On April 21, 2015, John Cabot University held the Student Awards Ceremony, which presents outstanding students with prizes for their commitment to their studies and to the university. Anna Butuzova, a graduating senior in International Affairs from Russia, received a Presidential Award for Outstanding Service to John Cabot University and an Academic Excellence Award.
Hi Anna, congratulations on the awards you received! How do you feel?
I feel very grateful and happy! I received an Academic Excellence Award for my studies of International Affairs and an Award for Outstanding service to the university because of the work I have been doing with the International Relations Society, the club I am President of.
The Student Award Ceremony is a wonderful tradition that boosts the true multicultural spirit of our university, honoring the multiple aspects of students' lives at John Cabot.
What brought you to John Cabot?
I chose JCU because I really wanted to study in English and I looking for a university located in Europe, so John Cabot matched my requirements perfectly.
What clubs and organizations have you been involved with during your JCU career?
My involvement with clubs began last year with the John Cabot MUN Society (Model United Nations), with whom I took part in a conference in Rome. I also serve as the Treasurer of the Student Government. Moreover, last year, together with other International Affairs students, I started the International Relations Society. We thought that in such a multicultural atmosphere as John Cabot University's, we needed a platform where students, faculty and members of the community could come together to openly discuss current political and social issues debated around the world.
The IR society allows us to foster interesting and engaging discussions in a tolerant manner. We also invite prominent speakers to learn about issues first-hand. For example, we have recently hosted a Greek Ambassador, who spoke about the new Greek government and focused on debt restructuring, spurring a very insightful conversation.
Both the IR society and the Student Government have contributed to a great extent to my own personal growth, and I encourage everyone to apply for the board positions for next year.
Since you are graduating this coming May, what are your plans for the future?
I got an internship through the JCU Center for Career Services, in a small international company that manages Italian wine distribution around the world. Working for them, I will deal with sales, connecting international customers with Italian wine producers. People from different nationalities and backgrounds have different mentalities, and my job will be to facilitate cross-cultural communication among them.
Learn more about studying International Affairs at JCU.
