ADA, Okla. – East Central University students recently participated in the annual Yevgeny Yevtushenko Russian Poetry Recital Contest initiated and organized by the Central Association of Russian Teachers of America (CARTA).
Briana Grigg and Olivia Hunley, both ECU English majors, took part in the event.
“Both students had been working hard in preparation for the contest and presented their poems well,” stated ECU Director of Global Education, Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya. “I am very proud of our students.”
The Contest was named after Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a world-famous poet, whose poetry has been translated into more than 70 languages. Yevtushenko was also an outstanding performer of his and other authors’ poems. He recited his poetry four times for the ECU and Ada community.
“Olivia, a first-year student of Russian, competed against students from a number of Universities, Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) and the University of Central Florida, to name a few,” stated Sukholutskaya. “Some of the participants were advanced Russian learners.”
At the contest, Hunley recited a poem entitled, “The Glove,” by Mikhail Lermontov. She placed first, winning gold for her performance. She was also awarded the prize for the Most Interesting Poetry Selection.
Cutline: from left to right, Dean-emerita for the University of San Bernardino Dr. Tatiana Karmanova, Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya and Olivia Hunley