"Lech Lecha"
Award Dinner
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2002 "Lech Lecha" Award Dinner |
2002 "Lech Lecha" Award Dinner
honoring
Mel Schwartz
Ron Segel
Bob White
Sarah Wilson
"Lech Lecha" ~ to go
forth
"Amood" ~ pillar or support
"Lech Lecha" is Hebrew for "Go Forth as "G-d commanded Abraham and Sarah to 'Go forth from your land, from your kindred, from your father's house, to the land that I will let you see.'" G-d promises to "make a great nation of Abraham and Sarah and to make their name great." Just as Abraham and Sarah were sent forth to build a Jewish world, so too, the Albuquerque Jewish Community sends forth their students to make their names great. The "Amood Awards" have been created to thank special individuals who have been of tremendous support to Hillel. They have enabled Hillel to reach great success in providing programs and a central address for students as they search for meaning in their lives. These awards will institute a tradition of excellence as we honor outstanding individuals who volunteer their time and effort on behalf of Hillel, The University of New Mexico and the Jewish Community of Albuquerque.
Because Mel Schwartz, Ron Segel, Bob White and Sarah Wilson care about people, their community and Jewish ethics, the Board of Directors of Hillel at The University of New Mexico is privileged to present its highest honors, the "Amood Awards," to these five outstanding humanitarians who believe in miracles and, like Hillel, work hard to make them happen.
Mel Schwartz will receive the "Amood Ha Sechel Award" (Pillar of Wisdom) for outstanding service from a Board Member.
Mel is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and was a business owner in Philadelphia. He served on the Boards of Congregation Adath Jeshurun, the Jewish Federation, and State of Israel Bonds. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Liberty Museum.
Upon his arrival in Albuquerque, Mel immediately immersed himself in the community. He served on the Boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Albuquerque and Congregation Albert. He volunteers with Project Share and the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. He serves on the Board of Hillel and is the immediate past-president.
Mel and his wife, Paula, donated the Aaron David Bram Hillel House in memory of their beloved son. By so doing, Hillel at The University of New Mexico has a permanent home and is a central address of hospitality and learning for Jewish students.
They are the parents of Arthur Schwartz, Joshua Schwartz, Frederic Schwartz and his wife, Tara, Adam Bram and his wife, Margot, and Alix Amar Stritzinger and her partner, Linda Lawrence. They are the proud grandparents of Kayla, George and Sarah Schwartz, Naomi Bram and Zackery and Nathaniel Stritzinger.
Ron Segel will become the first recipient of the "Amood Ha Koach" Award (Pillar of Strength) for exemplary service from an Alumnus.
Ron is a trial lawyer with Sutin, Thayer and Browne. He received his BA and J.D. from The University of New Mexico. While in attendance, Ron served as student president of Hillel.
Ron has served on the Boards of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Chaparral Home and Adoption Services, Hospice of the Rio Grande, the Jewish Federation of Greater Albuquerque, Congregation Albert, and La Familia. He currently serves on the Board of the Anti-Defamation League and is President of Hillel at The University of New Mexico.
He is married to Meryl and they are the parents of Neil and their dog, Chamisa Kelev.
Bob White will be presented with the "Amood Ha Limud" Award (The Pillar of Learning) for outstanding service as a Faculty Advisor.
He serves as an ex-officio Hillel Board Member. Bob White recently retired from the College of Education at The University of New Mexico where he has been on the faculty since 1967. He was a Professor of Secondary and Adult Teacher Education, specializing in English and Reading Instruction. He was the founder and coordinator of the Master's Degree and Ph.D. emphasis in "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages." He is currently Professor Emeritus.
A native of Boston, Bob received his Ph.D. from The University of Arizona. As a graduate student there, he was Assistant Program Director of The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation. Bob has been a committed Board Member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Albuquerque and its predecessors, the Jewish Welfare Board and the Jewish Community Council of Albuquerque, for most of the past thirty years, only interrupted by a sabbatical in Israel. Currently, Bob works with the Jewish Federation facilitating the activities of the Albuquerque Jewish Education Alliance. He also serves on the Board of the Albuquerque Solomon Schechter Day School as Chair of its Education Support Committee. Bob is a member of the Link Editorial Board and the Albuquerque Jewish Community Center Board and Budget and Finance Committee. Bob and Beverly are the proud parents of Rachel and her husband, Harvey Sternheim, and Jonathan. Rachel followed her father into the education field and teaches at a synagogue in California. Jonathan is a neurosurgeon on the faculty of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Campus.They are the extremely proud grandparents of Jennifer and Adina Sternheim.
We are very pleased to present Sarah Wilson with the "Amood Ha Yecholet Award" (The Pillar of Promise).
Sarah is a senior at The University of New Mexico. She will graduate in May with honors and receive her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with a minor in Dance. Sarah is from Berkeley, California. Her parents, Edie and Roger Wilson, are active in the Bay Area Jewish community and Sarah has inherited their love of Judaism and commitment to the Jewish community.
Sarah has served as student President of Hillel for the past two years.
