Bulldog News

Travel grant to boost faculty scholarship

Monday, December 21, 2009

A recently enacted, landmark grant will enable Hillside faculty to conduct research trips to the Middle East.

Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein and former Hillside Trustee Orit Goldstein, both parents of Ben Goldstein ’08, have established the Goldstein Travel Grants in the hope that, by traveling to the Middle East, Hillside faculty may enable their students to better understand a vitally important region of the world.

Faculty were invited to submit proposals for this exciting travel opportunity soon after the start of the 2009-2010 academic year. Shortly before the Thanksgiving break, Hillside School Chaplain Abby Pettee and Hillside School Environmental Director Alf Wilson were announced as recipients for the first two years of the grant, respectively.

In accepting the grant, Ms. Pettee commented, “I feel both grateful and excited that I have been selected to receive the Goldstein Travel Grant for the 2009-2010 school year.”

She added: “My understanding of the historical, cultural and religious roots of the Judaic, Christian and Islamic paths will be enriched as a result of my travel, and then I can be better informed upon my return as Hillside’s chaplain. I hope to have conversations with local people who can shed light on my understanding of their daily lives, and how they practice their faith traditions.”

Ms. Pettee also expressed anticipation that her trip, which will take place in March of 2010, will be deeply transformative for her. “From a personal standpoint my own faith will likely deepen. I view the trip also as a spiritual pilgrimage, as I will be in the Holy Land for part of the time, and in the midst of sacred places and sites,” she said.

In preparation for his trip in 2011, Alf Wilson hopes to achieve several research goals. In particular, he would like to visit Israel and witness the workings of a kibbutz, a type of communal farm native to that Mideast nation. “I’m sure I will learn much that can translate to teaching at the Hillside Farm,” he noted in his proposal. A study of conservation and ecotourism in Israel and Jordan is another research effort he would like to undertake.

A long time ornithologist, Mr. Wilson plans to visit Eilat and Aqaba to witness one of the largest migrations of birds from Africa to Eurasia as part of his trip. As one of the originators of Hillside’s Peace Initiatives course, Mr. Wilson would also like to study conflict resolution efforts being implemented in Mideast classrooms.

Regarding his selection as a grant recipient, Mr. Wilson stated that his trip to the Mideast will be a “wonderful opportunity” that will undoubtedly “inform and direct much of my teaching at Hillside School.”

Hillside Headmaster David Z. Beecher expressed the gratitude of the entire Hillside community in being selected for the Goldstein Travel Grants. “The much appreciated generosity of the Goldstein family will make it possible for faculty, through first hand experience, to greatly enrich the classroom experience for their students.”

Hillside School Chaplain Abby Pettee, winner of the Goldstein Travel Grant, with Jonah Spector '10 at the recent Hillside School Thanksgiving Dinner.

Hillside School Environmental Director Alf Wilson (right), winner of a Goldstein Travel Grant, coaches JV Soccer.