Itamar

Itamar’s interest in soil began at an early age.  Raised on an agricultural kibbutz, he was driving a tractor and working in the fields by the age of ten.  After serving in the IDF, Itamar decided to study soil and water, but faced an initial obstacle:  he hadn’t taken the necessary physics or chemistry.  So Itamar enrolled in Mechina, Hebrew University’s special one-year academic preparatory program.  He earned his B.A. in 2005 and is now a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Agriculture.   

Itamar’s research, which focuses on wastewater management, is motivated by his concern for the environment: “What worries me in Israel is the shrinking of open spaces.  We’re developing roads and cities, a lot of agricultural fields and nature preserves.”  Itamar hopes to help the environment by finding ways to use water responsibly.

Hadar

A merit scholarship recipient and Dean’s List student, Hadar is also in Amirim, a multi-disciplinary honors program at HU. She is pursuing double major in Psychobiology, a program that entails study in psychology and biology with an emphasis in neuroscience.  Scholarship aid makes it possible for Hadar to pursue her degree. 

Hadar has had the opportunity to work with a number of distinguished faculty members, and says, “Hebrew University is a very prestigious institution and the biology studies are great here. It’s a shame to go anywhere else in Israel.”

Tomer

Tomer, a 2008 Golda Meir Fellow, has received merit scholarships due to his exceptional abilities in medical science.  Tomer served in the Israel Defense Force for four years after high school as a lieutenant in an armored regiment reconnaissance unit.  He began his academic career as an undergraduate at the Faculty of Medical Sciences. 

Tomer is currently enrolled in the rigorous dual M.D. and Ph.D program at HU, which includes both clinical work and scientific research. He works with a team that focuses on diabetes and pancreatic cancer research. 

Natanel

Most mornings, Natanel walks from home to the Edmond J. Safra campus at Givat Ram.  He could take the public bus, but Natanel wants to save money.  The youngest of five children, Natanel was raised by a single mother who works in elder-care services.  To earn money for school, Natanel has worked as a waiter and as a Sukkot supplies salesman.  But as he says, “Without scholarship aid, I couldn’t attend Hebrew University.”  

Natanel is especially talented in math and physics, scoring an impressive 148 out of 150 on the quantitative portion of his college entrance exams.  An undergraduate, Natanel already had plans future:  “I am thinking about earning a graduate degree in computer engineering, and going to work in one of Israel’s high-tech industries.”