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
FLEX finalist; New York Junior Academy of Science member; 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures finalist; winner of multiple Regional and City-level Olympiads in Math, Chemistry, Physics and English; educational volunteer; artist.
Winner of the All-Ukrainian and city-level olympiads in mathematics and programming, captain of the school mathematics team, organizer of the competitive programming club, volunteer in Let's Shake Hands, acrobatic dancer.
UkrainianTeenScience participant ’22, motion designer and animator, rower, volunteer, interested in medical engineering and science.
Studies 6 languages, chess player with 95% percentile on the multimillion chess website, volunteer in "Let's shake hands" programm, designed to provide young Ukrainians with education during the war.
EU scholarship student, head of the Youth Council’s committee of education, coordinator of 20+ non-formal projects, winner of the international LCC Public Speaking Contest, participant of the international youth exchange “European Summer School Camp”.
All-Ukrainian and Kharkiv award-winner in Astronomy, Physics, Maths, and Philosophy Olympiads, programmer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. Media manager and volunteer at Vincentian Marian Youth in Kharkiv.
Violinist and youth activist, winner of the regional solfeggio olympiad, finalist of the national Reporter contest, volunteer.
Researcher in Biology, 1st place at National stage of Junior Academy of Sciences contest, International show INOVA, winner of National Biology Olympiads, International A-Level student '23, interned at ETH Zurich lab, JAS Club founder, ballroom dancer.
Artist and graphic designer, 3rd place on the national stage of Junior Academy of Sciences Research in foreign literature, organizer of school events, interested in web design and dance.
Developer of Refee (app for refugee kids) and Clothify (virtual fitting room), semifinalist of Technovation Girls Global ’22, finalist of ZStartUp Club '20, coordinator of EngStd.Time, representative at debate tournaments of German-Ukrainian program “Jugend debattiert”, volunteer.
Global winner of the Rise for the world '22, Take Action Lab '23 by Global Citizen Year participant, "CACTUS" NGO Alumni, Illustrator, Manga-artist, Volunteer, Figure skater.
Winner of city olympiads in Computer Science, programmer, computer science teacher in IT STEP academy, Junior academy of Science researcher in IT, pianist and self-taught guitarist.
Klitschko Foundation alumna '21. Active member at NGO "Youth Council of Odesa Region", NGO "FRI", consultative youth council of the program "Dream and Act" and manager of partnerships in the project "Details about the Global".
Winner of the Junior Academy of Science of Ukraine research competition in contemporary literature, writer, dancer, social activist, co-host of the English-speaking club at Window on America in Uzhhorod.
International Baccalaureate Diploma student '23 with full scholarship from the EU, YYGS'22 alumna, part of EYP Ukraine finance department, 2nd place on Horting National Championship, UGS marketing team volunteer, co-organizer of a workshop for children with disabilities, social activist.
Environmental activist, Junior Academy of Sciences researcher in Math and English, volunteer, violinist, winner of city and district Olympiads in English, Ukrainian and Programming, participant in urbanism course by STEM is FEM.
Winner of national level olympiads and competitions in biology, winner of regional and national Junior Academy of Sciences Research Competitions, Model UN player, a knitting and embroidery artist, watercolor artist.
School president for two years, interested in politics and economics, participated in Olympiads and research competitions, debater, artist, volunteer.
Multi-time winner of Regional Physics olympiads, tournaments of Physicians and Inventors (Junior and main league). Head of the Impulse team, which took 3rd place at the all-Ukrainian stage of the Open Nature Demonstration. JAS researcher, volunteer.
Technovation Girls Ukraine alumna, member of UkrTeenScience Team, student of Oratory Courses in Junior Academy of Sciences, School of Universal Journalism alumna, member of the Poetry club “Resonance”, writer, and poet with several awards.
Junior Academy of Sciences researcher in Pedagogy, winner of regional linguistic Olympiads, author of the project for gadget-addicted teenagers, volunteer.
Champion of the world in jiu jitsu & multi-time winner of all-Ukrainian tournaments in grappling and jiu jitsu, winner of numerous district and regional Olympiads in Law, Chemistry, Ukrainian, and Ethics, volunteer at environmental NGO ESMU, artist.
Finalist in the international online exchange program from AFS and the UPen, interviewer in the “Occupation by teenagers eyes” project, co-creator of 2 projects-winners on a participatory budget, received second place in international IT hackathon Girls.Hack.STEM.
