University at Albany Professor Sophia Lubensky's Russian language students swept the top three prizes in the 2002 Young Writers competition sponsored by the Albany-Tula Alliance. First prize went to graduate student Christy Wyatt, second prize to undergraduate Sarah Failla and third prize to another graduate student, Sara Detmer. All three are students in the Russian language program in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Proud professor Lubensky has been a source of support and encouragement to students. Last year, her student Lynne Blackburn, also won first prize. From Left: Professor Sophia Lubensky, Christy Wyatt, Sarah Failla and Sara Detmer. Professor Lubensky has been a long-time supporter of the Albany-Tula Alliance, offering expert advice and hospitality to visiting professors and dignitaries from Tula. The students wrote on the topic "Coming of Age" in Russian, focusing on a text of their own choosing from Russian literature. Simultaneously, in Russia, young scholars wrote on the same topic in English using text from American literature. Russian language students Lynne Blackburn and Sarah Failla pose together at the University at Albany. [20002643]
University at Albany Russian language students Lynne Blackburn, Sarah Failia and Christy Wyatt are pictured after winning the second annual 2001-2002 Young Writers Competition sponsored by the Albany-Tula Alliance. [20002369]
University at Albany Professor Sophia Lubensky of the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department seated besides students Lynne Blackburn, Sarah Failia and Christy Wyatt. The students won the second annual 2001-2002 Young Writers Competition sponsored by the Albany-Tula Alliance. [20002369]