The University of Michigan Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures celebrated its graduates with a ceremony honoring academic achievement, language study, cultural exploration, and scholarly dedication. Faculty, students, families, and friends gathered for a meaningful program that reflected the department’s wide-ranging strengths across Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies.
The event opened with a welcome from Department Chair, Benjamin Paloff, who set a celebratory tone for the day. His remarks recognized the hard work, curiosity, and commitment of students who have devoted themselves to the study of languages, literatures, histories, and cultures that connect communities across Europe, Eurasia, and the wider world.
Professor Michael Makin presented the Essay Awards, honoring outstanding student writing and research. These awards recognized the careful analysis, creativity, and intellectual engagement that students bring to their work in Slavic studies.
The ceremony also included several Departmental Awards for excellence in language learning. Mia Jurkovic received the Excellence in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Language Studies Award, presented by Marija Rosic, Teaching Professor of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. Owen Lee received the Excellence in Polish Language Studies Award, presented by Piotr Westwalewicz, Lecturer in Polish. Natalie Smith was honored with the Excellence in Russian Language Studies Award, presented by Nina Shkolnik, Lecturer in Russian. Stephen Kropelnyckyj received the Excellence in Ukrainian Language Studies Award, presented by Svitlana Rogovyk, Teaching Professor of Ukrainian, Undergraduate Advisor, and Slavic Language Program Director. Together, these awards highlighted the dedication and discipline required to achieve distinction in language study.
The recognition of graduates formed the heart of the ceremony. In Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Literature and Culture, minors Arianna Amanda Fazlic, Azra Tokovic, and Nela Vugdalic were honored for their dedication to the language and cultures of the region. Gavriella Solomon was recognized for completing a minor in East European and Eurasian Studies, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with a complex and globally significant area.
The Polish program celebrated Olga Yatsenka, who completed the Polish major, and Sylvia Bohlen, who completed the Polish Language, Literature, and Culture minor. Their achievements represented sustained commitment to Polish studies and to the department’s broader mission of fostering cultural and linguistic understanding.
Russian majors Isabella Lee Brown, Christopher Colotti, and Anna Aleksandrovna Petrovskaya were recognized for their accomplishments in one of the department’s central fields of study. The department also honored Russian Language, Literature and Culture minors Maxwell Andrzej Brzozowski, Marley Eli Gonzales, Forrest Lee Gorby, Lydia V. Hargett, Kaleb William Kibbe, Francesco Umberto Ossino, Janalee Robinson, Michael Jeffreys Taylor, Zachary Weissman, Simone Alexia Wright, and Sydney Zaagman.
Graduates in Ukrainian Language, Literature and Culture were also celebrated. Anton Sviatoslav Greene, Anastasia Khomyak, Anna Aleksandrovna Petrovskaya, John Michael Szajenko, and Olga Yatsenka were recognized for their work in Ukrainian studies, a field of deep historical richness and particular contemporary significance.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of Aleksandra Marciniak, who earned the doctoral degree. Her dissertation, “Whence Came I: On Oxxxymiron and Persona in the Digital Age,” reflects advanced scholarly engagement with literature, identity, performance, and digital culture.
Professor Paloff returned to close the program, offering congratulations to all graduates and thanks to the faculty, advisors, department staff, families, and friends who supported them. The day served not only as a celebration of completed degrees and minors, but also as a tribute to the enduring value of language learning, cultural knowledge, and humanistic inquiry.
