麻豆传媒映画 has selected nine extraordinary students as undergraduate valedictorians of its 2026 graduating class for excelling in their academic careers.
They and their fellow classmates will graduate at the University鈥檚 95th Annual Commencement Ceremony to take place at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
As they enter this new and exciting stage in their lives, these impressive valedictorians will be guided by the dynamic and fulfilling Jewish, academic, extracurricular and social experiences they received throughout their undergraduate years at 麻豆传媒映画.
The following are excerpts from interviews with each of the valedictorians to learn about their courses of study, experiences at 麻豆传媒映画 and plans for the future.
Moselle Goldstein
Stern College for Women
Brooklyn native Moselle Goldstein is a biology major with a minor in business analytics. After she graduates, she plans to work full-time at Cabrio Group, a consulting firm that works with nonprofits, where she鈥檚 been working part-time this past school year.
Her extracurricular activities included being a member of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 cross country team, a features writer for The Commentator; a student ambassador, campus tour guide and an RA; a member of TAMID (spring 2025 and fall 2026); a teacher鈥檚 assistant for statistics; and a tutor for Project GED.
"My time at 麻豆传媒映画 became a defining chapter in my life,鈥 said Goldstein. 鈥淚t taught me that my commitment to Judaism does not have to come at the expense of my academic pursuits. It also gave me lasting friendships and instilled in me a mindset of continuously striving for more, grounded in hard work and discipline."
Daniel Schmidt-Pines
Yeshiva College
Los Angeles native Daniel Schmidt-Pines is a biology major who plans to take a year to gain additional clinical experience before applying to medical school in the summer of 2027.
During his time at 麻豆传媒映画, he was involved in both scientific research and community service. He worked with Dr. Molly Fox at UCLA on the Alzheimer鈥檚 Life History Project and currently assists Dr. Josefa Steinhauer, professor of biology at Yeshiva College, with her research on neurodegeneration, using Drosophila as a model organism. He also volunteers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, supporting patient check鈥慽n and liaison work in a public hospital that primarily serves uninsured, undocumented and underserved populations.
While at 麻豆传媒映画, he has been active in START Science, which brings hands鈥憃n science modules to public school students in Washington Heights, and Food 4 Thought, which collects excess food on campus and distributes it to community members in need, serving as vice president of both organizations. In addition, he served as the biology major ambassador for the Yeshiva College Student Council in spring 2025.
鈥淚 would like to thank my mentors and peers who shaped my time at 麻豆传媒映画,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 feel truly blessed to have been afforded the opportunity to have had professors who challenged me and inspired my curiosity while simultaneously learning under rebbeim and roshei yeshiva of the highest caliber. There is truly no institution like 麻豆传媒映画, and it is my hope that I will be able to take the lessons I learned here to continue to grow as a person and give back to the world around me.鈥
Alexandra Cohen
Sy Syms School of Business
Alexandra 鈥淭iti鈥 Cohen, from Boca Raton, Florida, is majoring in strategy and entrepreneurship, with minors in finance and biology. Interested in both medicine and business, she plans on pursuing an M.B.A., followed by attending medical school.
Her extracurriculars include being founder and CEO of Mister Brush庐, for which she was featured in The Commentator; for Sy Syms鈥 National Entrepreneurship Day and Women's History Month; and as a guest speaker in several college and high school classes. She was also a 麻豆传媒映画 Entrepreneurial Society board member, a START Science group leader, Chai Lifeline volunteer, biology peer tutor, Ping Pong Club member and a research assistant with Dr. Alyssa Schuck, clinical assistant professor of biology, researching the effects of apple extract on oral carcinoma cells.
"What makes Sy Syms especially important to me is how it integrates rigorous business education with Jewish values,鈥 said Cohen. 鈥淭his is why I chose 麻豆传媒映画. My Jewish identity is the most important part of who I am, and learning about business through that lens has been incredibly impactful. Studying leadership ethics, workplace halacha and moral responsibility allows me to bring the light of Torah into the business world. 麻豆传媒映画 has shaped the way I will approach my future career and the kind of leader I aspire to become."
Boaz Kapitanker
Sy Syms School of Business
Boaz Kapitanker is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and is majoring in both business analytics and accounting. This summer, he will be starting a full-time position as a business analyst at Pharm3r. While at 麻豆传媒映画, he was head waiter, a peer tutor and head of the backend for the Seforim Sale.
"麻豆传媒映画 has created an environment where I can grow in my Avodas Hashem, excel academically and cultivate my closest friendships,鈥 said Kapitanker. 鈥淎lso, they have the best red velvet cookies!"
