EEC Scholarship

As a member of the Ethnic Enrichment Commission we promote the EEC events and programs. 
Every year the EEC offers the John Thomas & Carol C. Duncan Scholarship to a graduating high school senior who has been highly involved in the ethnic community and Ethnic Enrichment Commission events. Applicants are judged on the following criteria:  ethnic involvement (including the ethnic festival and community involvement), scholarship (including grades and difficulty of courses taken), letter of recommendation from the country’s Commissioner, and the applicant essay.  Strength in one area alone is not usually enough to win a scholarship.  How you have been involved in your ethnic community and/or in Outreach or Ethnic Commission activities is of utmost importance, and you must communicate that in your application.

The Russian Commission scholarship applicant for the EEC Scholarship is open for members of the Russian House that are involved in our outreach events, and can be represented by any ethnicity. 

We are very proud that this year the John Thomas & Carol C. Duncan Scholarship applicant is our member Anton Owens, a senior of the Olathe Northwest High School.  We wish him the best!

Letter of Recommendation

I had the pleasure of knowing Anton Owens since he was 12 year old. We met at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival. He approached our group regarding participation at our booth to represent Russian Culture. We didn’t wait long, and he became our volunteer right away. From the first moment, Anton impressed me with his interest in promoting our culture and his ability to communicate with people especially children visiting the Festival. He was very passionate about Russia. Since then, every year, he was one of the people that proudly carried the Russian flag at the Festival Parade of Flags. He definitely was one of our best volunteers that year and later. Because of his qualities as being a responsible team member and his passion for promoting Russian Culture, I always count on him when his help as a volunteer is needed. 

I became a friend with his Russian-American family. I know Anton as a very compassionate and straightforward person. Through the years, I learned that he is very open do different ideas and cultures, and always tries to learn more. The most important thing I see in Anton is his pride for his Russian-American heritage. He is a great promoter of the Russian culture and language among his friends and our community. 

He is an insightful, sensitive, and deeply self-aware individual driven to explore and share his knowledge of the Russian culture with others. Anton always demonstrated openness to and empathy and respect for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of people representing different cultures. Without hesitation I would say that in the upcoming festival he will be my right hand. 

I strongly believe that all qualities that Anton possesses, and his participation at the events where Russia was presented, including his 5-year involvement with the Ethnic Enrichment Festival, would make him vastly qualify to be an EEC Scholarship recipient. He is definitely deserves it.  

I am certain that Anton is going to continue to do great and creative things in his future. He is talented, caring, intuitive, dedicated, and focused in his pursuits in promoting diversity in our community. Anton is truly a stand-out individual with great appreciation of his Russian heritage and culture. 

Sincerely,
Mrs. Lana Yeager
Commissioner of Russia

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