KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures recognized 24 students for academic excellence, language proficiency and outstanding service at its annual honors reception April 13 in the Kansas Union.

Marc L. Greenberg, professor and chair of Slavic languages and literatures, welcomed attendees and presided at the event.

Katherine Marcella Beall, a senior from Baldwin City, received special recognition for receiving a prestigious internship at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague, Netherlands. She will work from Aug. 16 to Dec. 23 in the Office of the Prosecutor. Beall studied Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian language.

Students received certificates and book awards for excellence in elementary and intermediate Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian; elementary and intermediate Polish; elementary, intermediate and advanced Russian; elementary Turkish; and elementary and intermediate Ukrainian.

KU is the only university in the region to offer doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Slavic languages and literatures. The department itself and in conjunction with the Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies offers Slavic-related events throughout the year. The area studies program, one of only 12 such federally funded national resource centers, provides Slavic courses offered by more than 50 faculty members in 16 departments.

Students who received awards are listed below by hometown, major, parents’ names, previous schools attended and award.

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend 67530 and Independence
Trey Michael Giesen, sophomore in Slavic languages and literatures; son of Dee Duryee of Great Bend and Michael Giesen of Independence; Great Bend High School; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

COFFEY COUNTY
From Burlington 66839
Christopher William Hall, senior in English and philosophy; son of Kenneth and Helene Hall; Burlington High School; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Baldwin City 66006
Katherine Marcella Beall, senior in environmental studies with a co-major in global and international studies; daughter of Raymond and Cynthia Beall; Dobro Slovo and an United Nations internship in the Hague, Netherlands.

From Lawrence 66046
Dezeree Marie Hodish, master’s student in history; bachelor’s degree from University of Pittsburgh, spring 2008; Excellence in Russian – Advanced.

GEARY COUNTY
From Junction City 66441
Derek Van Jr., master’s student in global and international studies; bachelor’s degree from Southwestern College in Winfield, spring 2008; Excellence in Turkish – Elementary.

JACKSON COUNTY
From Mayetta 66509
Rhianna Patricia Patrinely, senior in Slavic languages and literatures; daughter of Chris and Patricia Patrinely; Holton High School; Excellence in Russian – Intermediate and Harley S. Nelson Scholarship. The scholarship is made available through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to noteworthy seniors in humanities or social science departments. The Harley S. Nelson Scholarship is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa 66215
Harrison Whitefield Smith, sophomore in Slavic languages and literatures; son of Geoffrey Smith; Whitefield Academy, Kansas City, Mo.; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

From Overland Park 66212
Bradley John Rector, sophomore preparing to study elementary education; son of John and Paula Rector; Shawnee Mission South High School; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Basehor 66007
David Michael Kozar, junior in health information management; son of Zvonko and Milka Kozar; Basehor-Linwood High School; Excellence in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian – Intermediate.

From Leavenworth 66048
Andrew David Bledsoe, freshman in classical languages; son of David and Carolyn Bledsoe; Leavenworth Senior High School; Excellence in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian – Elementary.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
From Independence 67301 and Great Bend
Trey Michael Giesen. See BARTON COUNTY

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67203 and 67212
David Steven Samms, junior in Slavic languages and literatures; son of Richard Samms (67203) and Mary Samms (67212); Bishop Carroll High School; Excellence in Russian – Advanced.

From Wichita 67206
Kristy Lynn Anderson, sophomore in Slavic languages and literatures; daughter of Julie Anderson; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

From Wichita 67208
Anastasia Kara Metzger, junior in Slavic languages and literatures; daughter of Daniel Metzger and Nancy Trier-Metzger; Wichita High School East; Excellence in Russian – Intermediate.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Bonner Springs 66012
Vanessa Nicole Dalberg, junior in history; daughter of John and Teresa Malinowski; Basehor-Linwood High School; Excellence in Polish – Elementary.

CONNECTICUT
From Glastonbury 06033
Raissa Diane Levsky, freshman preparing to study medicine; daughter of Mark and Diana Levsky; Glastonbury High School; Excellence in Ukrainian – Elementary.

KENTUCKY
From Union 41091
Alyssa Dawn Lokits, junior in Germanic languages and literatures; daughter of Kirk and Christine Lokits; Ryle High School; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

MISSOURI
From Gladstone 64118 and North Kansas City 64116
Chelsea Lynn Steel, freshman in biochemistry; daughter of Tamara Steel of Gladstone and David Steel of North Kansas City; Winnetonka High School, Kansas City, Mo.; Excellence in Polish – Elementary.

From Kansas City 64155
Mark Allen Lanfranca, master’s student in linguistics; son of Deborah and Marion Lanfranca; bachelor’s degree, summer 2006, and master’s degree, spring 2008, both from KU in Slavic languages and literatures; Oak Park High School; Excellence in Turkish – Elementary.

From Lee’s Summit 64082
Jennifer Renee Kornfeld, sophomore in Slavic languages and literatures; daughter of Steve and Diana Kornfeld; Lee’s Summit West High School; Excellence in Russian – Elementary.

OKLAHOMA
From Ada 74820
Vanessa K. Aldrich, master’s student in Russian and East European studies; Excellence in Ukrainian – Intermediate.

VERMONT
From Colchester 05446
Eva Hruska, doctoral student in Slavic languages and literatures; master’s degree in Slavic languages and literatures from KU, spring 2008; bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont, spring 2003; outstanding service by a graduate student to the department.

WISCONSIN
From Oconomowoc 53066
John A. Biersack, doctoral student in geography; master’s degree in Russian and East European studies from KU, spring 2009; bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, fall 2006; Excellence in Ukrainian – Elementary.

CZECH REPUBLIC
From Dobromerice
Eliska Valehrachova, junior in history and Slavic languages and literatures; daughter of Oldrich Valechrach; Excellence in Russian – Advanced.

FRANCE
From Crissey
Gilles Viennot, doctoral student in French; Excellence in Polish – Intermediate.