The Anti-Defamation League of Missouri, Southern Illinois and Eastern Kansas has announced that local high school seniors Pardes Lyons-Warren and Hannah Maurer are recipients of the 20th Annual Meyer and Marcelle Kranzberg Memorial Scholarships. Each will receive a $2,000 college scholarship.  

In addition, the selection committee awarded two honorable mentions of $500 to Izzy Essman and Levi Dyson. Additional nominees JJ Adler, Jordan Chervitz, Julia Fendelman, Macey Goldstein, Claire Frank, Amanda Kalishman, Adina Levy, Eliana Lichtenfeld, Ben Remis and Zachary Zlepper will each receive a $100 book stipend.

As part of the selection process, nominees were asked to reflect on responses to anti-Semitism, thoughts on leadership and matters in the news. All nominees submitted essays as part of the application process and responded to questions on those essays from selection committee members.

 “This task is always a tough one for Committee members,” said Rhoda Kahn Nussbaum, chair of the selection committee, “but this year it was unique. Challenges are real for them in cyberbullying, beyond high school in campus-based anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism – their thinking on these issues is sophisticated…We look forward to keeping them connected to ADL – we will need that leadership in the future”.  

Ken Kranzberg, a member of ADL’s National Executive Committee, established the scholarship in his parents’ memory. Members of the selection committee included ADL Board Chair Aaron Vickar, members Rhiannon Kaye, Michele Kopolow, Marc Spector and Mary Ann Srenco, representing the Kranzberg Family.