Shaping a Future Through Learning and Leadership
A Personal Narrative From Yuval Kovatch
I’m 28 years old and in my third year in the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science at the Technion — a place that has shaped not only my academic journey but also my understanding of what it means to strive for excellence.
I was born and raised in Ra’anana, just north of Tel Aviv, where my curiosity and love of learning opened the door to the Yachad Program for Gifted Students. In high school, I finished at the top of my class and received an excellence award. But the moments that stayed with me most were outside the classroom — giving private lessons to underprivileged children with attention deficit disorder. Seeing their confidence grow meant more to me than any grade, and being named Outstanding Volunteer of Ra’anana felt like a recognition of something deeply important to me: using what I know to help others.
When it came time to choose a university, the choice felt natural. I wanted to learn from the best, challenge myself, and be part of a community that demands the highest of its students and supports them along the way. For me, that place could only be the Technion.
Here, I’m pursuing my bachelor’s degree in computer science — an area I believe plays a central role in shaping the world’s future. Technology isn’t just about innovation; it’s about solving real human problems. I hope one day to invent something meaningful, something that might make even one person’s life a little better.
In my first two years, I lived in the dorms, which gave me exactly what I needed: space, support, and the ability to focus. Beyond my studies, I found a home on the basketball court. Sports have always been part of my life, and today I serve as the Technion’s basketball team captain, competing regularly with teammates who have become close friends.
Yuval Kovatch on the basketball court at Technion.
But some of my most meaningful Technion experiences have happened off the court and outside the classroom. As soon as I began my studies, I started taking part in donor visits, sharing my story and helping represent the Technion to supporters. It’s been an honor to contribute in this way.
Life at the Technion since October 7 has been unlike anything I expected. The war began just as I started my degree, and in truth, I didn’t know until now what it feels like to study here in “normal times.” Only this semester feels like a glimpse into what a typical student life might be. Through the war, the Technion stood beside me. I always had someone to turn to — tutors, mentors, people who cared enough to make sure I could stay on track. That support has meant everything.
When I’m not studying or playing basketball, I love reading, traveling, hiking, and camping, as well as spending time with my friends. These moments recharge me and remind me why I’m working so hard.
The Technion has supported me through one of the most difficult periods in Israel’s recent history, and it challenges me to think differently and break barriers.
The Technion is more than a university — it’s a community that believes in its students and helps them become the best version of themselves.
Yuval Kovatch
I’m proud to be part of it, and excited for the future I’m building here.
About the Program
The Ilene & Steve Berger Technion Visiting Fellows Program features the University’s greatest assets: its students. Meet them face to face. Hear their stories. Discover their groundbreaking research, bold aspirations, and the sacrifices they have made through more than two years of war. These remarkable students are not only persevering — they are driven by a profound determination to use science to solve the world’s greatest problems.
