The Shevchenko Scientific Society in the United States, Razom for Ukraine and the Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine have recently awarded stipends to 31 Ukrainian students and artists who currently reside in the United States and experience financial hardships due to the pandemic. The Stipend for Ukrainian Students and Artists in Need (SUSAN) provided merit-based scholarships and need-based grants.
SUSAN awardees came from diverse backgrounds, representing different parts of the United States, various levels of education, and different forms of arts. Over the past few months, several stipend recipients volunteered in food banks and hospitals, produced personal protective equipment, and collaborated with government agencies to alleviate negative consequences of the pandemic.
The SUSAN Selection Committee was touched by stories of the applicants’ perseverance under adverse conditions, and the committee’s work embodies the long tradition of mutual aid and support of education, scholarship, and arts in the United States. “Many talented people from Ukraine who came to the US as best in their field, found themselves deeply vulnerable and disoriented. It was great to know that the Ukrainian American community was ready and willing to lend a helping hand despite their own challenges with COVID-19,” said Bohdana Smyrnova, member of the SUSAN Selection Committee.
On behalf of participating organizations and award recipients, the SUSAN Selection Committee thanks donors for their generosity, which enabled an increase in the total stipend fund to some $30,000.
About Razom for Ukraine
Razom is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to building a prosperous Ukraine by increasing civic engagement and by amplifying the voices of Ukrainian citizens around the world. Razom was established in 2014 to support the people of Ukraine in their continued quest for democracy, justice and human rights. Learn more at RazomForUkraine.org.
About the Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine
Since its founding in 1991, CCAU has supported democracy, civic society, and education in Ukraine.