Student Standouts: Gil Diaz ’19, Goldberg ’19, Brook ’20, Friedman ’20, Kalishman ’21, Kleinlehrer ’22, Raghuram ’27, Girls Swimming in the News
Congratulations to this week’s student standouts below. Way to go #RamNation! And as always, if you have a story to share, please email weeklynews@micds.org.
Senior Earns Spot as First Chair Clarinet
After being second chair clarinet last year, Rafi Gil Diaz ’19 has earned the first chair clarinet spot in the St. Louis Wind Symphony Ensemble! The ensemble includes high school and college students who are 14-22 years old and have an interest in “performing challenging, high-quality literature with other dedicated musicians.” Learn more about the St. Louis Wind Symphony Ensemble here.
Maddie Goldberg Featured in St. Louis Jewish Light Article
Senior Maddie Goldberg ’19 was featured in a St. Louis Jewish Light article written by fellow MICDS student Eliana Brook ’20. The article highlights how Maddie channeled her love of dance and helping kids with disabilities to the Stages Performing Arts Academy, starting the MICDS Best Buddies chapter, being the head coach of TAGG and founding and coaching the first-ever Special Olympics Dance Team in Missouri. The article also quotes MICDS student Ally Kalishman ’21 who shares how she loves being involved with Goldberg’s Best Buddies organization. Way to make a difference, Maddie!
Two St. Louis Jewish Light Essay Contest Winners
Two MICDS Rams have been declared contest winners in the St. Louis Jewish Light’s Shepard Prize Teen Essay Contest. Amarah Friedman ’20 wrote to 1st place in the 11th-12th grade category and Noah Kleinlehrer ’22 earned 2nd place in the 9th-10th grade category. The contest asks high schoolers to write an essay that shares what it means to them to be Jewish in no more than 350 words. The essays are evaluated based on their creativity, originality, theme development and basic writing skills. As winners, both Amarah and Noah receive cash prizes from the Shepard Endowment Fund. Read their winning essays here.
Fourth Grader Earns Sportsmanship Award
Fourth grader Navneet Raghuram ’27 was recognized recently as one of the Sportsmanship winners of the USTA Missouri Valley Dominant Duo Tournament! He also won the tournament in addition to being highlighted as a great sport. Congrats, Navneet!
Girls Swimming Splashes to 2nd Place at State
Last weekend, MICDS Girls Swimming swam to 2nd place in the Class 1 State Championships and set two new records along the way as shared in articles on Swimming World Magazine and on SwimSwam.com. The article highlights several of the team members: Abby Wickersham ’22 earned 2nd place in the 100 free and 3rd place in the 50 free, and Sophie Henriksen ’22 raced to 2nd place in the 100 fly and in the 100 back. Wickersham, Henrikson, Anna Scott Baur ’22 and Alex Fox ’19 won the 4×50 free relay and set the new Class 1 record of 1:38:68. The same four swimmers finished out the competition by another record-breaking race, swimming 3:34:68 in the 4×100 free relay. Together, the team scored a total of 191 points.