The trek in between has been filled with hard work and dreams fulfilled for these immigrants who arrived in Louisville at age 16 in 2015 knowing little English. Their path has been an education that went beyond the walls of their UofL classrooms.

Their journey started with their mother, Ilsa Brunelis, who wanted a better future for her sons than they might have had under the . Her sister was living in Louisville and sung its praises. With a vibrant Cuban community to be their support system, the family could still become immersed in the American experience.

Through Louisville’s Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM), the twins entered Jefferson County Public Schools’ for English language learners in middle and high school. They met other students also new to the United States. They later attended Academy at Shawnee and, after a meeting with UofL Admissions Executive Director Jenny Sawyer, they started taking dual-credit courses at UofL in 2017.

Both will graduate Saturday with degrees in chemical engineering. Dariel has accepted a job in Houston with his dream company, ExxonMobil, one of the companies where he worked as part of Speed’s co-op program. Damian is also moving to Texas; he will work in Dallas for Amazon as an operations manager.

Seven years after landing in Louisville, Ilsa Brunelis is seeing her American dream realized. 

“She thinks she’s the one graduating,” joked Dariel. 

The brothers have high praise for UofL’s professors and give back by volunteering as tutors to their fellow students. It is their mother who was the foundation of it all, they said.

“I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to leave a whole life, you know, 50 years in one country and go to another country where you don’t even know the language,” Damian added, “all to seek a better future for your kids.”

Both brothers spend their free time studying finance and investing to learn more about the U.S. economy. Damian also has a passion for dancing, while Dariel is into running and fitness.

“I never really felt like I was not going to make it. I always remained positive and I was like, you know, I’ll get through this,” Dariel said. 

Louisville has the third largest Cuban population the country after Miami and Houston, according to KRM’s Adrienne Eisenmenger, who is the nonprofit’s family and youth services manager. She called the brothers “rock stars.”

“They got into Speed School and both just excelled,” Eisenmenger said. “It’s been a joy just working with them and watching them.”

More about Dariel and Damian below: 

“I am an immigrant and so is my family, and I can relate to finding your place in another country,” Osezua said.

Osezua, who will graduate Dec. 17 with a PhD in Public Health Sciences with a specialization in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, learned through her volunteer work about high drop-out rates among refugee high school and college students. She also discovered there wasn’t much research on youth who have overcome extraordinary circumstances, like living through wars and fleeing their home countries. It was then that Osezua decided to dive into a research study on the meaning of well-being among local refugee youth from the African Great Lakes region.

“Physical, social and mental health, along with culture are embedded in well-being,” Osezua said. “Refugee youth are not only balancing the stress of learning a new language and seeking employment, but also dealing with factors like racism in a new country.”

She learned from surveys and interviews that although youth hope to find a safe place in the United States, the hardships they experience once they get here often re-open old wounds. Her analysis provided insight on how access to education, employment and health services are key to helping youth feel secure. Freedom to achieve goals and be happy was another important part of her findings.

Throughout her research, Osezua collaborated with the Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Lead to Empower Initiative and the Louisville Metro Office for Globalization. This fall she was invited to present her research on refugee mental health wellness in African refugees, in commemoration of the Office for Globalization’s Welcoming Month 2021. She continues to speak to groups throughout Louisville and is using her research to advocate for refugee services.

“We need more collaboration throughout the community. One of my recommendations is to train those who serve refugees and immigrants to better understand the pre-immigration process,” she said.

When she graduates, she will receive the John Binford Memorial Award, which is presented to a doctorate degree graduate who excels in scholarship and has contributed to other areas within the discipline such as leadership, teaching or service.

Osezua earned a MPH from UofL in 2015 and credits the strength of the UofL community in helping bring her goal of achieving a PhD to fruition.

“Some people said no one really cares about research within the refugee and immigrant population, but all faculty were supportive of me – they are willing to support students in their dreams,” she said.

KRM is a nonprofit organization in Louisville dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through faith-and agency-based co-sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into the community.

