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social justice, Israel advocacy and com-
munity engagement for BBYO Michigan
Region, where he oversaw and managed all
programming, conventions and logistics for
800+ members, along with serving as the
chair for five committees and overseeing a
total of 26 counterparts within two years.
As head of social action and engagement
for BBYO Michigan Region, he coordinat-
ed a convention with 70+ in attendance in
Ann Arbor, working directly with affiliates
such as the University of Michigan, JCC
and sponsors to create an unforgettable
experience for teens of all ages, along with
outreach and fundraising for the Flint
water crisis. Joshua also utilized his time
by becoming a fierce advocate for social
justice, hosting programming with immi-
gration experts along with community
activists, aiming to strengthen Black-Jewish
relations within our community.
Joshua was an AIPAC delegate and
attendee who was selected to attend the
Schusterman Advocacy High School
Summit with full scholarship. He currently
sits on the Leaders for Tomorrow-Detroit
Cohort for the American Jewish Committee
and interns within the state of Michigan
for StandWithUs, working to conduct
programming, create dialogue and educate
diverse populations in the Metro Detroit
area on antisemitism.
MEREDITH SHAPIRO
Meredith Shapiro, 14,
of Farmington Hills
is a freshman at
Cranbrook
Kingwood and a
graduate of Hillel
Day School class of
2020. She is a scholar,
scoring in the top
percentiles on her
PSATs, and an athlete in swimming, skiing
and snowboarding. Her biggest passion is as
an advocate for equality and against hate.
She is currently participating in Cranbrook
School’s Bridge the Divide Club as part of
her activism for breaking down community
barriers and fighting for equality for all.
Meredith’s proudest and most fulfilling
achievements are those driven by her Jewish
values. She has been deeply committed
to volunteering at the Friendship Circle,
participating in Mitzvah Days for the past
several years, and raising funds for Debate it
Forward, a nonprofit organization focused
on bringing self-confidence, public speak-
ing and critical thinking skills to children in
underserved communities through use of
debate activities and games.
In 2020, Meredith was a winner of the
Holocaust Memorial Center’s Kappy Family
Anne Frank Art & Writing Competition
for her poem juxtaposing the hate of the
Holocaust to the racial injustice that has
spurred the Black Lives Matter movement.
She was selected to the Student Leadership
Council to plan Detroit’s 2020 Day of
Racial Healing, focused on building bridges
between different youth communities on
the topic of racial injustice.
Among her peers, Meredith is a known
confidante and ally to LGBTQ+ friends
who are not getting the support they need
from their families or communities, or who
otherwise face discrimination. She recently
completed safeTALK training, a program
dedicated to increasing suicide awareness
and helping its trainees connect at-risk
individuals to support resources.
AVIEL SIEGEL
Aviel Siegel, 16, of
Oak Park is a sopho-
more at Farber
Hebrew Day School.
Currently, he is hold-
ing a 3.7 GPA. He
has attended a Jewish
day school since the
very beginning,
where he has always
excelled. Aviel was a student council repre-
sentative and a student council president.
He plays on his school’s basketball team,
started an after-school club and works as a
waiter at Prime 10 in Southfield.
Aviel is active in many organizations,
including chapter boards at NCSY and
Bnei Akiva. During his freshman year, with
guidance from NCSY, Aviel created the first
ever Junior NCSY Board because he felt he
could get the kids more active in the orga-
nization at middle school age, just like he
experienced.
For Bnei Akiva, he helps run the ninth
grade Manhigut division, and with NCSY,
he continues his mission and helps run the
Junior NCSY division.
In his spare time, he does learning pro-
grams at Dovid Ben Nochim, Mishmar at
Farber and JSP — all Torah learning pro-
grams. He also likes being with his family
and friends when he is not learning or
working.
Aviel said he takes on leadership roles
because he wants to be the one to lead the
way in helping make a difference and work
with others who have that same vision.
ANDREW TUKEL
Andrew Tukel, 16, of
Orchard Lake is a
junior at Frankel
Jewish Academy and
has been a member
of student govern-
ment since his fresh-
man year. He is a
member of his
school’s National
Honor Society, Varsity Cross-Country team,
and the Varsity Bowling team. Andy has
been recognized as one of the top 20 bowl-
ers in the Division 4 Regionals.
Andy is also a member of the FJA 2021
RoboTraffic Team. RoboTtraffic is an
international robotics and traffic safety
competition, usually held at the Technion in
Israel. This year, it was conducted virtually,
and Andy and his team placed second in
the Traffic Safety Innovation portion of the
competition for their concept of glow-in-
the-dark lane lines.
Andy is an active JARC volunteer
who is always friendly and engaging
with the people JARC serves. He and his
brothers participated in many different
JARC activities, including monthly Bingo
events, Flower-a-thon, Sukkot assembly
and holiday parties.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Andy
reached out to JARC leadership regarding
its teen board, which, at the time, was
inactive. He offered to step up and help
make the teen board thrive. As president
of the board, he handled recruitment.
JARC decided to make the board more
of a service-learning council to stand
out from other boards in the communi-
ty. Andrew began work on the board in
September 2020 and it currently has 13
active members.
RISING STARS
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