Brush Prairie, WA
URJ Camp Kalsman
University of Washington

Aaron Spiro's combined passion for Judaism and music has led him to become an active leader in his various communities. In high school, Aaron was President of the music program, which gave him the skills needed to become the song leader in his temple youth group, at URJ Camp Kalsman, and at Temple Beth Am. Aaron won the John Philip Sousa Award for outstanding musician, and now he's independently recording and releasing an album. He also won the Youth Achievement Award for Business, Entrepreneurship, and Family Values by opening his own computer repair business when he was 15, as well as graduating Clark College with a business administration degree when he was 18. Aaron hopes to use the Jewish values he learned from his mentors and his various experiences to give back to the Jewish community, which he credits with shaping every aspect of his life. He's currently a junior at the University of Washington. 

Minnetonka, MN
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Indiana University

Allison Rosen hopes to use the skills that earned her leadership positions and excellence awards at school, camp, and her sorority to enhance quality of life for Jewish children with special needs. She is the program coordinator of special needs education at Camp Ramah Wisconsin and she volunteers regularly at a nursing home and at a therapeutic horseback-riding center for kids with special needs. Allie brings a unique passion to the world of special needs education, and aspires to think beyond the traditional models and incorporate Jewish content. Judaism has provided Allie with a strong sense of identity and a powerful set of values in her everyday life, and she strives to help provide that for others. Some of her hobbies include running, traveling, and hanging out with her friends and family. She's excited to be learning about the diverse backgrounds of her peers, growing her Jewish identity, increasing her Hebrew skills, and exploring Israel. 

Highland Park, IL
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
SUNY-Binghamton

Andrew Freeman has been active in the Conservative movement for many years. Growing up, he was his chapter president of United Synagogue Youth, and attended Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. This summer Andrew will be returning to camp as senior Cabin Counselor. After high school, Andrew attended the Nativ Gap Year program in Israel. Now he is a junior at SUNY-Binghamton, where he is majoring in Economics. This coming semester at Binghamton Andrew will serve as director of senior programming at his campus Hillel. He is also a member of the AEPi fraternity. 

Deerfield, IL
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Washington University

Benjy Forester is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis. Originally from Deerfield, Illinois, Benjy spends his summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. This summer at camp, Benjy will be the unit programmer for the Tikvah program for campers with Special Needs. Benjy is a recipient of the Jewish Theological Seminary Wagner Institute Essay Scholarship. In college, Benjy has been very active in his campus' Hillel, serving as President the last year. He has also been teaching Talmud and History of Israel at Hebrew School for the past three years. Benjy loves how Judaism can speak to every individual in a unique and personal way. In the future, he hopes to help people find meaning in Judaism by serving the Jewish Community. 

Deerfield, IL
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin
Indiana University

Daniel Warshawsky, a Deerfield, Illinois native, is proud to be using his rich Jewish identity to help him help others explore and enhance their connection to Judaism. Daniel was an active member of USY, serving as Regional Membership/Kadima Vice President, then President of his region, then being elected to the International Board. His strong leadership skills led him to be a bunk counselor for four summers at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and the Risk Manager in his fraternity at Indiana University. He's very excited to be learning about and exploring Israel this semester, as well as deepening his understanding of the aspects of Judaism that he already loves, such as his sense of community, his heritage, and his traditions. 

Montclair, NJ
URJ Camp Harlam
American University

Dani Katowitz is a Junior at American University studying Communications and Marketing. She is a proud member of the Chi Omega Sorority, and she spends lots of her free time working in D.C. During the summers Dani always returns to URJ Camp Harlam in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. This will be her fourth year on staff, in a new role as the Athletics Department Head. While she enjoys all sports, Dani especially loves to run because it clears her mind to focus only on the important things and allows her to feel the power to work hard and achieve. Her Judaism is most inspired by Israel, where she feels the most comfortable expressing her Judaism and motivated by the passion of many Israelis. As a Nachshon Fellow Dani hopes to change the world of Jewish Camping one day!

Kendall Park, NJ
Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Emily grew up in Kendall Park, New Jersey and is now a junior at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Emily is majoring in Community and Non Profit Leadership, and minoring in Jewish Studies and Entrepreneurship. Growing up, Emily was very active in her Temple's Youth Group, where she served on the board for four years. Emily spent a semester in high school in Israel, an experience that played a large role in her commitment to serving the Jewish community. In college she is active in a number of social action committees as well as the Jewish Sorority Sigma Delta Tau. Emily sees herself pursuing a career in Non Profit consulting. She is an innovative and creative thinker who enjoys volunteering, grass roots organizing, and social advocacy. 

North Attleboro, MA
URJ Camp Eisner
SUNY-Binghamton

Heather Shore is excited to be participating in a program like The Nachshon Project that embraces pluralism and allows her to explore different forms of leadership within the Jewish community. She enjoys being able to learn from the various backgrounds of the other Fellows, and she provides her own distinct point of view by drawing on her own leadership experience. Heather served as the Religious and Cultural Vice President of her temple youth group, then continued in the same position for her NFTY region, as well as Social Vice President at SUNY-Binhamton. She is also the Religious Chair for the Reform Hillel. Heather is excited to be immersed in Israeli culture and to learn about the traditions of other summer camps and how they differ from those at her camp, Camp Eisner. Some of her hobbies include photography, dance, gymnastics, spending time with friends, and playing the clarinet - which she has been doing for seven years.

San Rafael, CA
URJ Camp Newman
University of California-Los Angeles

Jackson works with NFTY SoCal, the URJ's youth movement, and other Reform congregations as a lay leader as well as being the Head Songleader at URJ Camp Newman. Along with being a Jewish studies major and Israel studies minor at UCLA, Jackson is involved with Ha'am the Jewish Student Newspaper at UCLA, UCLA Hillel as their Reboot Intern, member of the Shabbat team and as a Student Leader, as well as participating in Bruins for Israel, Westwood Bayit and Jewkbox, the Jewish Acapella group on campus. He was chosen this from over 300 entries by The Forward as one of the five "Voices of Our Spirit" and is currently working on a Jewish music album.

Suffern, NY
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires
SUNY Buffalo State

A junior at SUNY Buffalo State, Jacob is studying music education. A vocalist and a talented musician, he is interested in becoming a cantor and studying Jewish liturgy. Jacob has been attending Camp Ramah in the Berkshires since age 10, and will be returning this summer as a music specialist and song leader. On campus, Jacob is president of the Jewish Student Organization. He loves Judaism because of its diversity: there's no wrong way to do it. Jacob hopes to combine his passions for Judaism, music, and experiential education to serve the Jewish community.