Dr. Paul J. Hauptman, a cardiologist and assistant dean at the St. Louis University School of Medicine, has been named an inaugural Fellow of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA). Founded in 1994, the HFSA promotes patient and provider education, and basic, clinical and population-based heart failure research in an effort to enhance the quality and duration of life of people afflicted with the disease.

University City High School senior Joshua Stueck earned a perfect score (36) on his ACT. He was also honored by the U. City Board of Education for graduating from the University of Missouri-St. Louis STARS program (Students and Teachers as Research Scientists). STARS introduces high school students and teachers to the various aspects of the scientific enterprise as practiced by successful scientists in academic, private and governmental research institutions. Joshua’s research paper was titled “Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of 2,7-disubstituted Germafluorenes and Silafluorenes.” Son of Debbie Tannenbaum and the late Daniel Stueck, Joshua will attend Mizzou in the fall and plans to study chemical engineering. 

Harvey Brandvein has been promoted to the new position of chief revenue officer for First Bank and added to the bank’s executive management committee. His primary focus is to build a sales culture for First Bank to achieve its vision to become one of the finest independent financial services companies in the industry. Brandvein is a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Circle@Crown Café has added three staff members: David Felix, a member of Bais Abraham Congregation, is the kosher supervisor/café assistant; Nancy Raben, a registered dietetic technician, is the café’s assistant manager; and Sue Baseley is a café assistant. Baseley was previously the executive director of Congregation B’nai El for 10 years.

Adam Zoll has received a Karno Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership from Tufts University. This award is given to three sophomores who have shown great promise in their academics and demonstrated leadership on or off campus. Majoring in chemistry with a minor in Spanish, Adam is the son of Ericka Zoll and Jim Phelan, and Dan Zoll and Amy Weiss. His families attend Central Reform Congregation and Congregation B’nai Amoona, respectively.

Beginning in August, Juliana Wishne will be working with AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in Washington, D.C. She will be a bilingual paralegal with Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, aiding  immigration lawyers in their work by helping detained immigrants navigate the criminal justice system with fairness, dignity and respect for their human rights. Wishne is graduating from Ohio State University with a double major in political science and Spanish. 

Tony Spielberg has become the CEO of BCI Packaging, a contract packaging and logistics company employing adults with disabilities. He is a member of United Hebrew Congregation.

John Burroughs students and co-founders of Performing for Pencils, Jessica Goldberg and Ethan Orchard, have been awarded a 2016 Princeton Prize in Race Relations for creating opportunities for students to heal racial divisions and build meaningful, lasting alliances and friendships among different racial and cultural groups. The prize includes a $1,000 cash award and an all-expense paid trip to attend a race-relations symposium at Princeton. Jessica and Ethan are also semifinalists in the Diller Tikkun Olam Award competition. The Helen Diller Family Foundation presents scholarships to each of 15 Jewish U.S. teens for exceptional leadership and engagement in service projects. Performing for Pencils is a nonprofit dedicated to building community and bringing high school students together to collect school supplies for kids who need them. Jessica, daughter of Amy and Mark Goldberg, attends Central Reform Congregation and was a member of the Jewish Light’s Ohr Chadash teen page staff. Ethan is the son of Betsy and Harry Orchard.  

Former St. Louisan Jay O’Brien is the new cantor of Congregation Solel of Highland Park, Ill. He will receive his ordination from Hebrew Union College this month. O’Brien is the son of Rhonda O’Brien and Steve Rosen, who attend Congregation B’nai Amoona.

Fifth-grader Ilana Boyer competed in the Region IV Gymnastics Championships held in St. Paul, Minn., last month. She competed in all four events and won first place in the vault event for the 11-year-old Xcel Platinum group. She also placed 10^th on balance beam. Ilana attends Mirowitz Jewish Community School and is the daughter of Marci and Marty Boyer. They are members of B’nai Amoona. 

Jennifer Newfeld, director of Life Long Learning at B’nai Amoona, will become director of education at Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, Md.  

Richard Rosenfeld, founders professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has received the Thomas Jefferson Award, which includes a $10,000 award funded through a grant from the Robert Earll McConnell Foundation. The University of Missouri systemwide award recognizes faculty who rise above excellence and demonstrate clear distinction in teaching, research, writing, creative activities, and service to the university and humankind.  

Rachel Krug’s photo “Icicles” has received a second-place red ribbon in the Creve Coeur Wonders of Nature art contest in celebration of Arbor Day. Adam Sherberg’s photo “Waterfall” received an honorable mention. Both are seniors at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Their work will be on display at the Creve Coeur Government Center for one month. Rachel is the daughter of Elise and Mark Krug, who attend Congregation B’nai Amoona. Adam is the son of Michael Sherberg and Dr. Simeon Prager. 

Clayton High School senior Jacob Perryman of Boy Scout Troop 21 has become an Eagle Scout, Scouting’s  highest rank. “Being a Jew made it easy to value hard work, discipline and service,” Perryman said. “Getting my Eagle Scout award was not just for me but for all scouts to show what one can accomplish if they stick to the task, persevere and keep their eye on the end result.” Perryman said he was inspired by his grandfather, Sheldon Katz, and his father, Justin Perryman, a lawyer and lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard who served three times abroad. Both have been models of hard work, duty and bravery, Jacob Perryman said.