Four Hamilton students participated in the fourth annual First-Year Russian Language "Olympics," held in the Christian Johnson building on Saturday, April 16. Mary Beth Day '07, Chelsea Graham '08, Katharine Hottenstein '08, and Stephen Orlando '08 joined undergraduates from Hobart-William Smith, SUNY-Binghamton, Syracuse University, Union College and the U.S. Military Academy to compete in various Russian language activities.
The students were tested in four areas: recitation from memory of a poem by Alexander S. Pushkin; a 4-minute extemporaneous speech on their interests and background; a written exam; and a sight reading. Professors from the six institutions served as judges, and, at the end of the day, tabulated scores to award prizes to the top participants. Hottenstein finished third and Day fifth in the 22-student event. The event also provided the opportunity for Russian language students from the participating institutions to interact, and the festivities concluded with a group dinner at the Eells House.
