Ariel Atkins of Montclair was awarded the prestigious Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel.

The fellowship, now in its 21st year, is a five-week program of study and travel in Israel. Funded by the Samuel Bronfman Foundation, the free program was designed to develop community leaders committed to Jewish unity.

One of 26 participants from across North America, Atkins was selected from a pool of 264 candidates.

Atkins, 17, the son of Angie and Norman Atkins, graduated from Montclair High School after three years and is a member of Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Montclair. A varsity wrestler who played the viola in the school orchestra, he earned honors in math, science, and language competitions. He has participated in community service projects in Bolivia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

He plans to spend the 2007-08 academic year traveling and working in South America and to enter Stanford University in the fall of 2008.