New IES award funds Slavic travel

Earlier this month the Institute for European Studies (IES) and the Department of Russian announced the establishment of the Michael J. Harum Memorial Award for Students of Slavic Languages. The award will support Cornell undergraduate travel and language studies in Russia and other countries where Slavic languages are spoken. The award, along with an endowment, honors Harum, a member of the Cornell Russian teaching faculty who was killed in a car accident in 1994. Harum died while en route to campus, where he would have learned that he had received the Clark Distinguished Teaching Award -- the university's most prestigious teaching honor. He was 41.

The Harum award ranges from $500 to $1,500 and is available to Cornell undergraduates already enrolled or enrolling in Cornell Abroad or other reputable study-abroad programs who have demonstrated progress in learning a Slavic language at Cornell. The funds can be used for travel and accommodations in Russia or another Slavic-language country for language studies during the summer or fall of 2005.

Harum was born in Rapid City, S.D., and earned a B.A. in Russian and German at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and an M.A. in Slavic linguistics at the University of California-Los Angeles. He was cherished for his sense of humor and enthusiasm for teaching.

The award was established with generous contributions from Harum's family, IES and many others who loved and respected Harum. The award competition will be administered through IES and the Department of Russian. Interested students should apply to programs in Russia or another Slavic-language country through Cornell Abroad or other channels before applying for this award. Applications are due Feb. 15 and are available at the Institute for European Studies office in 120 Uris Hall or online at: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/Europe/funding/undergrad.asp.