An ASSIST Premier Event We are delighted to announce the first double legacy: a son born to two ASSIST alumni who met during their ASSIST year, ultimately married, and are living back home in Hungary. We send our congratulations to Attila Nafradi and Rita Sipos on the birth of their son, Csaba. A note from the happy parents follows below. We look forward to interviewing Csaba in the winter of 2022 for the ASSIST Class of 2022/23!
Dear Bob,
Thank you for your letter. It would be exciting to have our son published in the ASSIST Newsletter.
Csaba Nafradi is fine, he was born on March 27. He was 4050 grams and 57 cm. Now he is close to 9 kg and is around 76 cm. Ha can crawl and sit without support and talks constantly in his own language that only his grandfathers can understand. And, naturally, he has become the master of the house…
Both Rita and I are fine, I work at Budapest Airport, while Rita is mostly at home taking care of little Csabi, but also works on her Ph.D. if she has time. We both feel blessed to have such a wonderful baby with us, and naturally try to give him all the best we can offer.
Unfortunately, I don't have a picture with all three of us (even though we have taken about 1000 photos of Csaba), but I am sending you three pictures showing either one of us with our son.
I am glad to hear that ASSIST is doing fine. I really look forward to meeting you at the reunion in January. I will surely be there, maybe my family can also come.
We wish you and all ASSIST students all the best,
Class of 1986 Elena Otero-Novas Miranda, Spain, St. Andrew's School
In 1991 I completed with honours (here referred to as "Premio Extraordinario") my law degree. Since 1993 … I became what we call "Abogado del Estado," which means that I am civil servant whose role is lawyer to the Spanish Government. At present I work part-time as Abogado del Estado at a National Court in Madrid, defending the Spanish Government in economical and financial cases. I also work part-time as a private lawyer, basically focused in private and business law cases. I married in 1996 and have two kids; a girl aged 7, and a boy, aged 4…
Class of 1991Dorothea Meier, Germany, St. Paul's School After fifteen wonderful months in New York I have returned to Germany to be closer to my family. Since February I have been working as Executive Assistant for the CEO of RTL Group, a pan-European television and radio broadcaster in Cologne. I have found a wonderful apartment in the middle of the city and I hope you will let me know when you are in town. You are welcome to try out the guest room and the very special "Kölsch" beer...all of this in a city that is over 2000 years old!
Class of 1992 Jeremy Beinkowski, Australia, Northfield Mount Hermon School
I graduated from Melbourne Grammar School in 1993. I attended the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia), completing both a Bachelor of Engineering degree (Mechanical and Space Engineering) and a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Mandarin Chinese). I was awarded a university medal for outstanding academic achievement and was also awarded prizes for the best undergraduate thesis in both the Mechanical Engineering department and the Engineering faculty as a whole … I am now employed as an Air Traffic Controller in Australia (located in the Brisbane Area Control Centre). I have been an Air Traffic Controller since 2001. I was married over two years ago and still live in Brisbane.
Tomas Polner, Hungary, Western Reserve Academy
I have finished Technical University of Budapest MSc in Computer Engineering, and I have finished my MBA almost 3 years ago in a joint program of Central European University (CEU - also founded by Mr. Soros) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) - which used to be WRA in the old times, before the college moved to Cleveland from Hundson :-) After my graduation I started to work at Sun Microsystems. I was in various positions, and I left Sun in October 2003, started up my own company and rejoined in October 2004 as the Entreprenourship is not very good on your private life, and I also got a good offer for a good position. Now I am the Partner Manager of Sun... I am looking forward to go to the next ASSIST reunion!
Class of 1994 Rytis Jokubauskas, Lithuania, Wyoming SeminaryI am living in Vilnuis. Right now I work as an advocate, I am also Secretary General of the Lithuanian Bar Association.
Class of 2002
Sabina Ilizarova, Azerbaijan, Westover School I am doing pretty well, I am a junior at Azerbaijan State Oil Academy which is in cooperation with Georgian State University, and my major is Business Administration. I am working at Baker & McKenzie as receptionist/secretary for over 8 month now. As a volunteer, I have been teaching English Conversation at BEIC for about two and a half years, took part in several preorientations and conferences, which were held by BEIC office. Now, passed the Leadership Program, which will be held in Argentina, and where I'll study Leadership, Global Business and International Relations classes. That is all for now, I'll write you later on about my changes in life and would be glad to hear about yours.Sabina.E.Ilizarova@bakernet.com
Class of 2003
Nina Bacmaj, Croatia, Webb School I finished high school with high marks (my junior year I had to make up for and I passed it with an A and my senior year I attended regularly and graduated with an A), passed the British Council Exam called CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), and passed the application exam for the Faculty of Business and Economics University of Zagreb. My freshmen year is doing great and I really love my classes and believe I made the right decision about which college to attend. (Hopefully, some day I will become a manager! :) That is it for now!
Elena Chercheja, Moldova, Annie Wright School
During her ASSIST year at Annie Wright School, Elena Chercheja had a wonderful visit with a notable school alumna: the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, Elena's native country. Elena is shown below with the ambassador, right, and Head of School Dr. Jayasri Ghosh, left
Class of 2004Katerina Kirova, Bulgaria, Buckley School After my year in the US, I decided I really wanted to continue my studies at an American college and during my senior year (back in Bulgaria) I applied to several American and International colleges and universities. I had a few offers of admission… and I have decided to enroll at Mount Holyoke College.
Adnan Papovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christchurch School
I have great news! I got accepted into Med School of University of Sarajevo! I had a test on Friday (7/15/05), and this morning all tests were corrected and results were published. 335 students applied to the med school and only 43 of us passed the exam. It was a three-part exam: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. We had 100 questions and problems to solve for each section. I prepared for 2 and a half months (8 hours per day) for this exam, and now I'm really proud of myself!
Elena Pavolová, Slovakia, Francis Parker School
During this school year I had to accustom to my normal life and school duties, which were sometimes overwhelming. Finally I finished the last year of my high school! I got accepted to the university that I always wanted to attend - the Charles University in Prague. I am going to study medicine there and I am looking forward to it a lot.
Class of 2005
Markus Hueren, Germany, Kents Hill SchoolI was awarded with the Coaches Award for the Spring Term for the Equestrian Team. I was also awarded with the International Student Award, which was a big surprise for me because my parents and teachers kept it secret. Ms. Contreras told me that this award has always been given to a senior and nearly to a junior. Saying bye to everyone on the hill was hard, but I hope to keep in touch with them. The headmaster, Mr. Bonnefond, offered me a job as teacher after I'm done with university since I'm not allowed to return as a student.
