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�ؿ�ζSM’s Excellence in Experiential Learning (ExcEL) Scholar Awards help students fund a variety of projects and educational experiences.

For Natalia Skyba, her award made it possible to support a humanitarian effort in war-scarred Ukraine.

Skyba, a neurobiology major, used her $1,800 ExcEL scholarship to purchase clothing and shoes for 12 children from two families who have seen the horrors of war up close. The children were identified by Voices of Children, a Ukraine-based organization that provides psychological support services for families dealing with trauma.

“It felt really good to do something,” Skyba said. “This issue hits close to home because I’m Ukrainian. When I heard these children’s stories, it just broke my heart.”

The children from both families had been deeply affected by the war, surviving deportation, the destruction of their home and possessions, and the loss of parents, Skyba learned from the organization.

After selecting and purchasing the clothing and shoes the children needed, Skyba used her own funds to box and ship the items to Voices of Children, which distributed them to the families.

Skyba’s project also included a detailed report on key events in the war, the bombings of cities, the recorded death toll, the impact on children, and why this issue matters beyond the borders of Ukraine. She presented this report during the Scholarship and Ideas (SI) Expo in April.

“This was my first humanitarian project and I think I will definitely do something similar in the future,” Skyba said. “I hope to use my bilingual skills to work with other Ukrainians. Some may be living here and dealing with PTSD and traumatic events in their lives.”