Khorosho!

Students tops in state

Russian language contest
By:Sally Goldenberg
   Manville High School sophomore Nelly Levitsky will take a three-week trip to Russia this summer as a reward for winning a statewide contest in spoken Russian.
   The Ukrainian native had among the highest scores of those competing in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian, held in Drew University on April 9.
   Her score in the three categories administered won her the title of "gold medalist," joining nine of her classmates. Six Manville students won the title of "silver medalists" in the contest.
   Nelly, 16, competed a level above her Russian class level because her native tongue is Slavic.
   "I was pretty anxious. There’s a lot of people and a lot of judges and they’re all staring at you," she said.
   But despite butterflies in her stomach over staying with an unfamiliar family for several weeks, Nelly said she is excited about her trip.
   "My brother won it two years ago. When he went, he said it was a lot of fun," she said.
   Nelly, who plans to pursue Russian as a minor in college, is responsible for $1,000 – a quarter of the trip, said MHS Russian teacher Art Lisciandro, who chaperones the trip each year.
   Mr. Lisciandro said students prepare on their own for the annual contest, in which MHS students generally fair well.
   "Every year whoever wins it definitely is anxious each year to try to return and win another medal," he said.
   The trip provides the 18 students across the country with a chance to study and explore the culture of Russia.
   The other MHS winners were:
   Gold medalists: Melissa Grimm, Amanda Kita, Kevin Teryek, Rafal Brozyna, Ema Yakobchuk, Mariya Pateherych, Mike Zala, Greg Fabiyan and Tatyana Koscheeva.

   Silver medalists: Jonathan Horvat, Tom Chachaj, Morgan Jenkins, Anna Kloskowska, Sylwia Malkinska and Katherine Mrozowski.