for college students by college students
continued from page 62
Learning Firsthand
I’m super proud to report we have
been cash flow positive for nearly half
a year now. Our most recent third-par-
ty assessment valued SKOOP Inc. at
more than $4 million. If growth con-
tinues as it should, that valuation will
be north of $10 million by the end of
the second quarter of 2019.
Michigan Hillel chair grows from experiences
SAMII STOLOFF
on campus with anti-Semitism.
I
was fortunate to grow up in what
my friends and I endearingly call
“the Jewish bubble” of West
Bloomfield. Growing up in an area
with a large Jewish population, I
had the opportunity to come to love
and be proud of my
Jewish identity, and
I chose to explore it
from many angles.
In high school, I
was on the board of
Temple Israel’s Youth
Kendall Coden Group, volunteered at
Friendship Circle, was
in BBYO and was on the Jewish
Fund Teen Philanthropy Board.
Because of my involvement in the
Jewish community and the shelter
it provided, I was never exposed
to anti-Semitism until I exited that
bubble and entered a new bubble
called college.
I am a senior at the University of
Michigan, where I currently serve as
chair of the Michigan Hillel Governing
Board. Michigan is a university that
welcomes and encourages diversity
of opinion and productive discourse
and, as a result, many perspectives
exist on campus.
Recently, there have been several
events on campus that some indi-
viduals claim are anti-Semitic, some
claim are anti-Israel and some claim
are both. These events and the exis-
tence of anti-Semitism is not limited
to U-M nor college campuses but
exists within society in general.
Holding the title and role of chair,
I was often the first student to
become aware of situations and
often the student in the room with
university administrators advocating
on behalf of the Jewish community.
In these experiences, Hillel and the
Jewish community were the great-
est support systems I could have
asked for. The staff and student
leadership work to ensure it is sup-
porting every individual student in
64
November 22 • 2018
jn
During Go Blue and White Day in support of Israel at U-M, these students show
their enthusiasm.
the way her or she needs support.
Being at Michigan and part of
the Hillel community has provided
me with learning opportunities and
skills far superseding those learned
in the classroom. I have gained a
more nuanced understanding of
the diversity of opinions within the
Jewish community; gained skills
and language to better articulate my
opinions and to advocate on behalf
of the Jewish community with
empathy; and, overall, have a great-
er sense of confidence in and con-
tinued love for my Jewish identity.
These lessons and this under-
standing of self would not have been
possible if not for the vibrant, diverse
Jewish community at U-M. That
is why it is so hard for me to hear
members of the Jewish communi-
ty say U-M is no longer a “good”
school for Jewish students.
Yes, there are challenging
moments, but, because of these
moments, we have the opportunity
to learn how to respond and advo-
cate for the Jewish community with
a supportive Hillel and Jewish com-
munity behind us.
Our Hillel and Jewish community
on campus is as vibrant and lively
as ever. This is something noticed
by the highest levels of the uni-
versity administration. In a recent
meeting of some Hillel student lead-
ers with President Mark Schlissel,
Provost Martin Philbert and VP of
Student Life Royster Harper, it was
noted that we have one of the larg-
est and strongest Jewish communi-
ties of many universities.
It was a very bittersweet experi-
ence for me this fall welcoming all
the new freshman to campus. I was
excited for them to have the oppor-
tunity to share in all the wonderful
experiences of our Jewish commu-
nity, but sad because it meant my
time here is coming to an end. I am
grateful for these experiences and
will carry the lessons with me as I
move forward in life and my career.
Forever and always, Go Blue! @
Kendall Coden of West Bloomfield is a senior
at the University of Michigan and chair of
Michigan Hillel.
STRONG ROOTS
Although it is nearly impossible to
connect the dots looking forward, it
is important to occasionally look back
on all the different steps in life that got
you to where you are today.
When I was young, I used to play
in Toyology, a small toy store in the
Orchard Mall right down the street
from my former middle school.
Months of frequent visits to the
store ultimately linked me up with
the cashier and owner working the
register.
During my middle school years,
this cashier and I would spend hours
talking innovation and entrepreneur-
ship. Aric Klar was that cashier behind
the counter nearly 10 years ago. To
this day, he remains a mentor and
business partner of mine. The most
critical thing Aric has taught me is the
importance of turning the visions and
dreams in your head into directions
others can follow and turn into reality.
When reflecting, I also credit many
things that influenced my love of
business. I credit my Jewish roots. My
first leadership opportunities in BBYO
provided me with great learning
experiences. I credit a mental health
awareness and peer-to-peer support
organization I co-founded called
UMatter at Friendship Circle in West
Bloomfield and our Jewish partners
who helped grow that organization
into the powerhouse it is today. I credit
my support system at Michigan State
and my partnership and involvement
with Hillel there.
We have big goals and dreams at
SKOOP Inc. and are confident that
with our strategic partnerships we will
attain them all. @
Josh Cooper of West Bloomfield is CEO of
SKOOP Inc. and a sophomore studying
advertising management at Michigan State
University.