Center Scene | Vol 6, June 2008

Don Erkis/Lou Berliner Scholar Athlete Award Winners

Rose Ross
This year's Scholar Athletes were honored at the JCC Annual Meeting.

The 2008 JCC Annual Meeting also is an exciting time for the scholar/athletes in the community. This year, 19 high school seniors were nominated for the Don Erkis/Lou Berliner Jewish Scholar Athlete Award: Alyssa Arndt, Libby Ashton, Daniel Broidy, Caroline Emoff, Melissa Hart, Sarah Hirsch, Shaina Hombach, Rachel Leeds, William Lesser, Elan Leiber, Alex Morton, Jeff Pitman, Ben Rosen, Beth Roseman, David Schmelzer, Ben Scoblionko, Ali Shapiro, Joel Vinocur and Howie Zisser.

The JCC Don Erkis/Lou Berliner Jewish Scholar Athlete scholarship is offered to local high school Jewish athletes who have excelled in the classroom. The award is offered in memory of Don Erkis and Lou Berliner, both of whom were active sportsmen throughout their lives. All nominees received a gift certificate, fitness evaluation by a JCC personal trainer and recognition in their local suburban newspaper.

The winners of the 2008 Award are Rachel Leeds and David Schmelzer.

Rachel, soon to be a graduate of Bexley High School, is planning on attending Wittenberg University in the fall, majoring in elementary education. She was a four-year Bexley field hockey player and was co-captain her senior year. Rachel also was a four-year varsity swimmer and letter winner, co-captain her junior and senior years, and was voted most spirited all four years. During her senior swim season she was District Champion, State Medalist, and First Team all League Athlete. At school, Rahcel is on the honor roll, is a Lion Student Ambassador, and is a member of the Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Committee.

David Schmelzer moved from Cincinnati to Columbus for the start of his freshman year of high school at Columbus Torah Academy. At CTA, David excelled in the classroom as an Honor Roll student as awll as on the athletic fields. During his senior year, he was voted by the Associated Press as an All-State Division Four Third Team athlete for basketball. David plans on matriculating to Yeshiva University following a year of study in Israel.