The Robert A. Rothstein Prize is given annually to one or more undergraduate students who have excelled in the Russian, Eurasian, and Polish Studies (REPS) Program. Eligible students should demonstrate a sustained commitment to coursework, language acquisition, or cultural activities in the Program.
Hannah Longo '26
Hannah Longo is a sophomore at UMass Amherst pursuing a double major in Political Science and REPS and a journalism certificate. She has a passion for politics and history, specifically pertaining to the post-Soviet bloc. After taking several semesters of Russian and a Central Asian Politics class this semester, she was inspired to study abroad in Almaty, Kazakhstan on an American Councils language program as a junior. She looks forward to immersing herself in life in Almaty and the Russian language and is excited to continue her studies at UMass upon returning, including by interning with a non-profit organization working to advance human rights in Eurasia.
David Ratin, '24
David Ratin is a graduating senior with dual degrees in Accounting and Russian, Eurasian and Polish Studies with minors in Economics, History, and Modern European Studies. He grew up in Newton, Massachusetts as a Russian heritage speaker. Wanting to improve his Russian to better connect with his older family members and other Russian speakers, he decided to enroll in Russian language courses. This led him to discover a passion for language learning and to also enroll in further studies in Polish language. He has served as President of the Accounting Association and as Co-President of Jewish Leaders in Business and Entrepreneurship. David has a deep interest in Soviet and Russian History, Energy Security, and Business/Economics. He aspires to work in the energy sector as an Accountant or Financial Controller, potentially in Poland or Central Asia. After David graduates, he will be interning with Ernst & Young.
Congratulations to both of our winners!