Abington Friends School senior Angela Stevens is one of the inaugural winners of the Jack Goldenberg Scholar-Athlete Award sponsored by the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
The scholarship award for rising senior student-athletes was given to two Jewish scholar-athletes who embody the humility, passion, and determination of the award’s namesake, Jack Goldenberg. While the award recognizes sports involvement, it also considers outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement by a Philadelphia-area student-athlete.
Cooper Lechtman of Harriton High School also won the award.
At Abington Friends School, Stevens exemplifies the ideal student-athlete. In the classroom, she has a passion for science and plans to pursue a pre-med track in college. On the soccer field, she shines as an attacking midfielder.
“Just the other day, we played with first-graders to get to know them,” she said. “It’s part of being a senior, connecting with your pages before you walk together at graduation. And I remember being that first-grader, having a senior partner. Now, being on the other end, I can’t even believe I’m here. I get to be that role model.”
Stevens faced a setback last spring when she hurt her leg and was out for the season. But what started as disappointment led her to new opportunities and some reflection.
“I partnered with Fairmont Soccer Club, and I was able to help coach toddlers,” she said. “It was a lot of fun, and I realized I just also loved the sport outside of being a player. I really hope I can keep doing it this year.”
Stevens is also this year’s lead clerk of Kicks for Cancer, a student organization that raises money for melanoma research through a yearly soccer tournament. The event was started nearly 15 years ago in honor of student Christina Furlong, whose father passed away. Since then, the event has grown, having raised thousands of dollars for its cause. Last year, as co-clerk of the event, Stevens and fellow clerk Julia Marczak led an incredible event that raised more than $15,000.
“I had been playing in (Kicks for Cancer) since middle school, and now I’m thrilled I got to organize it,” she said.
Adena Dershowitz, the faculty mentor for Kicks for Cancer, is proud of the work she’s observed from Stevens.
“She has a clear view of what the organizing committee needs to accomplish in order to reach our goal,” said Dershowitz. “She motivates and lifts up other students, and she is incredibly organized. This is going to be a fantastic year for the event.”
Stevens expressed her gratitude for the support she’s received.
“I’m so deeply honored by the Goldenberg family; I know a lot of athletes from the area, and I know their selection wasn’t easy,” she said. “I’m just really thankful for that opportunity. I want to shout out Brian Schiff, a coach and mentor who has been so supportive. And my mom — I love my mom.”
Learn more about Abington Friends School, where community and classroom life is rooted in the Quaker attunement to finding spiritual meaning in day-to-day life.
