rosen
Mindy Rappoport
Marissa Freeman
Lauren Balter
2012
Zulka Gravlovski
Corinne Pascale
Jaclyn Rubinchik
Abby Gluck
Shoshi Fertig
2011
Jodi Schwartz
Spencer Launer
Olivia Zieve
Julia Bacharach
Jonathan Schwartz
2010
Joel Kramer
Rebecca Seigel
Rebecca Finkel
Helen Bennett
Sarah Lindsley
Rochelle Goffe
2009
Laura Reader
Udi Lazimy
Paul Burstein
2008
Sarah Persitz
Jared Brown
Terah Brossart
Avi Zellman
Elizabet Wedt
2007
Erin Sayers
Jessica Aronson
Neal Friedman: award for service and dedication
2006
Julia Bacharach: award for service and dedication.