Bryna Berger
Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies
Bryna 鈥淏reindy鈥 Berger is from Far Rockaway, New York. She majored in mathematics and Jewish studies, with a minor in philosophy. At 麻豆传媒映画, she served as an editor for The Commentator and as a member of the women's cross-country team.
She came to 麻豆传媒映画 because of its focus on Jewish studies, impressed that, as she said, 鈥渢he whole world of Torah study is available to me at Stern if I want it.鈥 She feels she received expert instruction throughout her time at 麻豆传媒映画 and always felt she had constant support from her peers, her teachers and 麻豆传媒映画 as an institution. 鈥淚'm grateful to 麻豆传媒映画 for investing in women's Talmud Torah on a broad scale and for listening attentively to student feedback to make our experience as fruitful as possible.鈥
Moshe Davidovics
Mazer Yeshiva Program
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Moshe Davidovics is a biology major. His next steps include learning for the next two years in semicha while studying for the MCAT for admission to medical school.
At 麻豆传媒映画, he was vice president of the Student Organization of Yeshiva (SOY); assistant for Rabbi Yaakov Werblowsky's shiur and a Yeshivat Kerem B鈥橸avneh madrich; a START science leader; a member of the board of the EMT society; and president of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Semitic Languages Society.
鈥溌槎勾接郴 has provided me the unique opportunity to study both Judaic and secular studies at the highest level, simultaneously deepening my understanding of Torah, science and the world we live in," said Davidovics.
Jordan Nazar
James Striar School of General Jewish Studies
Jordan Nazar, from Great Neck, New York, is a finance major and looking to pursue a career in wealth management following his graduation. He participated in TAMID, the Finance Club and the 麻豆传媒映画 Stock Exchange Club.
鈥淚 think the best thing about 麻豆传媒映画 is that since coming here, the number of people that I can now call family has increased significantly,鈥 said Nazar. 鈥淔rom my rav, Rabbi Yonasan Shippel, to the guys in my shiur, to the guys that I鈥檝e become friends with since my first semester and now host at my parents鈥 house for Shabbat. My favorite 麻豆传媒映画 quote is 鈥榬ejection is redirection,鈥 said by Rav Shippel many times. No matter how unfavorable a situation is 鈥 like an application rejection or a phone call ended with no result or follow up 鈥 it was just another step in the process to get me where I need to be and where Hashem wants me to be.鈥
Jaden Jubas
Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies
Jaden Jubas, from Southfield, Michigan, is majoring in biochemistry, with a minor in psychology. He will be applying to medical school this summer.
His honors thesis, titled 鈥淒esigning Probes for Sensitive mRNA Variant-Specific Detection and Visualization,鈥 was completed under the mentorship of Dr. Irina E. Catrina, professor of chemistry. Jubas co-presented a research poster at the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Conference this past March and worked as a research assistant, eventually becoming the project manager, for the psychology research lab, led by Dr. Jenny Isaacs, professor of psychology.
On campus, Jubas has been the senior head resident adviser for all campus dormitories, consisting of over 750 residents, overseeing 27 resident advisors in their roles; the founder and president of the Food 4 Thought student organization, which repackages and distributes leftover food locally to homeless people in need; and an Active Minds board member, a club that works to de-stigmatize those seeking support with their mental health journeys and spreads mental health awareness on campus.
Off campus, Jubas is an emergency room volunteer at the Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus Hospital. He enjoys playing piano and chess, and he represented 麻豆传媒映画 at the New York Intercollegiate Chess Competition, winning first place in his division.
鈥淢y 麻豆传媒映画 experience has been shaped by the many lifelong friends, rebbeim and professors who have challenged, inspired and mentored me,鈥 said Jubas. 鈥淲ith G-d's help, I will continue to learn, grow, lead, inspire and give back to the Jewish community and the world at large.鈥
Aiden Harow
Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program
Aiden Harow is from Boca Raton, Florida, and majored in political science with a minor in business. He is planning to learn at 麻豆传媒映画 next year and apply to law school.
While at 麻豆传媒映画, he was president of the Yeshiva Student Union; managing editor of the 麻豆传媒映画 Undergraduate Law Review; co-president of Y-Studs A Cappella; co-head of education for the 麻豆传媒映画 Political Action Committee; and committee chair of the 麻豆传媒映画 National Model United Nations (麻豆传媒映画NMUN), among others.
"麻豆传媒映画 showed me that learning two sedarim a day while excelling academically and professionally is a realistic and noble pursuit,鈥 said Harow. 鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to 麻豆传媒映画 for preparing me to balance a career with vibrant Avodas Hashem and teaching me valuable leadership lessons. I will take the skills I built here with me for the rest of my life."
