Sixty-First Commencement

Class of 2026
Svetlana Bashkirtseva 
Computer Science  major

Svetlana Bashkirtseva grew up in Elektrostal, a town near Moscow. When she arrived in the United States from Russia in 2020 at age 17, college felt out of reach. "I was not sure if I was capable of going to college in a different country and in a different language," said Lana. She also didn't know how she would pay for it and no longer had access to her high school diploma.  

In 2023, she learned that she could apply to college if she passed the GED. “My goal was to finally start my college education and to prove to myself that I could succeed,” she shared. She passed and applied to Kingsborough Community College on the recommendation of a friend.  

Lana says her love of computers goes back to childhood, so when it came time to declare a major, there was never really a question. "I just couldn't imagine myself doing anything else," she said. "Computer technologies have always fascinated me, so when I had to choose my major, it just made the most sense." 

It wasn’t an easy decision. For much of her life, Lana carried a belief that she wasn't "smart enough" for certain subjects, math in particular. KCC helped her challenge that. She credits the benefits received through ASAP and her advisor, Sarah Beck, with helping her stay on track and complete her degree on time. "My 'aha' moment was realizing that struggling with something doesn't mean I can't do it," she said. "It just means that I'm doing something difficult and I should keep going."   

Professor Stephen Majewicz played a key role in helping change her mindset. "He made me believe in myself more as a student and showed me that I was capable of doing challenging work," Lana said. 

Making the Dean's List for the first time was a milestone she still holds close. "It showed me that I was capable of succeeding academically," she said. 

Lana describes herself as deeply creative. She is teaching herself piano, takes dance classes, reads regularly, and has recently started acting. 

Lana graduated in January 2026 with a 3.85 GPA, three Dean's List honors to her name and an associate degree in computer science. She has since transferred to Hunter College, where she is continuing her studies in computer science with plans to earn a bachelor's degree by 2028.  

Looking ahead, Lana wants a career that lets her use both her technical and creative strengths — one that supports both her own independence and her family.  

"I wish more people knew that Kingsborough is a very supportive place, especially for students who are still figuring out their path,” she said. “I am very grateful for my time in Kingsborough and for the people who supported me along the way.”