OPEN WORLD ALUMNI RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY

OPEN WORLD ALUMNI RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) congratulates five of its Open World program alumni for prestigious awards granted by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, via Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 593/2022 on August 23, 2022. These awards recognize their outstanding merits in serving Ukraine through strengthening Ukrainian statehood; courage and self-sacrifice shown in the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; significant personal contribution to the development of various spheres of social life; defense of the national interests of our state; or conscientious performance of professional duty.

Andrii Burachyk of a February 2020 program in Washington, D.C., and Iryna Vereskchuk of a May 2013 program in Charlotte, NC, were awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd class.
Taras Chmut of a December 2014 program in Salt Lake City, UT, was awarded the “Defender of the Motherland” Medal.
Oleksandr Danyliuk of a September 2018 program in Jacksonville, FL, and Vasyl Strilka of a September 2016 program in Jacksonville, FL, were awarded the honorary title “Honored Doctor of Ukraine.”
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Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War, COIL has made a point to continue to engage Ukrainians both inside and outside of Ukraine. COIL looks forward to continuing these mutually beneficial exchanges between the United States and Ukraine to promote greater security, democracy, and prosperity together.

COIL strategically connects new generations of international leaders to the most powerful legislative body in the world – the U.S. Congress. Through its Open World program, COIL has brought 30,000 global leaders to the U.S. since its inception in 1999. The program pioneered person-to-person international engagement and provides an immersive experience with delegates' direct professional counterparts, covering a broad spectrum of policy themes rooted within communities across the United States.

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