As part of that internship, Werner worked as a Spanish ESL instructor for Cuban refugees and also did some interpretation work for her students. In the spring, when the pandemic accelerated, Werner had to leave the classroom and the face-to-face work she was doing with students, switching to other tasks that do not require direct contact.  

“I primarily conducted practice interviews for the citizenship test with refugees via telephone. I also utilized Spanish interpreting skills during the interviews. I worked remotely from my back porch. It was definitely an adjustment. I am grateful, however, that I was able to continue my work remotely, despite the crisis,” Werner said.

Werner, who is an honors student studying communication with a minor in Spanish, says the internship with Kentucky Refugee Ministries has greatly benefited her as she prepares for life after her May 2021 graduation.

“My Spanish speaking skills have improved and my interpersonal communication skills have been refined. As a Communications major and Spanish minor, I believe this internship has also aided me in seriously considering my career path,” she said. “I plan on entering the public relations and sales field, while also utilizing my Spanish speaking abilities. I am hoping medical interpreting, alongside medical sales will provide me with both aspects.”

It was UofL’s strong communication and foreign language departments that drew Werner to campus in the first place. As for this internship, beyond helping her developing a stronger professional skillset, it has also helped Werner develop soft skills and find a purpose.

“Every day I entered my ESL classroom or picked up the telephone to conduct an interview, I have been overwhelmed with joy. It has been a fulfilling opportunity to contribute to the needs of refugees,” she said. “My cultural awareness and overall perspective have been enhanced by my hardworking, humorous and resilient students.”

Story written by Stuart Esrock, associate professor in the Department of Communications. Contributions from Alicia Kelso, OCM. 

The two students volunteered at  as part of the School of Nursing’s annual spring break community service activities. The initiative connects students with service learning opportunities in the Louisville community.

Black said volunteering at the food bank, which distributes 24 million pounds of food in Louisville annually, supports the mission of creating a healthier community.

Dare to Care has several programs that serve children, including Backpack Buddy, which sends low-income students home with a backpack full of nutritious food for the weekend, when free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches are not available.

“If we can prevent children from having health problems by helping provide them with access to proper nutrition, I think that makes our job easier in the long run as health care providers,” said Black, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Other UofL nursing students spent the week volunteering at the vaccine clinic at , and serving food to those in need at the .

“These service opportunities support the School of Nursing’s mission of community engagement and meeting the evolving health care needs of society,” said Cynethia Bethel-Jaiteh, DNP, APRN, instructor at the School of Nursing.

Amante, the other nursing student who volunteered at Dare to Care, had just returned from a quick getaway in Red River Gorge and wanted to help.

“Nursing isn’t just about working in a hospital,” Amante said. “This is part of the bigger picture in making our community a better, healthier place.”

She was 5. 

Humphrey will graduate Saturday with her political science and English degrees from the University of Louisville, where she was a McConnell Scholar and part of the moot court team. She also spent her college years volunteering at Kentucky Refugee Ministries for about 25 hours a week. 

In addition to her majors, Humphrey minored in Spanish, Latin American & Latino Studies. That work, and the work at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, inspired her to get involved in immigration law. The Paducah native will attend law school at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. 

“I loved it. I felt like I was making an impact (with KRM),” she said.”I think having a JD will allow me to be even more helpful to them.” 

Check out Humphrey’s story below: 

Video by Brad Knoop.

When she was eight years old, Meliha Hrustanovic-Kadic and her family fled war-torn Bosnia as refugees. They settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, adapting as quickly as they could to the new language and culture.

Soon afterward, her grandfather arrived in the United States as well, but his health quickly deteriorated.

“I was the oldest of my siblings and the oldest of the grandchildren. I found myself riding in an ambulance with my grandfather on a frequent basis. I became his interpreter for every emergency room visit and hospital stay. As his condition unfortunately worsened, my curiosity and passion for medicine grew,” she said.

