ISSUED: 7 September 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Cecelia Mason
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Representatives from Shepherd University and the Vovk Foundation, Inc. have signed an agreement that will expand the existing partnership between Shepherd and Western Ukraine National University and provide new educational opportunities for students of Ukrainian descent.
In December 2022, Shepherd and Western Ukraine National University signed an agreement that gives Shepherd students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to collaborate in intercultural communications, joint research, and publishing academic papers.
Pictured (l. to r.) are Yurij Wowczuk, Vovk Foundation director; Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Shepherd president; and Boryz Wowczuk, Vovk Foundation co-founder.
Yurij Wowczuk, Vovk Foundation director, said the Foundation is excited about the prospect of working with Shepherd to support educational endeavors for Ukranian students and universities.
“Shepherd has such a unique set of majors, research, and experiences. It’s all in a very applied context, which I think is really what’s needed particularly in undergraduate education, and we’re happy to support that,” he said. For the student experience, we’re certainly hoping we can support internships, externships, and ultimately help these students find employment.”
Shepherd President Mary J.C. Hendrix said “the University is excited about the agreement with the Vovk Foundation because it will provide additional learning opportunities for students.
“One of the Vovk Foundation’s goals is to promote career development for undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate students of Ukrainian heritage who are pursuing studies in the performing arts, engineering, natural sciences, and medicine,” she said. “Through this partnership, we look forward to helping the Vovk Foundation fulfill this goal.”
This new agreement will open the doors to hosting events for internal and external audiences such as workshops, seminars, classes, internships, externships, collaborative opportunities with industry and nonprofit organizations, and fundraising efforts to finance these initiatives.
Currently, several students from Ukraine are enrolled in courses at Shepherd.
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