AJA Prepares for More Than 60 Graduates
David Bockman will deliver the keynote address when Atlanta Jewish Academy holds its Upper School graduation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the academy’s Northland Drive campus in Sandy Springs.
Bockman, the managing director and head of ultra-high net worth resources for Morgan Stanley, will be introduced by graduating senior Michelle Khandadash.
The AJA Upper School’s valedictorian is Abigail Stein, a National Merit commended scholar, STAR student and recipient of a Georgia Certificate of Merit. Abby has been a member of the National Honor Society, co-president of the Student Council and yearbook staff member. She played varsity volleyball and was frequently involved in the Upper School’s musical theater productions.
Salutatorian Greg Shapiro also is an athlete and served as vice president of the Student Council and as a peer leader.
Daniella Sokol, Abby’s co-president on the Student Council, will introduce the commencement. Aharon Davidson will deliver the d’var Torah. Outgoing Head of School Rabbi Pinchos Hecht also will address the Class of 2016.
The AJA graduates’ plans include gap years in Israel at Emunah V’Omanut, Derech Etz Chaim, Machon Ma’ayan, Midreshet Harova, Nishmat, Orayta, Tiferet, Yeshivat Shaarei Mevaseret Zion and Yeshiva Temimei Darech, as well as service in the Israel Defense Forces.
The Class of 2016 has accepted admission to Brandeis University, Florida State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, New York University, Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University, the University of Maryland, the University of Miami, Washington University in St. Louis and Yeshiva University.
AJA’s Junior High will hold its eighth-grade commencement the next day at 6:30 p.m. in the same location as the Upper School graduation. The ceremony will include a student presentation on the theme “It is not your responsibility to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it,” drawn from Pirkei Avot.
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