Steinbrenner High JSU students receive JSU Club of the Year award.
JSU (Jewish Student Union) of Tampa Bay hosted its annual Banquet in May celebrating a year of Jewish teen leadership, graduating high school seniors and JSU teen board members. JSU runs student led Jewish clubs in public and private high schools throughout the Tampa Bay region.
Maxine Kaufman, executive director at Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast started off the evening congratulating JSU. “What stands out most about JSU is not just what it does — but how quickly and meaningfully it has grown. In just a few short years, we’ve watched this program expand across Tampa Bay, and especially in Pinellas County, creating real opportunities for Jewish teens to connect, to learn and to feel proud of who they are.”
Coen Zimmerman, a graduate of Berkeley Prep and member of the JSU chapter board spoke about his JSU journey. “I never thought I would end up finding as many Jews as I did. I met an abundance of teens at the JSU fellowship program and service activities that made me able to unlock my stored Jewishness and connect with all the Jews around me.”
Palm Harbor University High JSU students receive JSU New Club of the Year› award.
Sarah Nicholas, president of Dunedin High JSU, represented the group of senior graduates: “Even though I only became involved this year, JSU and Fellowship have both shaped me a lot. They helped me become more connected to my Jewish identity and more comfortable stepping into leadership. Most importantly, they showed me how important community is and how important it is for people to come together and support each other.”
Highlights of the night included school awards with Steinbrenner High JSU receiving ‘Club of the Year’ award and Palm Harbor University High receiving ‘New Club of the Year’ award.
“Now more than ever it is imperative that we join together as Jews and associate with a group. This unity gives us strength to weather the uptick in antisemitism and use the group as a catalyst for Jewish growth,” said JSU director Moshe Leiter.
To start a JSU at your child’s school email leiterm@ncsy.org.