250 students admitted and awarded $62,000,000+ in full scholarships
UGS is a results-focused organization. Since 2015, we have facilitated the placement of 250 Ukrainian students from modest backgrounds into top boarding schools and colleges on full scholarships (i.e., covering tuition as well as room & board). Over the same 5-year period, we grew our applicant pool from 100+ to 750+, covering every region of Ukraine, including Crimea. 40% of applications come from students in small Ukrainian towns and villages. We scaled the number of scholars we support yearly from 10+ to 50+, determined to drive the critical mass of well-educated Ukrainians. Our Academic, Boarding school, and College advising teams played a critical role growing our community of Mentors and building strategic partnerships with top boarding schools and colleges. In addition to school placements, we have partnered with 40 Ukraine-based employers to facilitate 8-week summer internships for our scholars. To take the UGS impact beyond our organization, we also support and encourage our alumni in building their own entrepreneurial ventures, impacting new communities worldwide.
Example partner schools and colleges
Matriculations to boarding schools and colleges
Boarding Schools
Colleges
Summer internship placements
Are you a Ukraine-based employer and woud like to offer an internship to our students? Please email jlemesh@ugs.foundation.
Ventures started by UGS community
PrivacySpy
PrivacySpy is an open project, featured by New York Times in 2020, that uses a consistent rubric to grade privacy policies on a ten-point scale. PrivacySpy is co-founded by Igor Barakaiev, UGS '16, Andover '20, Stanford '24.
Movadex
Award-winning software development and design agency that offers digital services to startups around the globe since 2018. Movadex merges art and business, offering a groundbreaking software outsource model at the highest quality standards. Movadex is co-founded by Salome Mikadze, UGS '15, Emma Willard '18, Georgetown '22.
YNGO PLUS
Youth NGO “PLUS” is a non-profit organization that provides free educational opportunities to Ukrainian youth. YNGO PLUS hosts webinars and online courses on different topics — from “writing perfect CV” to “robotics in Ukraine.” The team recently won a grant from InScience and UNICEF to create a board game that develops critical thinking and crisis-management skills. Co-founded by Nathan Syvash UGS ’20, Dartmouth ’25 and Liliia Alieksanova UGS ’20, Babson ’25.
DecidEd
DecidEd is a Ukraine-based non-profit with a mission of giving high school students equal access to information about higher education regardless of which school they go to or which city they live in. Students can check real reviews on the quality of education and employment opportunities in universities and on specific majors written by current students. DecidEd is co-founded by Nataliia Nevichana, UGS '16, Franklin & Marshall '21.
ENGin
ENGin is a peer to peer English language program that connects fluent English speakers to Ukrainian students for free weekly online speaking practice sessions. ENGin was founded by Katerina Manoff, the former head of college counseling at UGS, with the support of many members of the UGS community.
Mavka
Mavka is an educational non-profit that helps Ukrainian high school students, especially from underprivileged backgrounds, prepare for college-entrance exams. The platform provides personalized planner, collections of peer-reviewed study materials and practice tests. The big mission is to fight educational inequality and to promote the culture of self-directed learning in Ukraine. Co-founded by Artem Laptiev, UGS '17, Fryeburg '20, MIT '25, Tonia Zakorchemna, UGS '16, Fryeburg'19, Dartmouth '24, and Daniil Ozernyi, UGS '17, Northfield Mount Hermon '20, Northwestern '25.
Reports
Interactive list of scholars
Volunteer, artist, filmmaker, project manager of Children Creative Council of foundation "Voices of Children", founder of film festival "Cinemoteen", Co-founder of "Dolya" media project, international STEAM project "She's great" alumna, Head of education service of NGO "FRI" in Kryvyi Rih
Winner of city-level Olympiads, national debate tournaments, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk school debate union, journalist.
Founder of the “EcoVogue” project in Dobroslav, winner of the literature podcasts' contest KruteZNO, EUStudyDays alumna, participant of Klitschko Foundation projects, member of volunteering organization "Burning Volunteers" in Odesa, debater, writer, artist, videomaker.
IB diploma student, Secretary-General and award-winner of MUNs across the globe, TedXYouth licensed organiser, EYP member, competitive debater, fundraiser and social activist.
HISTOLAB winner (international competition in History teaching); International competition in knowledge of Ukraine winner; speaker at Conference of Observatory of History Teaching in Europe; JAS researcher; debater at Tournaments of Young Historians
Rise finalist, YWM Academy co-founder, winner of 25+ national and international dance competitions, TED-Ed speaker, Kharkiv Youth Council member, Solidarity for Ukraine project founder
Winner of city Ukrainian Language, Ukrainian literature and Physics competitions, team city Math competitions and several All-Ukrainian Guitar contests; member of the school student parliament.
Inventor and researcher in the field of Physics and Astronomy, winner of several STEM competitions, taekwondo athlete, and volunteer.
