Oct 28, 2008 -- Ariella Zoltan, a political science major at Yeshiva University’s (YU) Stern College for Women (SCW), is one of four scholars chosen as a 2008 winner of the first annual Henry Kressel Research Scholarship, established to perpetuate YU’s student research community. The scholarship seeks to embody the commitment to intellectual rigor, creativity and pursuit of knowledge that defines Yeshiva University. “Yeshiva University has provided me with the opportunity for me to study a broad range of topics in general and Judaic studies,” says Ms. Zoltan, who is considering a career in law. Ms. Zoltan is researching religious accommodations for Muslims in France, Britain, and Germany, and hopes to determine if religious discrimination serves as a primary cause of violence and protest in Western Europe. The scholarship funding provides a stipend of $7,500 for the academic year, with additional grant monies available for travel or research support. Academic mentors to the scholars also receive a $2,000 grant to offset costs of supervising the student’s research. Recipients are expected to spend at least one intensive summer and academic year on the project. Following their research tenure, Kressel Scholars will lead student sessions publicizing their work to catalyze a larger intellectual discussion on the topic. Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski, assistant professor of political science at SCW, is mentoring Ms. Zoltan and offers nothing but praise for her pupil. “Ariella is a very intelligent and hard working student. Her research will be an important contribution to our understanding of the onset of internal protests [by the European Muslim community] with significant implications for policy improvements.” Dr. Henry Kressel, Managing Director of Warburg Pincus LLC and a Yeshiva College graduate, funded the program with the goal of expanding student-faculty research. “The idea is to make it possible for students to work with talented faculty in advancing knowledge and to get a taste of the exciting world of research,” says Dr. Kressel. “My expectation is that this program will lead to a richer intellectual environment at Yeshiva University and encourage more students to pursue a career in research through graduate studies.”