In Memoryof Afanasy Leschoff (1895–1982)
This scholarship is funded by a generous gift from the family of Dr. Timothy Logan. It was created in memory of Afanasy Leschoff to recognize students studying Russian or Ukrainian who exhibit academic achievement, strong leadership and service to their fellow students or their community. Afanasy Leschoff was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, served in White Army under General Denikin in the Russian civil war, married Emelia Krebs in Poland, then moved to Germany and eventually to the United States, where he was ordained a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church. His life was defined by his steadfast leadership and service to others. (Please see his biography below.)
The scholarship annually awards $1000.00 to one student pursuing a degree in Russian or Slavic in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. The awardee will be distinguished by their commitment to studying Russian and/or Ukrainian language and culture, intellectual and cultural leadership, and service to the university or wider community. This may include but is not limited to exceptional academic performance, service to the Slavic Student Association or participation in Slavic Program events, or summer intensive language study.
The awardee must commit to returning to FSU to study in the Slavic program in the academic year following the scholarship.
The faculty of the Slavic program nominates the awardee.
If you wish to be considered for the scholarship, please submit:
- A statement of purpose in which you describe a) your interest in studying Russian and/or Ukrainian language and culture, b) your active involvement and service in the Slavic Program (no less than 400 words)
- Your transcript
Send these materials to the Slavic Program coordinator, Dr. Robert Romanchuk (rromanchuk@fsu.edu).
The scholarship is disbursed by refund.
Afanasy Leschoff was a Russian immigrant, born in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1895. He was a Captain in the Russian Army and the Imperial Russian Air Service, flying reconnaissance missions. At some point during the war, he was shot down over Romania and was injured by canon fire, bearing scars to one leg for the rest of his life. He was an ardent nationalist and fought with the White Russian Army under General Denikin in the Russian civil war. Towards the end of that war, with the White army defeated and dissolving, he fled to Poland where he worked as an engineer. He married Emelia Krebs in 1924 and they lived in Bydgoszcz, Poland, working as an engineer. In June, 1939, they had a daughter, Kira.
On September 1, Germany invaded Poland. On September 3, there was a battle in Bydgoszcz between German and Polish forces, ending with the Polish forces withdrawing from the city. In the subsequent crackdown by the Germans, Afanasy was arrested because he was not a Polish citizen. According to family legend, he was released after Amelia bribed his guards with gold coins. Afanasy, Emelia and Kira lived in Bygdoszcz for the duration of the war. In January, 1945, they fled Poland ahead of the advancing Soviet Army, worried that if he was caught by the Russians, he would be executed for his position in the Russian civil war. They eventually ended up in Ingolstadt, Germany, where Emelia’s sister lived. During the post-war period, Afanasy was ordained a deacon in the Russian Orthodox Church, serving a small community of Russians and Ukrainians in Ingolstadt.
In 1950, they emigrated to the United States, sailing from France, first to Venezuela and then to New Orleans. Their travel was sponsored by a farmer in Missouri, and they started life in America living in a refurbished chicken coop with a single interior light and an outhouse. The farmer couldn’t pronounce Afanasy and called him “Otto”, not appreciating that “Otto” was Russian, not German. Apparently, Afanasy was not much help on the farm because he was released from his contract after only one year. They moved to Chicago, settling in a large Slavic community on the north side of the city. Afanasy’s commitment to the Russian Orthodox Church grew and he was elevated to the priesthood. He was relocated to Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 1953 to minister to a Russian community in that city, where he spent the rest of his life. Afanasy died in December, 1982 while giving a funeral service for one of his parishioners.
Afanasy’s life was marked by leadership and service, as a soldier in World War I and the Russian Civil War, as a deacon to a community of displaced fellow Russians and Ukrainians in Ingolstadt, and as a priest to a similar community in southwest Michigan. This award was created to recognize students studying Russian or Ukrainian who exhibit academic achievement, strong leadership and service to their fellow students or their community.