ZOA honors Derek Silver

Every year at their annual gala, the Louis D. Brandeis Award Dinner, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) recognizes one student in the country for his or her pro-Israel advocacy on campus. This year, on Nov. 22 at New York City's Grand Hyatt Hotel, in the presence of Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, Academy-Award-winning actor and Christian Zionist Jon Voight, and more than 1,100 others in attendance, Derek Silver of Winter Park was that one student to receive The Myron Zimmerman Award for Outstanding Student Activism.

The award was given to Silver for "demonstrating outstanding leadership and dedication to the Zionist cause."

"Being recognized by the Zionist Organization of America was a humbling experience," Silver told The Heritage. "I cannot thank ZOA enough for providing pro-Israel advocates like me with so many amazing opportunities which have empowered students to advocate for Israel. ZOA has changed my life and the lives of countless other students in the pro-Israel community."

Silver, who is a senior at Florida State University, worked with student government and student leaders from both sides of the aisle to fight anti-Semitism at FSU and create an unprecedented pro-Israel atmosphere.