September, 2013
When Ariel resident Maya Ariel-Nahalon was 16-years-old, her family got into a terrible car accident. Thankfully, her parents survived, but her father emerged with serious face injuries. Having lost all of his teeth, he required extensive facial surgery to re-acquire basic use of his mouth. Her mother was more fortunate, although she too suffered from facial injuries.
“It made me realize how difficult a face injury is. It hurts your social life, your professional life, everything,” said Maya, 29. Maya is the recipient of one of the college scholarships that American Friends of Ariel provides for Ariel residents who display a commitment to improving their communities. Recipients study at an academic institution of their choice.
This traumatic event inspired Maya towards a career in dentistry with a focus on facial rehabilitation. Last year she completed her degree at Hadassah Dentistry School in Jerusalem (one of two dentistry programs in Israel) and is now beginning three-years of clinical work, commuting from her home in Ariel. Studies require a full-time commitment.
Maya and her husband of six years raise their five-year-old son, Yaheli. To reduce the cost of living so that Maya could study full-time, they currently live with her parents who had moved to Ariel from Bat Yam when she was a little girl.
“My parents looked for a quieter place with a higher quality of life…It was an atmosphere where new things were happening.”
Since the accident, Maya couldn’t rely on parental support to make her dream come true. Her parents’ injuries precluded their ability to work full-time and provide her with the college education that most parents dream of giving their children.
When she heard about college scholarships for Ariel residents made available by American Friends of Ariel, she applied immediately. Her scholarship was made possible by a donation from the Faith Bible Chapel (FBC) in Colorado given in loving memory of Brenda Wygant, a frequent visitor to Ariel with the FBC International Singers and Dancers. The scholarship enables Brenda to contribute posthumously to the city she loved. A vineyard has also been planted in Brenda’s honor in the southern Ariel hills.
“Whenever they come to Israel, I join them on their tours to Ariel to say ‘hi.’ It’s an opportunity to say thank you,” Maya said.
The annual scholarship has cut her tuition in half.
“If not for this scholarship, my education wouldn’t have been possible.”
She looks forward to a career in facial rehabilitation and to continuing to raise her family in Ariel, the city she loves.
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