CLASS OF 2008 SAYS GOODBYE

The Yavneh Family gathered at Congregation Tiferet Israel on May 25, 2008, for the Thirteenth Commencement of Yavneh Academy. The Class of 2008 left its mark on the school and community, with thousands of hours of community service, and more than $700,000 in merit scholarship awards. Members of the class will attend some of the nation's finest universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Barnard College, Johns Hopkins University, Washington University of St. Louis, Brandeis University, Yeshiva University, and the University of Texas.

BULLDOG PRINT GARNERS HONORS

Yavneh's school newspaper, The Bulldog Print, was named one of the nation's top high school newspapers at the prestigious JEA/NSCPA conference in Philadelphia. Despite being in only its second year, the paper is fast building a national reputation for excellence.

YAVNEH STUDENTS COMPLETE THE MARCH

A group of Yavneh seniors participated in the 2008 March of the Living. The delegation traveled to Poland to learn about and commemorate the Shoah, and then on to Israel for a celebration of Israel's indepedence day. Led by Yavneh Board President Pam Hochster-Fine and Jeff Fine, the trip presented the students with the opportunity to learn firsthand about these historical events.

YAVNEH DEBATE ROCKS ON

The Yavneh debate team continued its success during the 2007-2008 season. On the opening weekend of the season, Yavneh placed second in its own invitational tournament, with Michael San Soucie and Sarah Epstein reaching the final before falling to MTA. Grace Rosenthal was named 5th individual speaker. Later in the semester, Epstein and David Fine went undefeated at the MTA/Yeshiva University Tournament in New York, with Mica Esquenazi and Daley Epstein winning two of their three debates. It marked the fifth year in a row that Yavneh had a team finish undefeated at MTA/YU.

YAVNEH GROUP HOSTS TOLERANCE EVENT

Uniting Students of Dallas hosted its second annual Mix It Up At Lunch event at Yavneh. Groups from Highland Park High School, H. Grady Spruce High School, and Garland High School attended the event, which featured presentations by famed civil rights attorney Anthony Griffin (inaugural recipient of the Brennan Award for Courage by the U.S. Supreme Court), Sylvia Cardona (President-Elect of Texas Young Lawyers and the daughter of migrant farm workers), and Henry Geller (a Holocaust survivor). The event was a rousing success, and the Texas Bar Journal ran a lengthy story about it.

YAVNEH ALUM NAMED TO WALL OF FAME

Yavneh graduate Itzy Ribald was one of five inaugural members inducted into the Yeshiva University Sarachek Wall of Fame in 2006. The five inductees were chosen from the more than 500 players and coaches who have participated in the tournament over the past 15 years. Ribald was a two-time member of the All-Tournament Team, a two-time winner of the three-point shootout, and averaged 23.8 points per game over three tournament appearances.