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Recent graduate Michael LeFante ’06 (Sparta, N.J.) spent six weeks in St. Petersburg, Russia en route to earning a B.S. mechanical engineering and A.B. with majors in international studies and Russian & East European studies.
In St. Petersburg, LeFante took courses in Russian grammar, conversation, art history, and contemporary life. He also visited the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, Summer Garden, Winter Palace, and Hermitage. During a three-day trip to Moscow, he visited Lenin’s tomb, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, and Red Square.
“The abroad experience was the best six weeks of my college career,” says LeFante. “St. Petersburg is filled with places to visit and things to see. The experience gave me an opportunity to use my Russian in practical situations, such as asking for or giving directions on the street, ordering meals, or taking a taxi. Being immersed in a foreign culture for so long is definitely an experience that changes one’s perspective on many things.”
The Russian and East European studies program was a key factor in LeFante’s decision to attend Lafayette. He had studied the language since high school and wanted to complete undergraduate work in engineering while pursuing Russian studies. After returning from St. Petersburg, LeFante decided to add Russian and East European studies as a second major in his A.B. degree program.
“Although the Russian [and East European studies] department at Lafayette is rather small, it was very well run by some of the best faculty I’ve encountered,” says LeFante. “Of all the schools of Lafayette’s caliber in the region, Lafayette was the only one with a beautiful campus, engineering program, and Russian studies.”
LeFante, who turned down acceptance to New York University’s graduate program in Russian studies, will begin work designing mortar systems for the U.S. military at Picatinny Arsenal this August. He plans to take graduate courses in mechanical engineering through his employer.
He believes Lafayette has prepared him well for future challenges. As a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, LeFante was president of the inter-fraternity council and vice president, house manager, and athletic director of his fraternity. He also served as an orientation leader for the Class of 2009.
“Overall, I would have to say Lafayette was a great place to learn and live,” he says. “Academically, I’m not sure I could have asked for more than what I got from Lafayette. As far as the social scene is concerned, being involved in my fraternity opened up leadership opportunities within the house and inter-fraternity council. The administrators with whom I worked were great for the institution and as people in general.”
LeFante’s rigorous degree combination is a unique occurrence at Lafayette. In the past few years, only Michael Lestingi ’04of Centerville, Ohio graduated with a B.S. mechanical engineering and A.B. with majors in international studies and Russian & East European Studies. He now is an international transportation specialist for the federal railroad administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.