Despite the ongoing military invasion by Russia that has turned their country and their lives upside down, 100 students from Ukraine are thinking about the future.
“…the students and guests were profuse with their thanks and comments in the chat box, and I was overwhelmed by their kindness and energy…”
-Spaeth
They have received some help from University of Wisconsin-Stout Assistant Professor Mary Spaeth, who presented virtually March 30 about entrepreneurship to a class at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
Her talk helped kick off a seven-week course, Innovative Spring of Ukraine. The course was conceived by Professor Ihor Katernyak, a friend of Spaeth’s, in the face of the invasion to help the country be prepared to restart and rebuild its economy.
That the course, designed to inspire students and researchers in engineering, life and computer sciences, and economics, is being held at all says much about the people of Ukraine. That it has drawn 100 students from across the country and even some internationally “who want to change our country for the better,” according to a university news release, is a testament to the indefatigable Ukrainian spirit that has been on display during the war.
The end of Spaeth’s presentation was interrupted by air raid sirens.
“About six minutes before the end of my talk and preceding the Q&A, Ihor interrupted to tell me there were air raid sirens in some of the communities where the attendees were sitting, so he asked if he could make an announcement,” said Spaeth, who teaches international business and entrepreneurship. UW-Stout has a business administration major.
“In Ukrainian, he let them know that he was recording the session and that they could listen to it later. It was not the kind of announcement that one normally expects in a lecture. We did not take time for questions, but the students and guests were profuse with their thanks and comments in the chat box, and I was overwhelmed by their kindness and energy,” she said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY.
