Portland State Magazine Fall 2008

AROUND THE PARK BLOCKS 4 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2008 New program pushes proficiency in Russian LOO K OVER T HE shoulder of archi– tecture major Max Kalachik as he opens his computer and you will see a desktop picture that inspire him: an out-of-this– world barn in his native Ukraine. The fantastic structure floats at least eight– feet off the ground on just one support. The realization that great architecture happens everywhere-even in rural Ukraine-opened Kalachik's eyes to the face that he could practice his profes– sion anywhere, if he could speak the language. Thar is why che 20-year-old signed up chis fall for a new Russian Language Flagship program at Portland State. Kalachik, who moved to Portland nine years ago with his family, speaks Russian, along with Ukrainian and English, bur he admits he could use improvement. Kalachik will receive a $1,000 schol– arship, the chance to gain advanced proficiency in Russian, and the possibil– ity of spending a year of study in St. Petersburg, Russia, through the flagship program, which graduates students with a certificate attached to any major. The new program is the second Rus– sian Language Flagship in the nation and is Funded by a $1 million grant from the National Security Education Program, a federal initiative aimed at producing more U.S. citizens with international skills. The program's only prerequisite is the ability to speak, read, and write Russian well enough to participate in discussion sections. Kalachik's brother, Vadim, is also out to show he has what it takes. Vadim, a freshman in biochemistry, was also accepted into the program. ◄ This other-worldly barn in Ukraine inspired architecture student Max Kalachik to enroll in the new Russian Language Flagship program and improve his Russian-enabling him to practice his profession closer to his native Ukraine.