Prizes and Awards
2023
ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian) National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
This year's topic: "Я (не) люблю"
2nd place - Berta Muza '25
Honorable Mention - Margaret Potagal '26
New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian
At the 2023 Annual New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian Speech and poetry reading contest, which saw participants from 11 universities and colleges in New England, Brandeis students placed as follows:
- Thomas Musser '26 won second place in the 1st-year speech contest
- Stephen Gaughan '26 won second place in the 1st-year song contest
"Green Army"
Sofia Conte '26, Thomas Musser '26, and Anna Sewald '26 placed third.
Instructors: Irina Dubinina, Valeriya Kozlovskaya
ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
Every year the American Council of Teachers of Russian recognizes a junior or a senior who studies Russian at the post-secondary level and who demonstrates an outstanding dedication to the study of Russian language and culture in course work, outside activities, promotion of Russian language learning, and support for their programs. Institutions can nominate only one student per year. In 2023, ACTR honored Aeryn Rowe '25 with the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate award for their commitment to the study of the language and literature.
2022
Outstanding UDR Award 2022
Addison Antonoff '22
Alyssa Rider '22
ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian) National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
This year's topic: "House" / "Дом"
1st place - Aeryn Rowe '25 and Alicia Tu '23 (A1 - 1st year of studying Russian as a second language)
2nd place - Erin Magill '22 (A3 - 3rd year of studying Russian as a second language)
New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian
At the 2022 Annual New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian Speech and poetry reading contest, which saw participants from 12 universities and colleges in New England, Brandeis students placed as follows:
- Arielle Kolodzinski '23 won first place in the 1st-year speech contest
- Aeryn Rowe '25 won third place in the 1st-year speech contest, as well as second place in the poetry contest
- Eran Zelixon '23 won second place in the song contest
"Secret History of the Brandeis Language Oscars"
Noa Brudny '25, Felicity Hyams '24, and Eran Zelixon '23 placed first.
Instructors: Irina Dubinina, Mariia Makarova (TA)
ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
Every year the American Council of Teachers of Russian recognizes a junior or a senior who studies Russian at the post-secondary level and who demonstrates an outstanding dedication to the study of Russian language and culture in course work, outside activities, promotion of Russian language learning, and support for their programs. Institutions can nominate only one student per year. In 2022, ACTR honored Addison Antonoff '22 with the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate award for their commitment to the study of the language and literature.
2021
ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian) National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
This year's topic: "My Favorite Place" / "Моё любимое место"
Sam Wachman '22 - A3 Gold (3rd year of studying Russian as a second language)
Laura Grunenkovaite '22 - B2 Silver (2nd year of studying Russian as a heritage speaker)
New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian
At the 2021 Annual New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian Speech and poetry reading contest, which saw participants from 12 universities and colleges in New England, Brandeis students placed as follows:
- 1st place - Sam Wachman '23 - 3rd Year Poetry Contest
- 2nd place - Sam Wachman '23 - 3rd Year Speech Contest
- 3rd place - Erin Magil '23 - 2nd Year Poetry Contest
- 3rd place - Erin Magil '23 - 2nd Year Speech Contest
ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
Every year the American Council of Teachers of Russian recognizes a junior or a senior who studies Russian at the post-secondary level and who demonstrates an outstanding dedication to the study of Russian language and culture in course work, outside activities, promotion of Russian language learning, and support for their programs. Institutions can nominate only one student per year. In 2021, ACTR honored Alyssa Rider '22 with the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate award for their commitment to the study of the language and literature.
2020
Dr. Eberhard Frey Prize for excellence in Russian or German Studies
Named in honor of the late Professor Frey, who was a distinguished and beloved member of the department, the Prize is awarded annually by the department to a student who has excelled in Slavic and/or German Studies.
Rose O'Keefe-Hoeck ('20)
Evan Robins ('20)
ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian) National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
This Year's Topic: “Who or what changed your life? / Кто или что изменил(о) вашу жизнь?
- First year language study (non-heritage): Erin Magill ('23), Silver medal
- Second year language study (non-heritage): Eric Chang' (21), Silver medal
- Level 1 heritage speaker (no formal study of Russian before college): Zachary Boroda ('23), Silver medal, Leeza Barstein ('23), Bronze medal
- Level 2 heritage speaker (at least 1 year of formal study of Russian in college): Ruth Rosenblum ('22), Gold medal
Dorothy Blumenfeld Moyer Memorial Award
The Dorothy Blumenfeld Moyer Memorial Award is given yearly by the Brandeis University Humanities Council to recognize creative work in the languages and/or literature.
Evan Robins ('20)
New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian
At the 2020 Annual New England Olympiada of Spoken Russian Speech and poetry reading contest, Brandeis students placed as follows:
- 3rd place - Josh Rothenberg - 1st Year Speech Contest
- 2nd place - Rose O'Keefe-Hoeck '20 - 3rd Year Poetry Contest
- 1st place - Rose O'Keefe-Hoeck '20 - 3rd Year Speech Contest
- 2nd place - Micah Pickus '20 - 4th Year Speech Contest
ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
Every year the American Council of Teachers of Russian recognizes a junior or a senior who studies Russian at the post-secondary level and who demonstrates an outstanding dedication to the study of Russian language and culture in course work, outside activities, promotion of Russian language learning, and support for their programs. Institutions can nominate only one student per year. In 2020, ACTR honored Micah Pickus '20 with the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate award for their commitment to the study of the language and literature.
2019
ACTR National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest
At the 20th Annual ACTR National Post-Secondary Russian Essay Contest (1,434 essays from 67 universities and colleges):
- Bronze Medal (among 1st-year students): Eric Chang '21
- Honorable Mention (among 1st-year students): Sam Wachman '23 and Alyssa Rider '22
- Gold Medal (heritage speakers, 1st year of college language study): Ruth Rosenblum '22
- Silver Medal (heritage speakers, more than 1 year of college language study): Sophie Lis '19
- Honorable Mention (heritage speakers, more than 1 year of college language study): Elise Shuba '20
ACTR Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate Award
Every year the American Council of Teachers of Russian recognizes a junior or a senior who studies Russian at the post-secondary level and who demonstrates an outstanding dedication to the study of Russian language and culture in course work, outside activities, promotion of Russian language learning, and support for their programs. Institutions can nominate only one student per year. In 2019, ACTR honored Polina Potochevska '20 with the Post-Secondary Russian Scholar Laureate award for their commitment to the study of the language and literature.