Early in her college career, she made it official — declaring pre-med as her major during her sophomore year at Western Kentucky University.

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” she said.

Hrustanovic-Kadic considered other medical schools, but knew she wanted to be at UofL.

“I felt a welcoming atmosphere from the start and loved how diverse it was. I wanted to attend a medical school that excelled in patient care, research, teaching and was involved in the community. UofL has surpassed all of my expectations,” she said. 

Hrustanovic-Kadic appreciates the school’s commitment to students’ well-being, with wellness initiatives, mental health counseling, an active LGBT program and diversity events. As a medical student at UofL, she has served as a representative on the diversity committee and volunteers for Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

“So many individuals, from instructors and attendings to fellow medical students to the medical student affairs staff, have become like family over the years,” she said. 

Wartime displacement prevented her parents from completing higher education, which, combined with learning a new language, put the best jobs out of reach. Ultimately, they reached for the American Dream, opening their own transportation company.

“I was 15 at the time and have helped them manage it ever since,” Hrustanovic-Kadic said. She has continued to support the family business even during medical school. “We function as a team and everyone tries to pitch in to help when they can. Don’t ask me how I’ve balanced everything because I don’t even know – perhaps a mix of good time management and organization, along with a ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’ attitude.”

Her family has supported her during her medical education as well, with frequent visits to Louisville and even preparing her favorite Bosnian foods – krofne, pita, hurmasice and others – during exam weeks.

“You name a way and I can assure you they’ve done it – emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially,” Hrustanovic-Kadic said. “I cannot even begin to describe just how important a supportive family is, especially through medical school.”

She will receive her diploma at the UofL School of Medicine Convocation on Saturday, but her days at UofL are not over. Hrustanovic-Kadic will remain at UofL to pursue residency in internal medicine.

“I enjoy taking care of patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings and there are so many interesting routes one can take with a career in internal medicine,” she said. “I am looking forward to the experiences I will gain during residency.” 

On March 14, seven undergraduate students helped administer vaccines to more than 100 adults and children at , a nonprofit organization that provides resettlement services to refugees.

Students administered vaccines to prevent chickenpox, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus to refugees from Iraq, Nepal, Somalia and Syria.

“I wanted to help people who have come here for a better life,” said junior nursing student Ivone Adamenou, while preparing a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

The organized the event, which allowed nursing students to gain experience administering vaccines, and served critical immunization needs of refugees.

“These are the types of patients students can expect to see when they work in the hospitals,” said School of Nursing Assistant Professor Montray Smith, MSN, MPH, RN, LHRM, who helped supervise the students. “Louisville has a sizable refugee population, and this is an excellent opportunity for students to gain firsthand experience working with this population.”

Remote Area Medical trip to Nashville

Also, five undergraduate nursing students kicked off their spring break on March 11 by helping those who struggle to afford or access health care. The students, Smith and School of Nursing Assistant Professor Diane Riff served at a (RAM) clinic in Nashville triaging about 400 patients who received dental and medical care.

RAM operates mobile clinics that provide free health care to those who do not have access or cannot afford to see a provider.

Student Kathryn Stuckey wanted to attend the trip to help people who would not have been able to receive treatment without the clinic.

“Many people expressed how grateful they were for us and that solidified that I am going into the right profession,” Stuckey said. “I will always be willing to lend a hand because I believe that everyone deserves equal treatment regardless of their income, race, culture and any other factor.”

Norton Children & Hospitals Week

Finally, on March 15, undergraduate and master’s degree students provided brief education sessions about healthy lifestyle choices and safety at Norton Children & Hospitals Week. Kindergartners from local schools took field trips to the event, hosted at Louisville Slugger Field.

Nursing students taught children poison prevention, helmet and seatbelt safety, brushing and flossing correctly and the importance of getting enough sleep. Areas that mimicked hospital departments, including the emergency room, X-ray and surgery, were meant to help children overcome fear and anxiety associated with hospital visits.

The 34^th annual event was part of programming organized by Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness.