Essay Contest
The program in Russian and East European Languages and Literatures at Rutgers is proud to participate in the annual
Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
sponsored by the American Council of Teachers in Russian
Students from colleges and universities across the country participate in this essay contest, which is judged by judges in Russia. We also award prizes for winners at each level from Rutgers.
2023 National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest Award Winners from Rutgers
In this year’s contest, there were nearly 1,000 essays submitted from dozens of universities, colleges, and institutions across the nation. Judges from Moscow read each essay and ranked the top 15 to 20% of essays (depending on the total number submitted in each category). Of these, FOUR Rutgers students earned awards in the national contest! Congratulations to:
Nicholas Doblosky (B1 level): Silver medal
Olena Freyak (B1 level): Bronze medal
Helen Hopersky (C4 level): Bronze medal
Alex Dolgin (C2 level): Honorable mention
Congratulations!!
2023 Rutgers Russian Essay Contest Results
102
1st Place, Non-heritage: Emily Gill
1st Place, Heritage: Olena Freyak
2nd Place: Shannon Huhn
3rd Place: Marie Parkin
Honorable Mentions: Jack Eagleburger, Sarah Roth
202
1st Place: John Thatcher2nd Place: Nicholas Doblosky
Honorable Mention: Alexandria Minetti
208
1st Place: Rosie Berman2nd Place: Alex DolginHonorable Mentions: Andrew Krapivin, Bianca Lusher
302
1st Place, Non-heritage: Marcus Cook 1st Place, Heritage: Jennifer Raskoshin
Honorable Mentions: Sophia Malinsky, Yury Lauterbach
403
1st Place: Liza Ter-Saakov
2nd Place: Valery Lyssyakevich3rd Place: Ivan Nikolaev
Honorable Mention: Amel Metjahic
At-large, honorable mention: Helen Hopersky
2022 National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest Award Winners from Rutgers
In this year’s contest, there were 973 essays submitted from dozens of universities, colleges, and institutions across the nation. This year, the judges worked tirelessly despite difficult circumstances (forced to flee Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine), and read each essay and ranked the top 15 to 20% of essays (depending on the total number submitted in each category. This year, TWO Rutgers students earned an honorable mention! Congratulations to:
Helen Hopersky, Level C4
Yury Uspensky, Level C6
Congratulations!!
2022 Rutgers Russian Essay Contest Results
102:01:
1st Place: Alexandria Minetti, non-heritage
1st Place: Camilla Vaynberg, heritage
102:02:
1st Place: John Thatcher
2nd Place: Alexander Fleming
3rd Place: Bradan Brown
Honorable Mention: Alessandro Pogorzhelsky
202:
1st Place: Allison Scarinci
2nd Place: Yury Lauterbach
208:
1st Place: Sophia Malinsky
2nd Place: Michelle Tomashevska
3rd Place: Joshua Chernov
302:
1st Place: Liza Ter-Saakov
403:
1st Place: Alexander Levitis
2nd Place: Helen Hopersky
3rd Place: Ivan Nikolaev
2021 National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest Award Winners from Rutgers
In this year’s contest, there were over 1100 essays submitted from 30 universities, colleges, and institutions across the nation. Three judges in Moscow read each essay and ranked the top 15% of essays (depending on the total number submitted in each category). This year, SIX Rutgers students earned an award! Congratulations to:
Jean-William Mackler, Honorable Mention, Level A3
Anna Igaunis, Silver Medal, Level C1
Alexander Warden, Honorable Mention, Level C1
Jaden Riveles, Honorable Mention, Level C2
Elizaveta Belaya, Bronze Medal, Level C4
Helen Hopersky, Honorable Mention, Level C4
Congratulations!!
2021 Rutgers Russian Essay Contest Results
102:
Fayrouz Hadi, 1st place
Noah McAllister, 2nd place
202:
Jaden Riveles, 1st place
208:
Anna Igaunis, 1st place
302:
Fiona Kniaz, 1st place;
Jean-William Mackler, Honorable Mention
402:
Elizaveta Belaya, 1st place
Not currently enrolled in Russian courses:
Helen Hopersky, Honorable Mention;
Mikaela Peters, Honorable Mention
2020 National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest Award Winners from Rutgers
In this year’s contest, there were 1261 essays submitted from 56 universities, colleges, and institutions across the nation. Three judges in Moscow read each essay and ranked the top 15 to 20% of essays (depending on the total number submitted in each category). This year only 216 essays were given awards. Of those, THREE Rutgers students earned an honorable mention!:
Brandon Kalika (B2 level)
John Sanders (A3 level)
Kamilla Azbel (C4 level)
Congratulations!!
2020 Rutgers Russian Essay Contest Results
102:01
1st Place: Alexandra Schindewolf
2nd Place: Daniel Friedman
3rd Place: Jaden Riveles
102:02
1st Place: Marguerite Estornell
2nd Place: Michelle Cho
3rd Place: Joseph Soldo
202
1st Place: Jonathan Walsh
2nd Place: Brandon Kalika
3rd Place: Fiona Kniaz
208
1st Place: Alan Gutman
2nd Place: Julia Sorkin
3rd Place: Henrick Lekhno
Honorable Mention: Makar Abt
302
1st Place: Eric Fountain
407
1st Place: Kamilla Azbel
Honorable Mention: Meghana Maratha
Non-enrolled:
Honorable Mention: Elizaveta Funt
2019 National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest Award Winners from Rutgers
In this year's contest, there were 1,434 essays submitted from 68 universities, colleges, and institutions around the nations. Three judges in Moscow read each essay and ranked the top 15 to 20% of essays. This year, only 219 essays were given awards. One of those 219 is a Rutgers student!
Lisbeth Cespedes, Bronze Medal (A1 level)
2019 Rutgers Russian Essay Contest Results
Non-Heritage level 102
1st Place: Julia Michael
2nd Place: Lisbeth Cespedes
3rd Place: Brandon Kalika
Honorable Mention: Michael Prodanov
Non-Heritage Level 202
1st Place: Hannah Ross
2nd Place: Harry Manning
3rd Place: Jean-William Mackler
Honorable Mention: Eric Fountain
Heritage Level 208
1st Place: Daniel Bezden
2nd Place: Anna Rabinovich
3rd Place: Alec Bakholdin
Level 302
1st Place: Larissa Wojtenko
2nd Place: Brenna Yellin
3rd Place: Mikala Valosin
Level 402
1st Place: Kamila Azbel
2nd Place: Karen Done
3rd Place: Adrian Sugar
Read more: Russian Essay Contest Winners and Results - 2019 and earlier
