From pep rallies to debate matches, the end of February brought a flurry of activity to the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) – both on and off campus.
On Sunday, February 23, a team of YUHSG students traveled to Yale University with Math and Judaic Studies faculty member Rabbi Yitzchok Borenstein, to compete in the 2025 Girls in Math competition. Intended to give young women an opportunity to build their math and reasoning skills and contribute to the growing numbers of women in STEM industries, this year’s event was the first in which YUHSG was a participant. Students engaged in a series of math and problem-solving challenges, both individually and in teams, during the day-long event.
The students also enjoyed a tour of the Yale campus. Freshmen Orly Adler, Baila Bodlander, and Ronella Kaushanskiy participated, as well as sophomores Annabelle Klein and Emily Segall and senior Neima Bronstein.
On Monday, February 24, and Tuesday, February 25, YUHSG’s Model UN team competed at Yeshiva University’s 35th annual National Model UN Conference (YUNMUN). Model UN provides students with a forum in which to actively learn about international diplomacy by serving as “delegates” to real UN member nations. Students are required to perform extensive research to learn about the cultural, political, and economic landscape of their assigned countries. In doing so, students gain insight into other cultures while enjoying the opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools. The event also gives students a chance to hone their critical thinking and public speaking skills.
The team was helmed by faculty sponsor and Humanities Department member Ms. Chevi Friedman, and team captains and YUHSG juniors Michal Heimowitz, Aliyah Kahn, and Sarah Leah Sullivan. “Over the past three years that I’ve participated, YUNMUN has transformed my understanding of our complex world, providing me with the skills to develop solutions for some of our greatest challenges,” Michal said. “This year, I had the opportunity to represent the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a committee that particularly intrigues me due to its modern-day influence.”
The YUHSG team, which also represented Kenya in this year’s competition, brought home honors: Aliyah won Best Delegate of the Counterterrorism Committee, and Sarah Leah won Best Delegate of the World Health Organization. Aliyah commented on the value in participating in a large annual event like YUNMUN. “There really is no better place to improve your public speaking or just become friends with Jews from all over the country – or even other countries – than YUNMUN,” she said.
Other important events for YUHSG’s academic teams: on Wednesday, February 26, Central Debate held a match at the YUHSG campus. Central Mock Trial was also in play on Wednesday, competing against Hillcrest High School at the Queens County Courthouse.
The spring semester doesn’t stop there. The coming weeks will bring significant matches for YUHSG Torah Bowl, as well as YUHSG’s participation in the eighth annual Hackathon, sponsored by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education.
But the spring would not be complete without opportunities for fun and bonding alongside academic engagement: The annual Junior Shabbaton in New Rochelle, as well as the Freshman/Sophomore Shabbaton, hosted on the YUHSG campus, will also take place in March.