Volunteer at the "Domivka vriatovanykh tvaryn" dog shelter, volunteer at the Lviv Open Lab youth center, volunteer and organizer of charity events at the "Invest in Future of Ukraine" charitable organization, pianist, visual artist.
FLEX alumni, co-founder of ecological project "Lysychansk Sorts", Junior researcher in Informational technologies and game development, , winner of multiple Mathematics, English and Informational Technologies olympiads, musician, volunteer.
Winner of All-Ukrainian Internet Geography Olympiad, 15+ city and regional olympiads and debate tournaments in various subjects; member of the non-profit educational youth center 'Vitryla', city Geography club founder, English tutor, artist, poet.
Multi-time winner of regional Junior Academy of Sciences competitions in English, volonteer at "Zupa na Monciaku", lyceum parliament leader, dancer, graphic designer.
YYGS ‘22 and Chicago Sister Cities leadership summit ’21 alumna, winner of numerous international science contests in renewable energy, owner of 3 patents, FTC Robotics leader, environmental activist at Sustainable Israeli Palestinian Projects.
FLEX Alumnus, all-European and 7 times National Champion of Ukraine in Kyokushin Karate, 2nd place in the regional Junior Academy of Sciences Research Competition in Computer Science, QuestBridge National College Match finalist, ecoactivist.
JAS researcher in Chemistry and Law Science, participated in region olimpiads in Biology, volunteered as a physics teacher for younger students, was selected for participating in Hermiona Physics summer school, soccer player, sports enjoyer.
Winner of several competitions and Olympiads in Ukrainian language and literature, team leader of the "Recyclyk" project, debater, winner of two championships and runner-up at the regional championship. Actively studying climate change, analyzing UN COP conferences, and documenting the Russian war crimes against the environment.
Artist, poet, screenwriter, musician, organizer of 10+ art and literature events, winner of art and creative writing competitions, active participant in art exhibitions, volunteer and activist.
FLEX and WYLET alumna, dancer, volunteer in ENGin and Respond Crisis Translation, “Save Ukraine” club founder, organizer of “Run for Ukraine 5K” in Denver, participant of Advanced Leadership Conference in New York City for top 10% of exchange students.
Voice actor, winner of the JAS contest for foreign literature and the Kyiv hackathon for projects to clean up the city. Member of the organizations "Scouts of Kyiv," "FRI," and "Generation+." Winner of the olympiads in English and Ukrainian languages and chemistry. Interested in psychology, human rights, swimming, tennis, and design.
Researcher in Math and Economics, member of MIT 'Yulia's Dream' Math Program, winner of Regional and City olympiads in Math and Languages, volunteer at SimplyNeuroscience, peer tutor at a nonprofit Let'sShakeHands, pianist, dancer, class president.
Winner of many All-Ukranian and International Mathematical and Linguistic Olympiads, such as European Girl Mathematical Olympiad 2022 (bronze), and International Olympiad of Linguistics 2021 team round (Gold). Volunteer in social projects.
Author of the research in electrochemistry, winner of national science competition "Eco-Techno", founder of math school club, musician, volunteer, calisthenics sportsmen.
Winner of the national JAS competitions in Ecology and Physics, gold medalist of the GENIUS Olympiad and INOVA, environmental activist with 20+ interviews in media, volunteer at United for Ukraine, Erasmus+ youth exchanges member, ballroom dancer & scuba diver.
Winner of All-Ukrainian Biology Olympiad and multi-time winner of regional Geography and Polish Olympiads, volunteer , youth community co-founder, public speaker and town activist, a member of orchestra, winner of Ecological Forum “Touch of Nature”.
Archaeologist, restorer, flute & guitar player and a volunteer; co-host in "Window to America" Uzhhorod speaking club, participant of the "Way out of EnergyTrap" international project.
Writer, environmental and animal rights activist, actress, winner of the All-Ukrainian essay contest 'She is Science', winner of the All-Ukrainian Economics Internet Olympiad, co-founder of a feminist self-publishing magazine for teenagers, volunteer.
Winner of numerous International and National research competitions in Mathematics and Astronomy, National olympiads in Mathematics and Programming; 6th place on Destination Imagination Global Finals 2021, pianist, artist, tutor.
Mayor scholarship winner, volunteer, ENGin tutor, Kharkiv Youth City Council deputy, member of NGO "Foundation of Regional Initiatives", Agents of Changes participant, author of an essay about events happening in Mariupol, creative writer.
Environmental activist, head of student parliament at her German school, learning Chinese, Korean and Turkish.
