< Programs for Teens
The Peter Chortek Leadership Award recognizes Jewish high school students in San Diego who are making a difference in our community by taking tikkun olam to the next level through their innovative leadership and passion. Award recipients will receive:
Applications will open again in Fall 2025. Please check back for dates.
Peter Chortek Leadership Award Flyer
Peter Chortek Leadership Award Videos
You’re the Perfect Candidate if you:
Danielle Boodman is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy and the co-founder of Justice League, a teen-led service program that empowers Jewish high school students to lead volunteer projects. Danielle created an organizational model that can be replicable by other organizations and ensures continuity through leadership development. By creating meaningful service experiences, partnering with local nonprofits, volunteering side-by-side, and reflecting as a group, Danielle is helping teens across San Diego live the values of tikkun olam.
Watch Danielle’s Video
Rebecca Leeman, a senior at Torah High School, brought the David Labkovski Project to San Diego, using art to tell the powerful stories of the Holocaust and Jewish life through the eyes of survivor David Labkovski. Rebecca recruited other high school-aged docents who led interactive tours and workshops during the three-month exhibit at the Gotthelf Art Gallery at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Additionally, Rebecca curated an online exhibit of David Lubkovski’s art and contributed to a book about the artist. By turning history into a deeply meaningful learning experience, Rebecca ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust remain vivid and relevant.
Watch Rebecca’s Video
Hayden Crocker is a junior at Canyon Crest Academy. Hayden is the founder of Go Greenish, a youth-led environmental organization and national activism movement working to bridge student empowerment and sustainability through policy, advocacy, and research. He is responsible for drafting the mission statement, recruiting the executive team and Board of Directors, creating bylaws, incorporating, filing for 501(c)(3) status, and is the face behind the initiatives and impact of Go Greenish. Hayden joined the Solana Beach Climate Action Commission as a Junior Commissioner his freshman year of high school which served as the catalyst for creating Go Greenish.
Watch Hayden’s Video
Articles: CCA student Hayden Crocker named recipient of 2024 Peter Chortek Leadership Award Recipient Announced for 2024 Peter Chortek Leadership Award
Aiden Kleinman is a senior at La Jolla High School. Aiden initiated, researched, drafted, and lobbied for a San Diego Unified School District resolution on Fentanyl and Narcan Awareness/Distribution and Education in all San Diego Unified Schools. He worked with advocacy groups and successfully lobbied SDUSD Board Members to pass this resolution which affects all schools in the district, reaching approximately 120,000 students.
Watch Aiden’s Video
Remi Morris, a senior at Canyon Crest Academy, utilized resources and connections to enhance the mission of STEP (Support the Enlisted Project) in providing basic necessities to enlisted soldiers and their families. One of Remi’s most successful projects was starting a campaign to provide relief for the displaced sailors impacted by the explosion on board the USS Bonhomme Richard.
Watch Remi’s Video
Elinor Amir-Lobel, a senior at La Jolla Country Day, was recognized for serving as the co-president of Female Empowerment and Education of Leaders (FEEL). This is a student organization at La Jolla Country Day School campus that creates an open space to discuss issues concerning sexism and inequality in the broader community.
Watch Elinor’s Video
Kiara Blacher is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy who created Kids for a Cure, a charity organization that raises money for children suffering from medical issues. Kiara has made it her mission to promote accessibility to support and provide medical care for those who cannot afford it.
Watch Kiara’s Video
Kate Chasin is a senior at Canyon Hills and is the co-chair of the Student Wellness Education Awareness and Resources (SWEAR) Committee. SWEAR is a student-led group that advocates for student mental health in the San Diego Unified School District.
Watch Kate’s Video
Lola and Sophie Bulkin will be beginning their senior year at Del Norte High School and are the co-Founders of the Together as One movement. These twins, together with a childhood friend, created this movement to educate teens about the prejudices experienced by their peers to eliminate those biases and spread unity and positivity. They spread this message by sharing their own stories, spreading kindness throughout the community, and bringing people together. Lola and Sophie have also placed importance on donating money to various causes, including teen mental health. Their message has reached ten high school campuses both locally and internationally.
Watch Lola and Sophie’s Video
Ashley Cohen will be beginning her senior year at the Lawrenceville School and created Helping the Hungry Virtually. Ashley saw how many members of the community were being affected by COVID-19 and wanted to help provide those people with as much food as possible. Her project is now in seven states around the country and has provided over 200 families with gift cards to various supermarkets. Ashley found a group of teens from all over the nation and united them with the common interest of helping people dealing with food insecurity due to COVID-19. Ashley is committed to continuing this project into the future.
