Mitch Perlmeter Leadership Award Speech About Tyler Schwartz
Written and given by Matt Hersh (Gesher Supervisor), Jake Weitzman (Gesher Assistant Supervisor), and Ofek Kimhi (Gesher Assistant Supervisor)
My name is Matt Hersh and I am the Gesher supervisor. My name is Jake Weitzman, and My name is Ofek Kimhi and we are the Gesher assistant supervisors. We are honored to announce this year’s Mitch Perlmeter Leadership award recipient.
From the very beginning, this participant showed up with the kind of energy you don’t just notice – you remember. Today we get to honor someone whose presence has made this summer feel fuller and helped us all to be more connected. When we think about the Mitch Perlmeter Leadership Award, we think about someone who brings joy into ordinary moments, kindness into every interaction, and makes the people around them feel like they truly belong.
What stands out most about this CIT is how natural it is for her. Helping isn’t a task, it’s part of who she is. She steps in because she cares. She shows up because she wants to, and she expresses a sense of belonging that reminds everyone around her why camp is our home away from home.
There’s a sense of enthusiasm to this CIT that you feel almost immediately. She carries herself with a kind of happiness and kindness that is contagious. She has a way of making people feel comfortable, supported, and seen. Whether it’s a camper having a tough moment, a job that nobody else wants to do, or a peer who needs a hand, this participant is there consistently, with a smile that says, “I’m here for you.” That kind of leadership cannot be taught. It comes from a genuine desire to make the people around her feel included, supported, and more connected.
This CIT is someone who lifts up others without needing recognition. Someone who makes a community better simply by being a part of it. Her kindness has shaped this community. Her positivity has carried us and her spirit has made Gesher feel like a family.
She has shown us that leadership is not just about having the loudest voice in the room. It is about knowing when to step forward, when to listen, and when to ask for support. Her ability to express herself honestly, navigate challenges with patience and compassion, and make thoughtful decisions shows a level of maturity beyond her years. She leads with intention, always keeping the people around her in mind and putting the needs of the community before her own.
To the recipient of the 2026 Mitch Perlmeter leadership award, thank you for the way you’ve been such a light this summer. Thank you for the joy you bring, the care you give, and the warmth you share so naturally. You are the embodiment of this award, and we are so grateful for you. Congratulations on making such an impact on your leadership, your peers, and all of camp. We are so proud of you, and we cannot wait to watch you continue to shape camp by being the truly amazing person and role model that you so naturally are. Please join me in congratulating this year’s recipient of this distinguished award, Tyler Schwartz.