Honors College Culture Spotlight: Eastern Europe
By Malina Gavris
gavrisma@vcu.edu
VCU is an incredibly diverse university with people of all backgrounds. The school’s environment is shaped for the better by all of the unique cultures, and the Honors College is no exception. One special region with distinct cultures is that of Eastern Europe, and it was truly exciting to talk to Honors students about their connection to this region.
Bailey Luczak is a sophomore majoring in Biology and Psychology, who joined the Honors College because she wanted a challenging curriculum. Luckzak notes that she’s gained so much from the program already, and especially loves the program’s teachings on mental health and time management. Her paternal grandfather immigrated from Poland right before World War 2 with his parents. Working hard to establish a new life for themselves, her grandfather and grandmother opened a pizza restaurant all on their own. Luczak’s grandfather passed away when her dad was seven years old, so she hasn’t had a chance to be fully immersed in the culture. However, she explains “I don’t know much about Polish customs because of this, and part of me wishes I had made more of an effort to learn when I was younger. But everytime I eat my grandma’s stroganoff, I’m reminded of the love they had for each other."
“I don’t know much about Polish customs because of this, and part of me wishes I had made more of an effort to learn when I was younger. But everytime I eat my grandma’s stroganoff, I’m reminded of the love they had for each other."
Speaking of food, one of Alex Cigularov’s favorites is banitsa, which is a traditional pastry made with filo sheets, egg, and cheese. Cigularov is a sophomore majoring in Biology, who’s parents are from Varna, Bulgaria. He notes that most of his family lives in Bulgaria and that he speaks Bulgarian at home, which is a great way for him to connect with his grandparents and other family members. His favorite memories of Bulgaria include going to the Black Sea and being “at the beach there with family”. Cigularov joined the Honors college to “have a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals”, and he’s had a great time exploring his interests thus far.
Another student with Eastern European roots is Nicoleta Gavris. Gavris is a senior majoring in Finance, who was awarded the School of Business Distinguished Service Award last year. Her favorite part about being in the Honors College is the community-based culture and she loves how the Capital Region Collaborative has broadened her horizons. Gavris is the daughter of Romanian immigrants and she also speaks the language at home. She is very in touch with her roots and states “I love my Romanian culture!”. When it comes to what she likes the most about being Romanian, Gavris explains “My favorite things are definitely Romanian holidays and food, because there’s a lot of variety and opportunity to eat well and have fun!”
The Honors College is an amazing close-knit community that celebrates hard-working students with like-minded interests. While their academic vigor is similar, the cultures of the students in Honors are all so unique and incredible. Having a chance to talk to people about their background was such a special experience that offered glimpses into the traditions and customs that bring life to a region. It’s truly fantastic to see students cherish their heritage, and this is part of what makes VCU such a magical place to be.