Central, YU’s girls HS, celebrates its graduation

It’s the end of an era.

On June 9, the class of 2025 graduated from the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), officially transforming from students to proud alumnae and savoring the last chance to celebrate one another as a class before making their way into the world.

For Central faculty, the school’s 73rd annual commencement, at YU’s Lamport Auditorium, was an opportunity to honor students who spent the last four years striving to become their best selves.

The event began with misheberach and tehillim from Central’s Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Joshua Goller, followed by a message of welcome from Central’s Head of School, Bracha Rutner, who highlighted the landmark importance of the evening.

“Graduation marks the conversation between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming,” Rutner said. “Not every word needs to be long to be meaningful, and not every path the same to be worthy. The class of 2025 is about to embark on their future, having arrived there on a path that they built with the help of their classmates, their teachers and their parents.”

Following Rutner’s remarks was the presentation of the first annual Dr. Regina Herzlinger STEM award, named in honor of a 1967 Central alumna and the first woman to be tenured and chaired at Harvard Business School. Intended to honor a graduating senior who will be studying STEM in college, the first award was given to Reema Gampel.

Among others celebrated for their accomplishments were this year’s Stephen Klein Memorial Founders Award Valedictorian for Excellence in Honors Jewish and General Studies, Shira Fisher, who delivered a reflection on her experiences at Central.

Salutatorians Maya Kikov and Serah Tolchin were also recognized. The class’s Keter Shem Tov Award was presented to Gabrielle Boriskin, with the Leah Lefkowitz Humanitarian Chesed Award going to Dena Joshua.

The Malka Fishhaut Memorial Award, intended for a senior demonstrating overall excellence in Judaic Studies who is bound for studies in Israel, was given to Neima Bronstein.

Graduation awards were granted by Central’s Associate Principal, Leah Moskovich, and the graduates were presented by Judaic Studies faculty member and Senior Grade Dean, Rebecca Teper.

“I am so proud of this graduating class — their growth, their leadership, and their heart,” Moskovich reflected. “Central will miss them deeply, and so will I.”

The theme of the 2024-2025 school year was courage — a fitting theme for this particular class, who have made their last year as Wildcats count and are entering a changing world with bravery, character, and kindness.

The Central community congratulates the class of 2025 for their accomplishments and looks forward to welcoming these new graduates into the YUHSG alumnae network. It’s been a wildly successful year at YUHSG. From academics to the visual and performing arts, athletics to chesed initiatives, students in all corners of the school have found opportunities for progress and have gathered the courage to change and grow.