Thanks to a generous gift in 2003 from Stefan "Steve" and Kateryna Dwojak, the “Stefan and Kateryna Dwojak ISU-Ukraine Exchange Program” in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was established. Both Steve and Kateryna Dwojak, both originally from Ukraine, moved to the United States in 1949. It was in the early 1990s that the Dwojaks first learned about Iowa State's work in Ukraine and through their observed impacts of these activities, they began supporting the program with donations and fund-raising efforts. Throughout their lifetimes, the Dwojaks continued to be long-time supporters of Ukraine and developed this gift to support and facilitate a robust exchange program between Ukraine and Iowa State University.

One student from Ukraine was selected in 2022 to be the inaugural recipient of the Stefan and Kateryna Dwojak Scholarship and the student started their internship at Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2023.

Questions

All questions about this program should be directed to Shelley Taylor, at 515-294-5393.

Past Exchange Program Recipient:

Mariia Shcherbakova

Major: Livestock and Water Bioresources (Animal Science)

Degree being pursued: Undergraduate

Anticipated graduation date: June 2025

Home City (and/or region) and Country: Chernihiv, Ukraine

Iowa State University Program Dates: January - May 2023

Mariia Shcherbakova is a second-year undergraduate student studying livestock and bioresources at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences in Kyiv, Ukraine with an expected graduation date of June 2025.

Mariia participated in a 5-month student internship at Iowa State University in the Department of Animal Science under the guidance of Dr. Gail Carpenter, assistant professor of extension and outreach, and Dr. Nikki Ferwerda, Associate Teaching Professor and Equine Farm Manager. During her internship, Mariia assisted with the day-to-day operations of the Iowa State University Horse Barn including broodmare management, foaling oversight, and neonatal care. Mariia learned about the different nutrition and feeding regimens used within the facility and study the overall history and genetics of the horses at the facility. She was also introduced to dairy farm management and farm evaluation, and gain hands-on experience in calf management and health. At the completition of her program, Mariia planned to implement the skills and techniques learned while at Iowa State University on her family’s farm in Ukraine.