Jewish Studies Program announces fall 2021 Danciger Fellowship recipients
LAWRENCE — With a donation from the Danciger Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the KU Jewish Studies Program has awarded Danciger Fellowships to several University of Kansas students. The fellowships, awarded in the fall and spring semesters, offer financial support to students with majors or minors in Jewish studies as well as undergraduate students with an interest in Jewish studies.
The Danciger Essay Contest in Jewish Studies is open to all KU undergraduates who submit an original essay of no more than 5,000 words on any Jewish studies topic of their choice. Brian Bobka, from San Diego, received first place for his essay “Sino-Israeli Relations in the 20th Century.” He is a junior majoring in Jewish studies and minoring in history. Sadeh Klein, from Overland Park, received second place for their essay “My 'Kosher' Recovery Journey.” Klein is a senior majoring in Jewish studies and minoring in religious studies. Danielle Wolff, a senior in American studies minoring in Jewish studies and education, received third place for her essay “Representation of Haredi Women in Academic Scholarship.”
The Danciger Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Jewish Studies was awarded to Abby Vaughn, from Bonner Springs, for her research titled "Does Genetic Research Support the History of the Druze?" Vaughn, from Bonner Springs, is a sophomore majoring in anthropology and minoring in linguistics and history. Vaughn presented her topic at the Fall Undergraduate Research Showcase, through the KU Center for Undergraduate Research.
The Danciger Excellence Award for the Study of the Hebrew Language is presented to at least one student each semester at all levels of Hebrew study (beginning, intermediate and advanced). The recipients are evaluated based on classroom performance, academic excellence and dedication to the study of Hebrew:
- Benjamin Cook, a sophomore in business from Dallas; Bree Katz, a freshman from Overland Park; and Robbie Metz, a freshman from Colorado Springs, Colorado, were recognized for their achievements in beginning Hebrew.
- Sammi Grofsky, a sophomore from Los Angeles majoring in Jewish studies and communications with a minor in human sexuality; Zac Kitay, a sophomore from Stamford, Connecticut, majoring in journalism and double-minoring in business and film & media studies; and Sylvia Shapiro, a junior from Leawood majoring in strategic communication and minoring in business, were awarded for their excellence in intermediate Hebrew.
- Klein, the 2021 Danciger Essay Contest award recipient; Josie Safer, a sophomore from Overland Park majoring in international business and supply chain management; and Jason Speier, a fall 2021 graduate from Overland Park with a bachelor's degree in communication studies, were the recipients of the Danciger Excellence Award for the Study of Advanced Hebrew.
In addition, the Danciger Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the KU Jewish Studies Program provided several need-based fellowships to Jewish Studies majors and minors for the fall 2021 semester. The names of the fellowship recipients are confidential.