HIAS Chicago Scholarships
The HIAS Chicago Scholarship Application period has ended.
Awards will be presented at the HIAS Chicago annual meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2013.
Please follow the links below for additional information about our scholarships.
Click here for HIAS Chicago Undergraduate Scholarships.
Click here for HIAS Chicago Graduate Scholarships.
~ Former Scholarship Applicant
~ Former Scholarship Applicant
Through the generosity of HIAS Chicago’s friends and supporters, since 1991 we have been fortunate to be able to provide academic scholarships to an extremely impressive group of young scholars who immigrated to the Chicago area with the assistance of HIAS Chicago. By recognizing their achievements, we are able to acknowledge the significant leadership and community contributions that are being made by immigrants to our community and to help these scholars to further prepare themselves to become our leaders of tomorrow.
These scholarships include:
- HIAS Chicago Benton-Bernstein Scholarships for those entering the helping professions
- Tilly Warshaw Scholarship for high school graduates
- The Max and Anna Warshofsky Scholarship
- The Michael Polsky Family Scholarship Funds for high school graduates and career enhancement
- Ruth Schultz Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Bernard Gordon Memorial Scholarship Fund
The 2013 Scholarship Application Period will begin in November, 2012. Check back soon for more information.
~ Former Scholarship Applicant
~ Former Scholarship Applicant
HIAS Chicago 2012 Annual Meeting & Scholarship Awards
HIAS Chicago’s 2012 Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards was graciously hosted by Synagogue F.R.E.E on May 21st this year, relocating from the downtown area due to the NATO Summit in Chicago. Synagogue F.R.E.E. has been a wonderful resource for immigrants from the Former Soviet Union for more than three decades and has been a welcome partner with HIAS Chicago over the years in hosting and promoting our citizenship preparation classes. At the Annual meeting, the HIAS Chicago Directors gave tribute to Rabbi Schmuel Notik of Synagogue F.R.E.E. for his leadership and his outstanding work with émigrés from the F.S.U. His son, Rabbi Levi Notik, accepted the gift on his father’s behalf.
Jeffrey Kriezelman, HIAS Chicago Board President, was also honored for his leadership and support in chairing the board for the last 7 years and in being a board member for more than 20 years. Jeffrey’s own personal connection with HIAS Chicago is remarkable. His grandparents were assisted by the agency years ago and they frequently talked about how HIAS was there when they needed help. Additionally, Jeffrey’s father in law, the late Arthur Barbakoff was on the HIAS Chicago board for more than 54 years, serving as president for more than 6 years. Now Jeffrey proudly talks about his son-in-law, board member Justin Burton, as the third generation of family connected to HIAS Chicago.
Jeffrey was so pleased to acknowledge & introduce the new incoming president of the board, Irena Persky. Irena emigrated to this country as a refugee with her family at the age of 13 from the Former Soviet Union. She won a HIAS Chicago undergraduate scholarship in 1994 while attending Loyola University. Irena went on to become a Ph.D. psychologist and works at Hines Veterans Hospital. Irena exemplifies not only the value that immigrants bring to our county, but how important HIAS Chicago remains in the lives of immigrants. HIAS Chicago prides itself on having 40% of its board made up of former immigrants.
As always, a special highlight of the meeting was the annual HIAS Chicago Scholarship Awards. This year, HIAS Chicago awarded 6 scholarships: 3 undergraduate and 3 graduate scholarships. The proud winners are:
Undergraduates: Ron Feingold, Inga Gurevich and Dmitriy Zavelevich
Graduates: Marina Kurakin, Alexandra Goncharenko and Inessa Kipnis
Additionally, HIAS Chicago was pleased to announce a new scholarship fund, the Henry & Helga Scholarship Fund in the amount of $100,000 given to the agency by their devoted children Jack Bierig and Judy Farby. For Jack & Judy, this scholarship fund represents the epitome of the best of their parents—they came to this country with little resources and made a successful life filled with the love of family and friends, the importance of valuing a good education, being the best you can be, and giving back to the Jewish community.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration and the dedication of the HIAS Chicago Freedom Grove was also highlighted. Find out more about all the festivities and how you can donate to the 100th.
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HIAS Chicago 2012 Scholarship Winners: from left to right - Marina Kurakin, Ron Feingold, Inessa Kipnis, Alexandra Goncharenko, Dmitriy Zavelevich, Inga Gurevich;)
from left to right: Irena Persky, incoming Board President; Jeffrey Kriezelman, outgoing Board President; Suzanne Franklin, HIAS Chicago Director;)