The Department of Slavic & East European Languages & Cultures congratulates the winners of
the recent competitions for the Nancy Park Scholarship for the Study of Slavic and East
European Languages and Cultures and for the Kenneth Lantz Scholarship for Excellence.
Among many highly competitive and impressive applications, the winners demonstrated
strong commitment to academic excellence. Please join us in celebrating their achievements!
Kenneth Lantz Scholarship for Excellence
Luke Cihra (Russian Language and Culture)
Nancy Park Scholarship for the Study of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
Katherine Brown (Finnish Language and Culture)
Azzara Nincevic (South Slavic Languages and Cultures)
Sara Sheikhan (Polish Language and Culture)
Emyleigh Rose Simoes (Russian Language and Culture)
Jacob Stoutchinine (Czech Language and Culture)
Stepan Velichko (Ukrainian Language and Culture)
In their own words, hear from some of the winners about their interests and experiences in Slavic & East European Languages and Cultures:
Luke Cihra
Recipient of the Kenneth Lantz Scholarship for Excellence
in Russian Language and Culture
My interest in the Russian language has no familial or relational origin; it came purely from a fascination with the history, art, and culture of Russia. By learning the language, I hoped to puncture the mystical veil Russians have acquired in the west as an alien, unknowable, people -- the "Russian soul," and so on. I am starting law school next fall, and I hope the language will assist me in my career with the thousands of Russian speakers who live in Toronto.
Katherine Brown
Recipient of the Nancy Park Scholarship for the Study of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
in Finnish Language and Culture
A common question people ask me is why I decided to study Finnish, which I have always struggled to find an answer for. Whenever Finnish is brought up, it’s always about how daunting and seemingly impossible it is to learn. It’s portrayed almost as a mythical beast of a language, to warn others of how complicated languages can be. But to me, these are all reasons for why I love Finnish.
The language can be scary, but the people certainly are not. The Finnish department and community are lovingly described as “small but friendly,” and prove it with every class and event. Professor Muhonen always has a warm smile when welcoming students to class, and gives ample warning about the dangers of salmiakki before offering you some.
I can easily say that the classes for Finnish culture and language are some of the best at the university. With small classes and passionate professors, you’re guaranteed to have a fun and successful semester.
Emyleigh Simoes
Recipient of the Nancy Park Scholarship for the Study of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
in Russian Language and Culture
My interest in Russian studies began with the goal of learning a new language, and Russian appealed to me because of its complexity and richness. Through studying the language, I developed an understanding of the region’s culture, complex history, literature, and philosophical traditions. This inspired me to pursue an in-depth study of Russian history, literature and culture. My studies have allowed me to explore topics ranging from 19th-century Russian novels to Slavic and East European folklore, as well as the social and cultural transformations of the Soviet era. Additionally, further language training has provided me with a deeper connection to the culture and its people. What I value most about studying Russian is how it provides access to a rich and diverse cultural world while challenging me intellectually. These experiences have been essential to my academic journey, and I hope to continue building on them in graduate school and eventually as a professor of Russian history, where I can share my passion for Russian studies with others!
Stepan Velichko
Recipient of the Nancy Park Scholarship for the Study of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
in Ukrainian Language and Culture
Growing up in a Russian speaking household and listening to tons of Ukrainian music first piqued my curiosity to learn the language, how it was so similar yet so different, and sounded poetic in its own way. When I decided I wanted to pursue Slavic Languages and Cultures at university, Ukrainian seemed like the right direction to go. Since my program includes language and culture, I really enjoy the discovering the nuances of Ukrainian culture, and how it is distinct from other Slavic nations; as well as the history of the language, and how it had evolved, both on its own and as a consequence of oppression. I am applying to an MA program here at UofT to study Master of Arts in European and Eurasian Studies with a focus on Eastern Europe. With knowledge of Ukrainian language and context of history and culture, I plan to apply them to research within the program. Not to mention I can now talk and understand a new demographic of people.