Arlington community comes together to help graduate who left Russia during war

ARLINGTON, Va. ( DC News Now ) — A social media post in a neighborhood group in Arlington has brought a community together to help a recent grad who went through a tumultuous seven years to earn her diploma.

Sofia Mamchur taught English in Russia and took classes to pursue an education career when the war in Ukraine broke out. Mamchur, who learned English when she was 15 and was passionate about American culture, left the country and came to the U.S.

Her initial program did not have a virtual option, so she had to switch programs, turning a four-year plan into a seven-year plan.

When she finally completed the requirements in June 2024, she was excited.

“It was very hard because of the time difference,” Mamchur told DC News Now, describing her experience as a student. “I needed to be there at 3 in the morning.”

Mamchur’s boyfriend, Nick Harrison, whom she met in D.C., said when she graduated and did not have a graduation ceremony, he was disappointed and motivated to do something.

“She’s had to work a lot harder than I had,” he said. “I just did the normal thing. In America, you go to school for four years. Everything was according to plan. She had a lot more interruptions than I did. So I thought she deserves at least some form of ceremony.”

Harrison posted on a Facebook group “Arlington Neighbors Helping Each Other” asking if any professors or other higher educators would present Mamchur with a diploma and pose for a few photos.

The responses flooded in. Among them was University of Mary Washington professor Mary Beth Mathews, who said she was sent the post by a friend.

“As soon as I saw it I said, ‘I have to reach out. I have to volunteer,'” she said. “We have commencement and rituals for a reason. They mark important changes in people’s lives. And I couldn’t say no to that.

Mathews and Mamchur posed for photos in front of the World War II Memorial in D.C., with the Washington Monument in the background.

Harrison said since his post, he has received hundreds of ‘likes’ and offers from other teachers and professional photographers to give Mamchur the photoshoot in her graduation garb Harrison knows she deserves.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” Mathews said.

“It was amazing,” Mamchur said.

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