USNA Class of 2017 Jewish Baccalaureate Service

The Jewish Baccalaureate service was held on 19 May 2017. Misty Hechinger, USNA Class of 1997, was the guest speaker. Also in attendance were FOJC Board members, midshipmen family members and shipmates and our chapel family. The graduates and their assignments are:

• 2nd Lieutenant Michael Buonocore – USMC (Pilot)
• Ensign Samuel Giddings – USN (Surface Warfare)
• Ensign Daniel Jonas – USN (Surface Warfare)
• Ensign Matthew Meltzer – USN (Surface Warfare)
• 2nd Lieutenant Holly Sandler – USMC (Ground)
• Ensign Ariel Shoap-Hall – USN (Surface Warfare)
• Ensign Max Smith – USN (Surface Warfare)
• Ensign Savannah Wisdo – USN (Surface Warfare)
• Ensign Heidi Zisselman – USN (Surface Warfare)

The Col. Harry Lindauer Lay Leadership award was given to MIDN 1/C Heidi Zisselman. The Robert E. Yager Memorial Award for highest academic average was presented to MIDN 1/C Holly Sandler. MIDN 4/C Jessica Martin and MIDN 4/C Maille Biederman shared the Joanna Simer award for being the most involved plebe with the Jewish Midshipmen Club. The LT Darin Pontell “Good Guy” sword award was presented by Devora Wolk Kirschner, to MIDN 1/C Savannah Wisdo. A new award was presented in blessed memory and in honor of MIDN 3/C Justin Zemser who tragically died in the Philadelphia train derailment in 2015, the end of his second year at the Academy. The Zemser sword was awarded to MIDN 1/C Daniel Jonas for his exemplary dedication to the Jewish Midshipmen Club. We wish fair winds and following seas to these young men and women.