Arnold Zar-Kessler Outstanding Alumni Award
Celebrating our extraordinary alumni
2026 Arnold Zar-Kessler Outstanding Alumni Award
Each year, we honor one exceptional alumnus or alumna who lives out Schechter’s values through leadership, service or impact in their field. Established in 2014 to honor former Head of School Arnold Zar-Kessler, the award recognizes professional, academic, or volunteer excellence, and a commitment to creating a better world.
The award recipient is invited to speak with current students each spring connecting past, present, and future Schechter voices.
Nominations for our 2026 Arnold Zar-Kessler Outstanding Alumni Award are now open. Nominations must be submitted by Monday, March 30.
Previous Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients:
2025: Ben Kasdan ‘06
2024: Sharon Bohnen Goldstein ’86
2023: Jessica Fein ’82
2022: Jessica Gray ’96
2021: Rachel Chiel Katz ’97
2020: Miriam Tuchman ’80
2019: Noah Phillips ’92
2017: Rahel Berkovits ’83 & Jackie Schon ’99
2016: Yosef Abramowitz ’78 & Heidi Birnbaum Aaronson ’96
2015: Jeremy Blumenthal z”l ’83 & Teddy Fischer ’00
2014: Rabbi Ilana Garber ’91 and Dr. Mitchell Schwaber ’78
