 She was awarded the American Jewish Press Association first prize award for commentary in 2001 and the Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education in 2002.Poupko Kletenik was honored as Distinguished Alumna at Touro College and was the 2006 Seattle Hadassah Honoree.Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Poupko Kletenik is the daughter of Gilda Twerski Novoseller Poupko, scion of the Hasidic dynasty, and Rabbi Baruch Poupko, rabbi for over 60 years of Shaare Torah Congregation in Pittsburgh.