19-year-old student from Kyiv, Anna Korzhenko, has become one of this year’s recipients of the Ruslan Chop’yuk Memorial Scholarship.
Anna is a third-year student in the Software Engineering program (SEBA27) at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). She chose this program because of her love for mathematics and her desire to apply theoretical knowledge in practice to create products that benefit society.
“In addition to studying theory, I wanted to use mathematical logic to optimize everyday processes and create products that help people save time and resources,” says Anna.
For her, the scholarship holds special meaning:
“It’s about being an ambassador of compassion. It’s a chance to show that learning and active participation in social initiatives can go hand in hand — and be done well. The scholarship is a reminder of the Heroes who gave their lives, and why we must never forget them.”
The memorial scholarship allows Anna to focus on her studies and dedicate more time to social projects. She has been actively volunteering since 2022, helping children and teenagers — including internally displaced ones — and taking part in educational initiatives such as the Khan Academy localization project implemented by the KSE Foundation.
Currently, Anna continues her work in charity camps, runs mentorship programs for students and schoolchildren, and is also involved in EuroClub KSE.
“Last term, I took part in an exchange program in the U.S., where I organized advocacy campaigns and awareness events about Ukraine. Now, within the university, I’ve joined the EuroClub KSE team — an initiative that promotes awareness of European integration,” Anna shares.
Anna’s journey at KSE began during the full-scale invasion. At that time, she was a high school senior. Despite the war, learning never stopped — classes continued online, and the support of teachers and classmates helped her stay grounded and maintain a sense of normalcy.
This experience became a defining one for Anna: it strengthened her determination to remain in Ukraine and continue learning under any circumstances. Today, she deeply values the opportunity to receive a high-quality education in her home country through KSE.
Anna’s professional goals include pursuing a master’s degree and engaging in research, with the long-term ambition of teaching at a university and inspiring the next generation.
Her life motto is: “Every person has the right to hope. If someone loses it, I want to share mine.”
Her dream is to see the new generation of Ukrainians conscious, active, and compassionate:
“I dream that no one will ever again have to ‘prove’ the importance of identity, language, and proactivity. I want my generation not to be indifferent or apathetic, but to have a true purpose worth fighting for — because we are the ones shaping the next generation to come.”