Wagner College Hillel

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Please join us on April 30 as we celebrate Hillel of Staten Island and honor members of our community like Kara Freedman and Avery Schwartz, recipients of the Fran & Joe Harris Student Leadership Award!

Support our honorees and Hillel by attending, sponsoring, or purchasing a journal ad: https://www.hillelstatenisland.com/kavod-circle

Kara Freedman is a junior at Wagner College majoring in Theatre Performance with a minor in Holocaust and Human Rights Studies. Since her freshman year, Kara has been deeply involved at Wagner Hillel and is currently serving as Student President.Through her leadership, Kara has helped foster a strong and supportive Jewish community on campus. In addition to her work with Hillel, she has interned with the Wagner College Holocaust Center, helping lead educational initiatives on antisemitism and prejudice.Kara is passionate about combining Holocaust education and the arts, recently portraying Margot Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank for over 1,200 students. She continues to use theatre as a platform to share meaningful Jewish stories and history.

Avery Schwartz is a senior at the College of Staten Island, majoring in Finance and Management with minors in Sports Management and Data Analytics. For the past two years, Avery has served as President of the Hillel/Jewish Student Union, leading efforts to grow and strengthen Jewish life on campus. Avery has helped bring impactful speakers and programs to campus, including events featuring Kosha Dillz and Zach Sage Fox, which created opportunities for students to engage with Jewish identity in meaningful and dynamic ways.For Avery, Hillel is more than an organization, it is a community. “Hillel is a place where Jewish students can express themselves, connect with others, and feel supported,” Avery shares. “It has given me a space to become the best version of myself.”