Watch Ashley’s Video
Natalie Goldwasser will be beginning her senior year at The Bishops School. Her project addresses the issue of education inequity. Natalie started her own organization called Kids Too that has donated over five thousand dollars’ worth of school supplies to students at under-resourced schools across San Diego County. She made it her mission to inspire others who are driven towards community service to go out and pursue that idea. Natalie said that from a young age she cared about the under-privileged students at her school and wanted to do something to help. She has made that vision a reality.
Watch Natalie’s Video
Abigail Holman will be beginning her senior year at La Jolla Country Day and is the current president of Serving Spoons, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers healthy meals to families in need. Abigail assumed the leadership role in July of 2018, and has poured herself into the organization, increasing the number of people they help from 17 to 32 people, in 10 different families, each month. Abigail combines her love of cooking with her passion for community service to help those who suffer from food insecurity. Abigail believes that the best part is not just serving others, it is getting to talk the people she is helping and learn more about them.
Watch Abigail’s Video
His passion and focus was Jewish education, believing quality Jewish education would ensure a vibrant Jewish future.
The Fredericks Family is committed to taking care of those who have not had the same opportunities or privileges that they have had. They recognize that oftentimes people learn differently, by doing, rather than by following a traditional college path. To be mindful of these different learning styles, the Fredericks Family Scholarship is designed to support students by providing vocational training scholarships for those looking for pathways to employment.
Reside in San Diego County.
Are age 18 or older.
Plan to enroll in trade-based education at an accredited nonprofit college, university, or training institution.
Complete the training program within 2 years.
Have a gross family income of no more than $80,000 per year.
Explain how the training will enhance their employment opportunities.
Jim Lewis, of blessed memory, was a strong supporter of his local community. At the Jewish Community Foundation, Jim served in leadership roles on several committees, and participated in many programs, such as the Endowment Leadership Institute and the Create a Jewish Legacy program, being one of the first to create a Book of Life video, a community archive of those who are committed to the future of the Jewish community. Jim also served several other Jewish organizations, including as President of Temple Emanu-El, and as a board member of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County. In the secular community, Jim was involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the City Club of San Diego.
Professionally, Jim was a successful financial advisor and often contributed his expertise in finance and investments to the community organizations with which he was involved. Jim, along with members of his family, believed strongly in philanthropy and creating meaningful legacies. We are honored to facilitate Jim’s wishes to support local students – especially minority students – as they pursue their dreams of higher education.
Applications will open again in Fall 2026. Please check back for dates.
2022 Delta Scholarship Flyer
Are a graduating high school senior planning to attend an accredited nonprofit two or four-year college or university.
Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Demonstrate a financial need.
The JL Scholarship Fund provides assistance to individuals who have been incarcerated, or have had an immediate family member incarcerated, and who are seeking training to develop skills that will enhance their employment opportunities, enabling them to better support themselves and their families. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited nonprofit college, university, or training institution after which they will have learned new skills, acquired new certifications, or attained a higher level of academic achievement directly related to their future employment opportunities.
Aged 18 or older.
Have been incarcerated themselves or had an immediate family member incarcerated.
Complete the training program within two years.
Jeff Sollender was a highly accomplished entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist with boundless energy and optimism who was always available to help others in pursuit of their dreams. He was the founder and/or board member of numerous biotech companies and is remembered for his wit, brilliance, creativity and devotion to his family. The Scholarship was established to continue his legacy of helping others to achieve their potential and contribute to the world.
Applications will open again in January 2026. Please check back for dates.
2025 Sollender Scholarship Flyer
Graduating high school senior in San Diego County who plans to attend a four-year college or university. Funds may be applied to college tuition, room and board, and fees.
Must demonstrate outstanding achievement in entrepreneurial ventures, community service, or the workplace.
Have a minimum 3.2/4.0 GPA.
Provide a completed FAFSA.
Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego | Affordable Interest-Free Loans (hflsd.org) HFLSD offers interest-free loans to the Jewish community of San Diego County, fostering financial stability and opportunity. Education loans for tuition, fees, books, or living expenses are available to students who will be enrolled at least half-time at an accredited college, university or licensed vocational school.
JFS-David Rubenstein Memorial Scholarship – JFSSD The JFS-David Rubenstein Memorial Scholarship provides grants to local Jewish students who plan to attend college or vocational school. The program awards scholarships of up to $5,000, based on financial need, academic performance, and community involvement.
Hillel International Scholarships Scholarships are open to students who identify as Jewish, who are attending or preparing to attend four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada Applicants must be students in good standing with their current academic institution, and must have a GPA of 2.5 or above.
Diller Teen Awards Each year, the Helen Diller Family Foundation awards $36,000 per student to fifteen Jewish U.S. teens for exceptional leadership and engagement initiatives making the world a better place.