Student Ambassadors

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS!

Hey Badgers! My name is Hunter Lawry, and I am a senior studying Russian, Political Science,
and Legal Studies with Honors in the Liberal Arts and certificates in REECAS (Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies), Criminal Justice,
and PEPP (Political Economy, Philosophy, and Politics)!

HOW HAVE YOUR RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SKILLS CHANGED SINCE JOINING THE RUSSIAN FLAGSHIP PROGRAM?

My Russian language skills have improved immensely since joining the flagship! I came to
Madison with no prior experience or knowledge of Russian. Since taking SLAVIC 101 in the fall
of my freshman year, I’ve progressed from novice to advanced, and I feel comfortable
conversing in Russian daily on a variety of topics. I can’t wait to keep progressing through the
rest of my senior year and throughout my year-long capstone program in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ASPECTS OF THE RUSSIAN FLAGSHIP PROGRAM?

I absolutely love the individualized tutoring that the flagship program provides! It’s a fantastic
opportunity every week to just chat and practice Russian speaking skills, and it’s super flexible,
so you can change up what activity you’re doing, what you talk about, and what skills you want
to practice! But beyond that, the community that comes with the flagship is unbeatable.
Everyone is so supportive and wants you to succeed, professors and students alike. It’s extremely
comforting to learn and have these experiences with the same people over four years, and the
bonds I’ve built are invaluable.

WHY IS A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY IN RUSSIAN IMPORTANT TO YOU?

To me, learning a language is a commitment that takes a lot of hard work and effort, so I want to
make sure I go all the way! After realizing that a typical Russian major usually only reaches the
intermediate level, I decided to join the flagship to make sure I was maximizing the return on my
hard work! Additionally, reaching professional proficiency means I can use the language in
whatever career I pursue after graduation, making it much harder to lose my language skills,
which is extremely important to me.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERING THE RUSSIAN FLAGSHIP PROGRAM?

Just do it! It’s an amazing program, and it’s one of only four in the country, which makes this
opportunity particularly special! Our staff and professors are world-class and want you to
succeed in every way possible, and if you put in the work, the payoff will be immense! We’d
love to have anyone and everyone!

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS!

Hello! My name is Adelaide Neuser, and I am majoring in French and Russian. Having been long interested in Russian literature, I decided to take the 20th-century survey course in which I quickly became frustrated by the layers of meaning lost to the translation process. This, combined with my love of language learning, inspired me to begin studying Russian. Ultimately, I was drawn to the Flagship both by the study abroad programs and by the unique opportunity it presents to attain a professional level of proficiency during undergraduate study. The Flagship program has allowed me to expand my dream of interacting with texts in Russian to using the language in my professional and everyday life. I feel deeply privileged to connect with such a diverse array of students who all share a common passion for the language and with whom I’m able to grow and challenge my language abilities.