ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½

Grant helps ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ host Russian students

December 1, 2021
Polina Sheludko, Alexandra Kandirovskaya, Sofia Zhuravleva, and Svetlana Cherniavskaia are four of the five Russian students studying at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ during the 2021-22 academic year through the Year of Exchange in America for Russians program.

Article By: Clark Leonard

Five Russian students studying at the University of North Georgia (ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½) during this academic year are gaining valuable experiences inside the classroom and in the community. Three are here this fall semester while two will attend the entire 2021-22 academic year.

Their time at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia through the .

"They're here to learn as much as possible and share as much as possible," Sheila Schulte, ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ associate vice president for international programs, said. "Their perspective brings great value to the curricular and co-curricular activities they participate in. ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is delighted to be able to host these award-winning students."

Each of the five students lives in the Global Learning Community at North Georgia Suites on ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s Dahlonega Campus. The community pairs incoming international students with new U.S. students who have an interest in international affairs. As they live alongside each other, these students take a contemporary global topics course together. The Russian students are enrolled in three additional courses at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½.

YEAR students also participate in community service projects and conduct three professional interviews during the academic year. For the interviews, students are matched with professionals in fields relating to their academic interests.

Their perspective brings great value to the curricular and co-curricular activities they participate in. ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is delighted to be able to host these award-winning students.

Sheila Schulte

Associate vice president for international programs

Sofia Zhuravleva and Alexandra Kandirovskaya are the two attending ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ for the full academic year.

Zhuravleva, a junior at M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University pursuing a degree in economics, is in Italian and Chinese courses at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ after learning French and Spanish back home. She has been impressed by the social opportunities at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½.

"I enjoy that there are a lot of events for students," Zhuravleva said. "We can meet so many people at these events."

Kandirovskaya, a junior at Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design pursuing a degree in graphic design, is taking art history, animation and digital illustration courses. She said visual arts lecturer David Clifton, who teaches two of those classes, is "the best teacher I've ever met." Kandirovskaya also appreciates the ability to connect with ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ students.

"Students here are energized and open," she said. "It's easy to talk to them."

Polina Sheludko, a senior at Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University pursuing a degree in journalism, said being around talented faculty and students in ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s music department has inspired her. 

"I meet a lot of professionals," she said. "And I can learn from their experience and pursue music every day."

Svetlana Cherniavskaia, a senior at Far Eastern Federal University pursuing a degree in Japanese, has enjoyed her Japanese course at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ with Dr. Tomoe Nishio, an associate professor of Japanese. Cherniavskaia has also taken a contemporary East Asia course and her first psychology class.

The fifth Russian student studying at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is Yana Vasilyeva, who is from Kutafin Moscow State Law University.


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