22 | APRIL 29 • 2021 

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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