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SJRCC Press Release
October 6, 2008
Exchange student revisits sister city
 Over the years, the faculty and staff at St. Johns River Community College have become accustomed to occasional visits from alumni. Returning graduates can be found strolling the campus, visiting faculty and sharing success stories. However, most visits don't entail a 4,000 mile trip, that is, until exchange student Oksana Samara returned to visit her second 'Palatka' home.
The 1995 SJRCC valedictorian from Palatka, Russia, recently returned to Palatka, Florida, for an afternoon of catching up with faculty and friends while on vacation from Moscow. Her international story began nearly 20 years ago when members of the Friendship Society of Palatka USA-Russia, led by Putnam County resident Wally Stembler, began ties with its sister city in Russia. Friendships and visits by residents of both cities - including Oksana's father Stanislav - resulted in two students studying at SJRCC. Oksana was one of those students.
The economics major was granted a scholarship and earned her associate in arts degree from SJRCC while living with several host families, one of those being former SJRCC vice presidents Shann and Michael Purinton. "Oksana is a true success story," Shann said. "Coming to the states was a big door that opened for her and probably the scariest, too. She was the type of person that when a door did open for her, she not only took advantage of the opportunity, she excelled. There are very few people as focused as she was."
With the support of many local friends, families and organizations, Oksana earned her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and her master's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
She is currently the planning and performance management director for TNK-BP, a leading Russian oil company.
SJRCC Executive Vice President Melissa Miller said Oksana is a cherished member of the SJRCC family and the College is proud of her accomplishments in the international world of business. "Through the connections of friendship and education, the world can be a smaller place in a beneficial way," Miller said.
Oksana, 34, said attending SJRCC was one of the best experiences of her life. "The experience gave me tremendous exposure to what life is about outside my country and gave me the experience and confidence to succeed," Oksana said. "It was a building stone in my life and career." She added that during her visit she noticed some changes around campus, but it has remained mostly the same. "It's nice to come back and have that nostalgia," she said.
As an economics professional, Oksana sympathizes with the United States' economic woes - unlike the current economy of Russia. "The (Russian) cities are definitely booming and the country is doing much better than it did 10 years ago," she said.
PHOTO CAPTION: SJRCC administrators and friends spend an afternoon of catching up when 1995 SJRCC valedictorian returned from Russia for a visit. From left Melissa Miller, SJRCC Executive Vice President; Oksana Samara; O'Neal Williams, Dean of Admissions and Records; and Shann Purinton.
Return to SJRCC home page.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
SJRCC Director of Public Relations and Publications
5001 St. Johns Avenue
Palatka, FL 32177
(386) 312-4020
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