Today at St. John the Baptist Parish in Washington, D.C., Xenia Woyevodsky, representing the Congress of Russian Americans (CRA), presented a certificate and an educational scholarship to Maksim Molodin, an incoming student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Beginning this fall, Maksim will study neuroscience and neurobiology at the university. He has been involved in various CRA initiatives for several years. In particular, Maksim helped translate into English a book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Congress of Russian Americans, one of the most prominent Russian American nonprofit organizations in the United States.

We spoke with the scholarship recipient and asked him several questions about his plans for the future, his volunteer work within the Russian-speaking community in his hometown, and the contributions he hopes to make at his university.

— Maksim, first of all, congratulations on receiving the Congress of Russian Americans Educational Scholarship. What does this award mean to you?

— Thank you very much. It is a tremendous honor and a great source of support for me. I am sincerely grateful to the Congress of Russian Americans. Receiving this scholarship will not only help me pay for my education, but will also provide additional motivation to continue working hard, developing my abilities, and contributing to society. I deeply appreciate the Congress’s commitment to supporting young people who are pursuing an education and seeking to contribute to the future of the Russian-speaking community.

— Please tell us a little about yourself and your plans for the future.

— I graduated from Penn Manor High School on June 3, and this fall I will begin my studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where I plan to study neuroscience and neurobiology. I have always been fascinated by the human brain—how it produces our thoughts, memories, emotions, and behavior.

I believe that advances in neuroscience will significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases while also helping us gain a deeper understanding of human nature. That is why I have decided to devote my education and future career to this field.

— During your involvement with the Congress of Russian Americans, which projects have you participated in?

— During my time with the Congress, I have been fortunate to participate in several volunteer projects. One of the most meaningful was assisting Stanford University professor and CRA member Anatol Shmelev with the English translation of his book on the history of the Congress of Russian Americans.

The book was published to commemorate the organization’s 50th anniversary, and it was a great honor for me to contribute to the project. Through this work, I became much more familiar with the history of the Congress and gained a deeper appreciation for the significant contributions its members have made to preserving Russian culture and supporting Russian Americans and Russian-speaking communities throughout the United States.

— How have you contributed to your local community?

— We had an idea to establish a small organization for Russian-speaking residents of Lancaster. The goal was to help people meet one another, maintain a connection with Russian culture, and support those who had recently moved to the area.

Unfortunately, we were unable to fully realize the project because there were not enough interested participants. Nevertheless, the experience itself was extremely valuable and taught me a great deal about organizing community initiatives.

— Do you plan to continue your community involvement while attending university?

— Absolutely. While studying in Pittsburgh, I hope to continue working with the Congress of Russian Americans and to participate actively in its projects. I also hope to support Russian-speaking students and other members of the local community through university organizations, cultural events, and volunteer initiatives.

I would like to contribute to the growth of the Russian-speaking community and help new students and immigrants adjust more easily to life in a new country.

— In closing, what would you like to say to the Congress of Russian Americans?

— First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to the Congress of Russian Americans for awarding me this scholarship and for its many years of support for young people. It is a great honor to be one of its recipients.

I will do my best to represent the Congress with distinction throughout my university studies and to remain actively involved in its work. I hope that one day I will be able to support future generations of students in the same way that the Congress is supporting me today.

Vadim Massalsky (Russian Life/ Newspaper)