Exploring Excellence Ywca Honors Teen For Her Continued Pursuit Of Perfection

Shayna Silverstein knows she’s got an impressive looking resume, but she insists it’s not as sensational as it looks.

“I just do things I like, things that appeal to me,” said the Lewis and Clark senior modestly. “I just have a lot of interests.”

Those interests, and Silverstein’s dedication to them, have served her well. Last week she was honored as the YWCA Young Woman of Achievement for 1995.

Silverstein was shocked that the YWCA selected her over numerous other young women throughout the community for this prestigious award.

“I was floored,” she said. “I know so many of my peers are high achieving young women as well. I was surprised to receive the nomination and even more surprised that I won.”

For those familiar with Silverstein’s accomplishments, however, the honor came as no surprise.

Silverstein, a 4-point student enrolled in LC’s most rigorous courses, is a National Merit Semifinalist and a member of the Chase Youth Commission Teen Advisory Council’s executive committee. She is actively involved in the National Honor Society and has been involved in RACE, LC’s club for racial and cultural equality.

Some of her most impressive achievements, however, have little to do with academics or volunteer work. Silverstein is the first chair violinist in LC’s orchestra and a member of the Spokane Youth Orchestra and the Spokane Youth Orchestra Quartet.

Since her sophomore year, she has held the prestigious position of concert master at the Festival of the Arts All-City Honor Orchestra. She volunteers her time to give violin lessons to other students and takes on numerous leadership responsibilities in the LC orchestra. Silverstein recently performed in the Holocaust 50th Anniversary Concert to commemorate the liberation of the concentration camps.

She accompanied vocalist Berdine Bender in “Es Brent,” a melody that Carole Meyer, LC’s senior class counselor, described as “exploding with one person’s frustration and confusion at the Holocaust.”

“By volunteering for this concert, Shayna shared her music with thousands and contributed to an intensely moving commemoration,” Meyer said.

Silverstein has other interests as well. In addition to hiking and skiing, her favorite outdoor activities, she has a green belt in Thai Lotus style karate and volunteers to instruct other karate students. She only has the brown belt to work through before she can try for the black belt, karate’s highest level.

Silverstein also performed with the Theatre Ballet of Spokane for two and a half years.

“I started dancing when I was about 6,” she said. “Ballet has taught me self-discipline, and karate is just fun.”

For seven weeks this summer, Silverstein played her violin at the prestigious Meadowmount School of Music in upstate New York. Each week, she endured 25 hours of individual practice, plus eight to 10 hours of chamber music rehearsal. The performers put on four concerts every week.

It wasn’t all hard work, however.

“The rules were strict there,” she said, “but we were able to sneak out and see the horizons at Lake Champlain, and we hiked Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains.

“The unofficial hangout was this greasy truck stop called Andre’s, where they had the best banana bread and great milkshakes,” she said.

Silverstein, despite her impressive resume, is still undecided on where she wants to go to college and what she wants to do with her life.

“My future right now is basically one big ‘undecided.’ I’m leaning towards becoming a physician, but I’ll just have to see which college takes me,” she admitted.

Those who know Silverstein have no doubt that whatever path she chooses will lead to success.

“This articulate young woman is destined to distinguish herself in the areas of music, medicine, and as a community leader, in the years to come,” Meyer wrote in her letter to the YWCA recommending Silverstein.

Larry Jay, LC’s music director, agrees.

“I don’t think you can find a more talented, hardworking and deserving student anywhere,” he said. “I’ve been teaching for 23 years and I haven’t known anyone like her.”