News Releases AMIT TEACHER OF PHYSICS WINS NATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD New York City, March 29, 2005...... Dr. Victor Melamud, a teacher of physics at the AMIT Harry and Bina Appleman Junior and Senior Comprehensive High School in Beersheva, has won the National Excellence in Teaching Award. The prize, awarded jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Office of the President of Israel, was presented to Dr. Melamud by President Moshe Katzav in ceremonies earlier this month. Dr. Melamud was cited for his work with advanced physics students at the school. Dr. Melamud's award is the latest honor to be bestowed on AMIT Appleman, which in a 2004 study conducted by the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv and the Ministry of Education was ranked fifth among the top ten high schools in Israel. Dr. Melamud immigrated to Israel from the Former Soviet Union 15 years ago, and AMIT hired him even before he had learned Hebrew. In the FSU, Dr. Melamud had been a university lecturer. It is to Dr. Melamud's credit that, over the course of the past ten years, ten students from AMIT Appleman have received the Nobel Prize for Youth in Physics and many others have competed successfully in national and international science competitions. Most recently, Ilya Gurevich, a senior at AMIT Appleman, won first prize in the 2004 Intel Israel-Bloomfield Science Museum Young Scientists Competition. Ilya represented Israel at the Intel International Young Scientists Competition in Portland, Oregon, where he won a prize from the American Mathematics Association. The school also has earned two significant prizes in the past two years: the Religious Education Prize for 2001/2002 in the category of immigrant absorption, and the Prime Minister's Prize for the school's superior achievements in the "Bagrut 2001" program. The AMIT Harry and Bina Appleman Junior and Senior Comprehensive High School in Beersheva has a student population of more than 1200 youngsters in grades 7 to 12. Approximately 50 percent are Israeli born, 30 percent are immigrants from the former Soviet Union and 20 percent are immigrants from Ethiopia. The school accepts any student in Beersheva who wants a religious education. The curriculum at AMIT Appleman focuses on physics, chemistry, biology, computers, general technology, electronics, electricity, office management, Russian and Judaic studies. All students are encouraged to take full matriculation (Bagrut) exams, with special programs in place to help the weaker students. On average, some 76 percent of the students receive a full bagrut certificate, an outstanding record among comprehensive high schools and first place among the comprehensive high schools in Beersheva. Many of the young FSU immigrants enrolled have chosen to attend AMIT Appleman so that they can be Dr. Melamud's students. AMIT enables Israel's youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, religious values and Zionist ideals. AMIT educates and cares for Israel's youth, including the most vulnerable. More than three quarters of AMIT students cope with educational, psychological, economic and/or social risk factors. AMIT approaches each child as an individual, maximizing his or her potential, and enabling our students to become vital, productive members of Israeli society. The AMIT schools promote religious tolerance, service to the state and the recognition that every child is blessed with unique talents and abilities. Founded in 1925, AMIT operates more than 60 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs, constituting Israel's only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies. return to all news releases Media Contact: Barbara Goldberg Director of Communications 212-477-4720, ext. 127 barbarag@amitchildren.org   Return to Top Our Mission | Meet our President | Young Leadership | News Releases | Calendar of Events Tanach Yomi | Contact Us | Support AMIT | AMIT Travel | Missions | AMIT Boutique Complete financial information on AMIT may be obtained at www.guidestar.org © AMIT 2004 -2006 privacy policy   Important News and Events Support our Cause. Donate to AMIT today! Sign up to receive free updates about AMIT programs and events. Click here to receive the free AMIT e-newsletter. New Feature!!! Please visit the AMIT Video Library. Were you There? Visit our Young Leadership Events Photo Gallery.