Grant helps ǧÃŬAV host Russian students
Article By: Clark Leonard
Five Russian students studying at the University of North Georgia (ǧÃŬAV) 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 ǧÃŬAV 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, ǧÃŬAV associate vice president for international programs, said. "Their perspective brings great value to the curricular and co-curricular activities they participate in. ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV'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 ǧÃŬAV.
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. ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV after learning French and Spanish back home. She has been impressed by the social opportunities at ǧÃŬAV.
"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 ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV'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 ǧÃŬAV 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 ǧÃŬAV is Yana Vasilyeva, who is from Kutafin Moscow State Law University.
Education abroad supports students' career goals
ǧÃŬAV's education abroad program had students in Belize and Peru this summer, providing language skills to further their career aspirations. 
Sniffen earns study abroad grant
University of North Georgia senior Autumn Sniffen was awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant.
15 cadets studied abroad this spring
Fifteen ǧÃŬAV cadets studied abroad this spring, and for the first time, two studied at the Hellenic Army Academy in Athens, Greece.
First Lithuanian cadets spend semester at ǧÃŬAV
Two Lithuanian cadets are attending ǧÃŬAV for a semester for the first time. For the second consecutive year, there are four full-time Taiwanese cadets and three additional cadets as part of the Military Semester Exchange Program this fall.