Representative of Democracy Hub Ukraine in Denmark, member of NGO 'Ukrainian Students for Freedom", Co-Founder of "NowConnected", part of European Youth Parliament Ukraine, Klitchko foundations' projects alumnus, President of Liceum, photographer
Public speaker, musician, writer; OXYGEN Researchers founder. Won 1st place in TECHNOART hackathon '21, 2nd in All-Ukrainian essay contest "Youth on the Constitution of Ukraine" '21, 5th in the International competition in Mathematics Olimpis '22.
JASU researcher in psychology, MDPI article co-author, Destination Imagination and New York Academy of Sciences Team Lead, Let's Do It Ukraine regional coordinator, received recognition from the ministers of ecology and youth and sport of Ukraine
Human Resource Manager at SafeRoom, Project Manager at 2Pink, co-founder of Inkvi, ENGin volunteer, TED-ed finalist, educational tutor, UpShift finalist
Co-founder of Color Noises startup, Stanford Pre-Collegiate alumni, Ukrainian Volunteer Service intern and case manager, alumni of the international youth exchange Camp Rising Sun, New York Academy of Sciences participant, Mandarin tutor, programmer
Winner of All-Ukrainian dancing championships and city championships in basketball, medalist of regional Olympiad in German, charitable festivals organizer, activist, educational volunteer, actress
Social activist, winner of multiple city-level Olympiads in Physics and Math, project manager and fundraiser of the Volodymyr Youth Council, public speaker at city events, volunteer, self-taught guitarist, amateur long-distance runner.
Multiple winner of regional chemistry olympiads, achieved 40 medals in karate and the rank of Candidate in Masters of Sports in Ukraine in karate, multiple winner of international art contests, volunteer. Interested in tattooing and psychology.
TED-Ed speaker, facilitator of a public speaking course in Nobel Explorers company, a journalist at “Osvitoria” and “Teenergizer” platforms, former manager of the internships department in AIESEC youth organization, English tutor, TED translator.
Winner of multiple regional Olympiads in Math, Physics, and English; competitive Rubik’s cubes solver, programmer, cyclist; Math and English tutor, volunteer.
Visual artist, organizer of several cultural events in Mykolaiv, Student Government member, organized 40+ events for 200+ students, European Youth Parliament member, volunteer, activist, dancer.
Winner of International levels in singing and music players competitions. Dancer. Junior Academy of Science researcher in Math, Health Science. Volunteer in social projects. Member of youth movement “Leader”. Winner of city, regional level Olympiads in English and Ukrainian languages.
Winner of 20+ academic competitions in linguistics, literature, creative writing, and STEM; FLEX '23 alumna and FLEX City Representative 2023-2024; UWC Germany Short Course "Building a Sustainable Future" alumna; JAS researcher; volunteer.
Wrote and defended 4 JAS research papers; won more than 30 Olympiads in Ukrainian, English, History, and Foreign Literature; holder of two personal scholarships from the Kyiv city administration; Global Citizen Year Academy alumna; educational activist.
Winner in multiple city and oblast Olympiads in Science and Humanities, ballroom dancer, artist, fashion illustrator, creative writer, aspiring journalist, and seamstress-beginner.
Activist, public speaker, English language researcher, presented Ukrainian students at Unated Nations conference, filmed in Unated Nations films, "Yoth parliament of Irpin" co-founder, city level olympiads winner, lyceum president, volunteer.
All-Ukrainian and Kharkiv award-winner in applied art, member of the New York Junior Academy of Science, educational volunteer in 'Tangle of Skills', co-organiser of regional cleaning up events, self-taught guitarist, ukulele and drum player.
Yogini, author of research work in Psychology, winner of regional olympiads in English, organizer of the speaking club, English tutor, meditation guide. Current interests are singing, 200-hours yoga teacher training, neuropsychology, business, IT.
Winner of 5+ regional Olympiads in Geography, Math, Economics, and Ukrainian Language, carried out Nationally recognized research in Economics at Junior Academy of Science of Ukraine, ENGin volunteer
Member of Kyiv math team, winner of 30+ Olympiads and JAS competitions in 8 subjects; developed two educational chatbots, course curator in Math for Homies school, Olympiad Math course creator in Witty Platform, volunteer tutor, chess player.
Project Manager of European Youth Parliament of Ukraine, Founder of NGO NowConnected, Erasmus+ Ambassador (Italy, Poland), Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies student; volunteer, public speaker, and social activist.
TED-Ed speaker, New York Junior Academy of Science member, MDPI article co-author, JASU researcher in History, captain of the district Young Historians Tournament team, educational volunteer, equestrian
The student of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, FLEX finalist, eco volunteer, Let's Do It Ukraine tik tok creator, Instagram blogger, and Zviahel Youth Council member.
Social project manager and volunteer in the NGO "Foundation of Regional Initiatives" and Volyn Youth Center. Winner of city and regional olympiads and competitions in English, Polish, and creative writing. Coordinator of "Beat Sexism Ukraine".