Winner of the International T. Shevchenko Contest & 15+ academic olympiads on various levels. Junior Academy of Science researcher in English Literature and History. Co-founder of Druzi, head of fundraising at non-profit Pyat’ Hlibiv. Experienced musician and dancer.
Aspiring biofuels researcher. Selected to participate in National Olympiads in Biology and Ecology in 2022. Published two theses at international scientific conferences. Volunteer in UkrTeenScience. Chess Enthusiast.
Social activist, former head of the Kupyansk Youth Council, international delegate at European Youth Parliament, public speaker at city events, host of career guidance courses, English tutor, pianist, photographer.
Literary Studies researcher, winner of olympiads in Law and German Language, bookblogger, public speaker in Law and Ukrainian Language, reading club founder, activist and volunteer.
History researcher, conducted a research for Junior Academy of Science, won second place at national level of research contest, Tangle of Skills and ENGin volunteer, debater, represented school at both oblast and city level debates.
Winner of multiple olympiads in 7 subjects. Co-organizer of a regional chess tournament, programmer, founder of the school chess club, poetry writer, and member of the school student parliament.
Invisible University for Ukraine board member, co-author of web-journal "Visible Ukraine", author of funded research on Political Memory in Odesa, Research Assistant in "Forced Migration in Russian-Ukrainian War" project (Harvard University), flute player, volunteer.
Winner of regional Olympiads in Ukrainian and History, laureate of the international children's art forum "Golden Easel", international contest "Kyiv coloryt", guitarist, artist, participant of the "Peace Relay" and linguistic exchange in Tandem app.
Programmer, accomplished artist and web designer, education and sports volunteer, musician, orienteer.
Multi-time winner of national and international research competitions and Olympiads. Professional chess player and taekwondo athlete.
Founder of eco-initiative Ecozmina, 1st place in the National Junior Academy of Sciences Research Competitions in Economics, 2nd place in the National Philosophy Olympiad, Agents of Change alumna, Klitschko Foundation and Aspen Teens alumna, artist, and volunteer.
FLEX alumna ‘22, FLEX City Representative of Lviv 2022-2023, 3rd place the National German debates “Jugend debattiert in Mittel-, Ost-, und Südeuropa“, Junior Academy of Sciences researcher in German, volunteer, video creator, photographer, folk dancer.
Participant of International Linguistics Olympiad, multi-time winner of Asia Pacific Linguistics Olympiad and All-Ukrainian linguistics olympiads, OSINT investigator, wild bird rescuer.
Junior Academy of Sciences researcher in Literature, 2nd place in Petro Yatsyk International Contest in Ukrainian language, winner of Geography and History Olympiads at City Level, flute and piano player, volunteer, tennis player.
Member of Ukrainian team at International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2022, researcher in Photometry of small celestial bodies, co-founder of youth educational astronomy club "AstroClub", vocalist.
Researcher in Physics and Pedagogy, winner of local and regional olympiads, tutoring and community development volunteer, organizer of refugee children entertainment activities, volleyball player, content writer, translator, toys’ creator, singer.
2nd place in the city-level Junior Academy of Sciences Research Competition in Biology; scout; piano, sopilka and okaryna player; volunteer; interested in robotics and programming; practices aikido.
Youth activist, feminist, and artist. Founder of the youth center in Dolyna with the support of USAID, winner of Girl2Leader Ukraine'21, organizer of the "Gender Balance" project, ex-president of the lyceum, and deputy chairwoman of the youth council.
Winner of Olympiads in Biology, English, and Ukrainian, Kyiv City Council scholarship winner, Red Cross volunteer.
Member of Young Talent Program '22 at AI Sweden, winner of regional, national and international individual and team math, programming, and physics competitions, JAS math researcher, English tutor, amateur singer and photographer.
Software developer, author of multiple articles in Computer Science, winner of All-Ukrainian developer contest "Vesela Nauka", developer of npm package "create-node-tree", developer of Python library "GeoInfo".
Rocket builder and programmer, robot creator, flutist, pianist, guitarist, 3D designer in Blender, TED-Ed speaker, founder of a speaking club "Liberty", event organizer, volunteer.
Winner of regional Math, Physics, and Astronomy Olympiads and Tournaments, Math tutor in "Let's Shake Hands," co-founder of local educational center 'Vitryla,' eco-activist.
Multi-time winner of regional and district Olympiads in Chemistry, Physics, Ukrainian, English, and French languages; winner of English & French translation competitions; multi-time winner of All-Ukrainian Competition of Fine Arts; dancer.