By Patrick Bray
DLIFLC Public Affairs
Russian language students at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center received awards from the American Council of Teachers of Russian for their entries in the National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest. Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, DLIFLC Provost, presented the awards to four of the students June 3. (Photo by Patrick Bray, DLIFLC Public Affairs)
MONTEREY, Calif. – Six Russian language students at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center received awards from the American Council of Teachers of Russian for their entries in the National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest. Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, DLIFLC Provost, presented the awards to four of the students June 3.
Staff Sgt. Arturas Karizskis won a gold medal, Spc. Aleksandr Didarov won a bronze medal, and Staff Sgt. Ilya Volovik and Staff Sgt. Almaz Jamankulov received honorable mention.
“This is the only competition of its type in that it is not only native English speakers learning Russian competing, but also the best of heritage Russian speakers,” said Leaver.
The contest is divided into categories depending on the source of the student’s Russian capability. All of the DLIFLC students participated in Category C of the contest, intended for students born to Russian speaking families but received most or all of their education in English.
Volovik, who received honorable mention, praised his instructors for their mentorship and helping him succeed.
“We couldn’t have gotten these awards without the great teachers we have here,” said Volovik. “The credit really goes out to them.”
The contest included more than 1,000 participants from 68 universities, colleges and institutions. This year’s topic was “A very interesting day in my life.”
The contest has been held annually since 1999. Students’ essays are judged by leading professors of Russian language studies at Moscow State University. Gold, silver or bronze certificates of accomplishment are awarded, along with honorable mentions.