Social Activist, Winner of All-Ukrainian and International STEM Scientific Fairs and Olympiads, Ornithologist, Co-founder "Calm On" Startup Idea
Creator of environmental projects on the Participatory Budget, speaker at the "School of My Dreams" conference, member of a school parliament, organizer of school events, volunteer, eco-activist, video editor
Winner of International and Ukrainian Essay competitions, National Dance and Art competitions winner, studied 6 languages, EDican volunteer, official member of EYP, finalist of Aspen Teens: Fight for UA dream project.
Winner of the All-Ukrainian olympiads in history; winner of city-level olympiads in geography, law, and biology; ENGin Ambassador; laureate of the Presidential Scholarship; deputy of Youth City Council; volunteer in ENGin, Building Ukraine Together and Tilton School Community Service program; Agents of Change alumna; theatre actress; tennis player; activist
Actress, winner of numerous regional dance and singing contests, Junior Academy of Science researcher in German, All-Ukrainian Petro Yatsyk Competition participant.
Graduated from LIT top 5 stem schools in Ukraine. Was capitan of the Cyberpatriot team and National Cyber League team, managed to win state level and was a finalist at the regional level. Junior research in robotics and behavioral patterns. Worked as a math and English tutor for junior cadets and was selected as a Head of Academics. Main goal is to create an international hedge fund to find investments and advise startups.
Volunteer, member of "STEM is FEM", coordinator on "Plekayou", alumnus "Gra w dowgu" and "EU-Study Days", vinner of city and region-levels Chemistry and Biology Olympiads, 2nd place on the national stage of Junior Academy of Sciences contest.
Selected to participate in International Junior Science Olympiad 2023. Second place at National Chemistry Olympiad. Receive $5000 grant for project from MIT and KSE. "Tangle of skills" tutor. Pianist.
International Baccalaureate student '24, researcher in MIT PRIMES; member of Global Talent Mentoring; finalist of IYMC ‘22, winner of olympiads in Maths, Physics, Geography and History; founder of charity project "Let's Save Foundation", volunteer.
Environmental activist, Art and Fashion researcher, artist, winner of multiple olympiads in Law and English, interested in the influence of the fashion industry on the environment
1st place in the national Junior Academy of Sciences competition in IT, winner of Math and English Olympiads, web-developer, ballroom dancer, volunteer.
Winner of the regional Olympiad in Economics and Junior Academy of Sciences defence of scientific research papers in English and Economics, national finalist of the International Economic Olympiad from Check Institute of Economic Education, ballroom dancer, volunteer.
Gold medalist at the European Junior Olympiad in Informatics, three-time participant at the International Olympiad in Linguistics, winner of numerous national and international competitions in different subjects, programming teacher, ENGin volunteer
Startup enthusiast, founder and CEO of Atlas Talks, co-founder of Youth With Money Academy, TED-ed speaker, European Young Parliament member, Ukrainian Students for Freedom activist, finalist of numerous debate tournaments.
HMC scholar, Ukrainian Volunteer Service ambassador, MUN participant and club leader, multi-time winner of academic olympiads in History, English, and Geography, creator of “Histowitz” project, writer, human rights activist, organizer of numerous social events and projects.
Finalist of international science fairs Genius Olympiad, winner in "Jugend debattiert" national debate competitions, Young European Ambassador, ENGin volunteer, part of "We Are U" movie, school president, climate activist, writer, dancer,
Multiple winner of All-Ukrainian and regional History and Law competitions, 3d place in the XXI International Contest in Web Design and Computer Graphics, Mayor’s Scholarship recipient, AIESEC, UVS & Let’s Do It Ukraine volunteer, debater
Winner of national Journalism and science contests, Oblast-level Chemistry Olympiad, Biology and Journalism tournaments, Costume-making and Poetry-writing competitions, lyceum monitor, volunteer at a non-formal educational center
Painter, writer, poet, guitarist and pianist. A winner of the second place in National Olympiad in Geography. Winner in an international art contest "Power of goodness". Volunteer in several organisations, including ENGin and "Sect of urbanists".
Winner of district-level Olympiads, head of the Dzvyniach Youth Council, co-organizer of numerous youth projects, “Komora” youth space volunteer, photographer, cyclist.
Winner of numerous Olympiads in Math, Chemistry, and English. Junior Academy of Science researcher in American and Ukrainian literature. Winner of multiple International capoeira competitions, top world-ranked female participant, assistant coach.
Participant of International Olympiad in Linguistics; multi-time winner of Asian Pacific Linguistics Olympiad, All-Ukrainian Linguistics Olympiads, Regional and City-level Olympiads in Chemistry, Math, IT and Programming; pianist; folk and classical dancer; volunteer; artist.
Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine volunteer, winner of the national stage of the International contest "Informatrix," finalist of JASU'23 defense competition in Local History nomination, photographer, journalist and writer, church choir singer.
JASU winner in Biology and English, volunteer, activist, Interexchange Academy'23, Challenge Academy'21, co-founder of the UDW_STEM, Nobel Internship intern, public speaker, winner of the Olympiads in Ecology, English, IT, and Psychology.