Interviewing for a scholarship is nerve wracking enough. Imagine having to do the interview, in Russian, over the telephone, with someone you’ve never met. That was the challenge facing Dustin Koenig, a senior from Toledo, Ohio, majoring in political science and Russian, a few months ago during the final leg of competition for a Fulbright Scholarship.The Fulbright, established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries, is awarded to students for academic merit and leadership potential.

The interview went well. After Dustin graduates in June, he will be heading to Petrozavodsk, Russia to spend a year teaching English at Petrozavodsk State University as a Fulbright Scholar. “I learned a little about Russian language when I was in the second grade,” said Dustin. “But I didn’t think about it again until I came to Ohio State.”

Shortly after he came to Columbus as an honors student, Dustin signed up for a Russian literature course to fulfill a general curriculum requirement. “Something clicked – maybe my second grade memories came back -- and I knew I wanted to learn more about Russian culture and language,” he says.

Last summer, Dustin attended an intensive Russian language and culture program in Tomsk, Russia. The two-month program consisted of eight hour days filled with language and literature coursework and conversation practice. During his stay, Dustin lived with a host family, to practice his language skills and to learn about Russian culture.“I wanted to practice Russian but my host family wanted to practice their English,” said Dustin. “So we came to a compromise – we spoke Russian in the home and English in the elevator.”

Dustin is finishing his finals this week and getting organized to leave for Russia in September. Before he leaves, he wants to catch up on some of his favorite pastimes – reading Kafka and keeping up with Buddy Valastro, better known as ‘The Cake Boss.’

When Dustin returns from Russia, he will be starting law school at NYU.