These awards/scholarships are generously funded by Douglas Shaheen, a 1972 graduate of Syracuse University. Mr. Shaheen has donated these funds in honor and memory of his beloved Russian instructor, Anna V. Gorbatsevich.

Douglas Shaheen Excellence in Russian Award

Each semester one student, who must be a declared major or minor in Russian Language, Literature, and Linguistics at Syracuse University will be awarded a $500 prize for their outstanding performance in their Russian course(s). Students will be selected by the Russian Program Coordinator/Undergraduate Advisor in consultation with other RUS teaching faculty. Students may only receive the prize once in their four-year tenure at Syracuse University and are not eligible in semesters in which they study abroad, hold internships elsewhere, or are not in residence in Syracuse for other reasons.

Douglas Shaheen Travel, Study, or Research Scholarship

Russian majors and minors are eligible to apply each semester for a grant of up to $500 for short-term travel, conference, study, or research purposes. Students must submit a one-page application that includes a narrative description of their plans as well as a preliminary budget. Grants will be distributed based on the merit and feasibility of the project described. Submissions should be made to the Russian Program Coordinator/Undergraduate Advisor and will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Students may apply more than once for this grant.

Congratulations to the Award-Winning Russian Majors and Minors

Aaron Lener and Anna Meehan, winners of the Douglas Shaheen Excellence in Russian Award, 2025.

Iona Volynets – University Scholar, 2024; Marshall Scholar, 2024; Gerlinde Ulm Sanford Outstanding Student in LLL Award, 2024; Critical Languages Scholarship in Russian (Tbilisi, Georgia), 2023; Truman Scholarship, 2023; Obama-Chesky Scholarship, 2022.

Mary Margaret (Maggie) Matthews – Douglas Shaheen Excellence in Russian Award, 2023.

Justin Mitchell – Phi Beta Kappa, 2021; Remembrance Scholar, 2021, Boren Scholar (Kazakhstan), 2023.

Stanley Smudin – Outstanding Graduating Russian Major, Spring 2022; Fulbright-Hays Award, Study in Latvia, summer 2022.
Bronwyn Galloway – Phi Beta Kappa, 2021; Outstanding Graduating Russian Major, Spring 2021.
Cadence Christian – Gerlinde Ulm Sanford Award winner, Spring 2021.
Justin Mitchell – Phi Beta Kappa, 2021, Remembrance Scholar, 2021.
Joshua Margrey – Phi Beta Kappa, 2021.
Molly Bolan – Fulbright Teaching Award (Russia), 2019; Critical Language Scholarship (Russian), 2018.
Bronwyn Galloway – Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Grant, 2019.
Nathan Shearn – Syracuse University Scholar, 2019; Fulbright-Hays Award, Study in Siberia, 2019.
Casey Woodall – Fulbright-Hays Award, Study in Siberia, 2019.
Jade M. Rhoads – Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, 2018; Critical Language Scholarship (Russian), 2018; Udall Scholarship, 2017.
Celia Volkwein – Outstanding Graduating Russian major, 2017;
Farrell Greenwald Brenner – Syracuse University Scholar, 2017; Fulbright Scholar Award, semi-finalist (Poland), 2017.