Ukrainian High Schooler stuck in the U.S. Help!

Oleksandr (Alex) Hodovanets is a 17-year-old Ukrainian High School Graduate living in the US. Alex came here a little over a year ago after finishing High School early in Ukraine. Alex spent an additional year in the US High School system, attending St. Croix Lutheran Academy to gain additional knowledge and experience before entering his college years. Alex was supposed to return home to Ukraine this summer to begin studying Biochemistry at the University. The unimaginable horror that has consumed Alex’s home city and country has put an end to that dream. Alex is now stranded here in the United States, with no family, no friends, and very limited options.

 

His family, like so many others have mostly fled Ukraine to stay with friends or family in other parts of Europe. His mother and younger sister are hiding in Lithuania, looking for work and school options. They hope to join Alex in the US and are making efforts to do just that. Alex’s father Igor is still in Ukraine looking after Alex’s elderly grandmother who cannot travel due to advanced age and failing health. Alex also has left behind two family dogs, Beki and Elle. This family of four shares this tragedy with so many others. Despite this they have remained strong and dedicated to making the best of the situation forced upon them.

 

The fact that Alex was already in the US when the war broke out was a blessing. Alex is safe and will remain safe, and is currently splitting time between two of Igor's co-workers who live in the U.S. That’s more than can be said about a lot of his friends and family who were still in Ukraine when the murdering of his people began. Alex is basically alone here in the US and must now re-make his life in this new world he finds himself in.

 

Alex and his family had not counted on Alex remaining in the US after June of 2022. The cost of continued living in the US, as well as the cost of schooling in the US has put the family in an impossible situation. With job uncertainty, and the need to still relocate Alex’s mother, sister, grandmother and father - the financial burden is just beyond reason for this humble family of four who is still very much in the middle of conflict and crisis.

 

Additionally, the timing of the war has made it nearly impossible for Alex to qualify for any sort of student aid or scholarships. Despite the outpouring of acceptance from many universities around the US claiming a willingness to help refugees, the reality of securing financial help is still out of reach for mostly everyone due to time constraints. Only a very specific set of circumstances qualify a potential student for help, and Alex, despite the nightmare of his situation, simply does not qualify for monetary help in the eyes of the US school system. He can stay and he can attend, but he must pay his own way.

Simply put, if Alex wants to continue his education and remain in the United States, we must raise enough funds for him to do so. Alex and his family have no idea when a return to Ukraine will even be an option, let alone returning to a Ukraine they remember and can thrive in. Those days and dreams are long gone at this point, and a new plan for the Hodovanets will take shape in the coming months.

 

Alex has done above and beyond what was asked of him. His excellent grades and participation in school have earned him a spot in several schools in the US, despite having only had a few weeks to prepare transcripts, fill out applications, and navigate a very complicated College system here in America. Alex had not intended to enter the US college system, and so had no previous knowledge of or experience with it or its processes. Despite all that, Alex, with considerable help from a dedicated counselor at St. Croix, has been accepted to several schools here in the US and now we need fund it for him.

 

Alex has been accepted to UIC (the University of Illinois at Chicago) as well two other community colleges in the same geographical area as his hosts(Harper College and McHenry College). The goal is to simply raise enough money to cover his full tuition, room and board. Alex already has a part time job lined up on a local farm (www.goldengills.com) in Illinois to help him pay for his school supplies and any other needs outside of tuition, rent and food. We are looking to raise enough money to cover Alex for the 2022 – 2023 school year and the summer after.

 

Alex is an extremely bright, responsible and humble young adult with a promising future. Whether he ultimately stays in the US or eventually returns home to help his country rebuild, he will be an undeniable asset and valuable member of his community. Please help us give Alex a future he deserves and can be proud of. It’s not the one he made for himself, nor is it the future he or his family wanted, but it is the best thing for Alex and his family right now.

 

(On a personal note, I’ve never met a kid more thankful and appreciative of the little bit of help a couple of us have tried to provide the last month or so. He is truly a lovely young man and incredibly deserving of our time and resources.)

 

Please, help us help Alex.

 

Bert and Whitney

Friends and co-workers of Alex’s Dad.