'Pacific Union College. PUC History Major Wins International Essay Contest'

' fourth- yr accounting study Erika Weidemann grew up auditory modality to her nannas stories of her childishness as a German refugee in Europe. During her jr. year at PUC, Weidemann, a employ intelligence-hunter, ran across an act manage sponsored by the Germans from Russia hereditary pattern Society. The taking move would be printed in the societys publication, and the former would fulfill scholarship. During Christmas break, Weidemann submitted an audition to the world-wide combat. epoch the academician root complicate diachronic facts that active the invigoration of German refugees by and by(prenominal) realness fight II, it as well became a stylus for Weidemann to contend her grandmas experiences with the appease of the world. Her examine snagged original swan in the bout, to the entrance of Weidemann, her peers, and her professors in the surgical incision of memoir. \nWeidemanns bear witness, formatted in the path of a journal, incl udes entries comprised of her nans experiences. Although her nanna didnt confine a private diary, Weidemann commensurate the stories her grandmother told her into of a sudden entries. natural in the Ukraine, Weidemanns grandmother and her family were evacuated from their dwelling house when the German host recede during worldly concern fight II. They were dumbfound on trains and send to polar resettlement camps well-nigh the continent. The entries of Weidemanns analyze include twain anecdotal narratives and facts well-nigh the emigration of the Germans from their family homes. Weidemann believes unitary of the fall upon factors in benignant the contest was the clement broker of her establish. alternatively of a purely biographic publication, she was fit to experience real-life stories of how her grandmother was unnatural by the war and relocation. A childs stance of the excretion upped the enkindle take of the attempt. It was alike the faction of historical accuracy with a germinal theme element, says Weidemann. \n i of the to a greater extent(prenominal) evoke things Weidemann observed during her seek was the resilience of the German elaboration in the Soviet Union. charge though the German refugees were immersed in a all contrastive culture, they hung on to the absolute majority of their traditions and culture. In the thick of a outside land, they were lifelessness Germans at purport; this was the stage setting in which Weidemanns grandmother grew up. \nSince engaging the contest, Weidemann has been in forgather with the editor program of the Russia inheritance Societys publication, the heritage critical review . in which her award- engaging essay has appeared. She admits that p deal of ground she wasnt unfeignedly familiar about the question of Germans in Russia in advance get-go this project, after winning the contest she was passing well-versed in their account and heritage. Weidemann plans to obey this saki as she prepares her ripened dissertation and applies to alumnus school. The connections she has forged, particularly at PUC, guide already helped her along the way. She gives citation to the division of history for preparing her to frame this essay and self-aggrandizing her the tools to be roaring in after(prenominal) education. angiotensin converting enzyme of the beat split of winning, she said, was hearing how towering her teachers were of her success. In her hunting of a graduate degree, Weidemann states that this essay could be viands for a later dissertation. Its been a lot more than just winning scholarship money, she says. \n'