UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Victor Frolenko, a third-year Chaiken Scholar double majoring in Spanish and nutritional sciences with a minor in neuroscience, has used his college experience to navigate his favorite part of life — connection.

The first-generation college student’s journey at Penn State began with a major in biochemistry and molecular biology, a minor in Spanish and aspirations to take enough core curriculum STEM classes so that he could attend medical school after graduation. However, after a meeting with a career coach in the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, he learned that the flexible curriculum offered by the College of the Liberal Arts would allow him the opportunity to also major in Spanish — a language he had learned all throughout high school.

“I made a lot of friends through learning the language, which made me fall in love with Spanish culture, so I knew I wanted to continue that in college,” Frolenko said. “Learning that I could not only minor in Spanish but major in it, and even study abroad through it, was amazing.”

Frolenko went on to add the Spanish major to his academic plan, and it took him beyond the confines of the classroom to Ronda, Spain, for an education abroad experience. There, Frolenko stayed with a host family in a full cultural immersion and attended classes on Spanish customs, history and language. Frolenko said it tested his skills and level of comfort, which led to his expanding knowledge of the language and its intricacies.

“Whenever I’m in a Spanish class, I feel like some people aren’t serious about it, like they’re just sometimes trying to get through the course,” Frolenko said. “But on this trip to Ronda, people had to apply to be in the program, so they were all really invested. Everyone made sure to always talk in Spanish, and at the end of the trip, I really saw how much I developed my Spanish speaking abilities.”

The trip to Ronda ignited in Frolenko a sense of love for the Spanish community, he said, and as a result, he will be teaching a class on learning Spanish language through music next year through Penn State’s Students Teaching Students program, which enables Penn State undergraduates to teach official courses of their own design under the guidance of a sponsoring faculty adviser. Frolenko will participate in another education abroad experience this summer in Puebla, Mexico.

However, Frolenko’s interest in Spanish extends beyond his studies. As president of the Social Dance Club at Penn State, he promotes cultural exchange central to language learning immersion through dances such as bachata, salsa and tango, fostering a sense of community among students. The club hosts free dance classes for the Penn State and State College communities in collaboration with local organizations and dancing professionals.

Frolenko’s position as president has allowed the club to focus more on recruitment of new members and creating high-quality club events such as socials and dance balls, on top of the weekly dance lessons.

“Last year, I was able to secure $20,000 in funding through UPAC, which I used to hire people to teach various dance forms to the club,” Frolenko said. “We even got well-known dance instructors from New York City to come teach Argentine tango and a Colombian dance expert to fly here and teach salsa for a semester.”

This year, Frolenko is pursuing more collaborations with the State College dance community for an organized dance mixer. Frolenko said he is also looking into the possibility of the club getting involved in Penn State THON.

Frolenko’s involvement at Penn State also extends into food. He serves as co-chair of the Culinary Medicine Club at Penn State. Through innovative themed meetings, the club explores the intersection of nutrition and health, offering students a unique hands-on experience of cooking foods after learning about their health benefits. From themed food recipe meetings, including naturally coloring food red for Valentine’s Day, the club promotes holistic wellness and culinary exploration.

“Once a month, we get to meet in the Henderson Building Food Lab and split amongst the ten different kitchen stations, each make unique dishes that all together complete a buffet of food,” Frolenko said. “It’s a social meeting, a learning experience and a really fulfilling meal.”

As the club’s co-chair, Frolenko secured a Student Engagement Network grant to fund such experiences, as well as to fund a social event for charity where the club teamed up with Abba Java Coffeehouse in downtown State College to host a free dinner. Over 200 students showed up for a plate of free food, emphasizing the need for and success of the club.

Frolenko also finds success through his work as a peer mentor in the Roz and Gene Chaiken Center for Student Success in the College of the Liberal Arts, where he provides support to fellow Liberal Arts students who enter 138 and 139 Sparks Building. Through his work, in collaboration with the center’s peer success coaches, he offers guidance to students navigating their college journey. Frolenko explained that his dedication to helping others as a peer mentor came from his own experiences as a first-generation student.

“Coming into Penn State as a new student, the University is big and confusing, and to really understand Penn State you need to be asking a million questions,” Frolenko said. “I have already asked a million questions, so I am able to give a million answers to first-year students who don’t have the time to track down all those answers on their own.”

He added, “I am very privileged to be in a state where I can help others, so I make sure to utilize my position to benefit other students.”

A quote that inspires Frolenko to continue helping his peers is one that is often repeated by alumnus Gene Chaiken — “Helping other people is a privilege, not a chore.”

Chaiken, along with his wife, Roz, are longtime benefactors of the College of the Liberal Arts, having created both the Chaiken Scholars program and the Chaiken Center for Student Success in the college. The Chaikens are the University’s most generous scholarship donors, the fourth-largest donors overall and the second-largest living Penn State donors.

Frolenko acknowledged the impacts of the financial assistance he’s received as a Chaiken Scholar.

“Both my parents are from Russia and came to America with $100 in cash and a dream. They are living the American dream sending their son to school,” Frolenko said. “Getting help with tuition has allowed me to be financially stable because the burden is lessened thanks to the Chaikens. Their financial support has made college great for me and a place where I am able to explore all my passions.”

His drive to utilize a peer position to help other students is also reflected in Frolenko’s experience as a residential assistant in East Halls.

“First-year students don't know anything when they arrive and have to learn it all,” Frolenko said. “Being that person to help their learning process and help them work through challenges is very important. I feel like I can make sure they have a good experience in college and show that Penn State is a university that really cares about students’ well-being.”

In addition to his academic and extracurricular pursuits, Frolenko is a member of the USA Junior Orienteering Team and is currently training for the USA National Orienteering Team. Orienteering, a European sport blending cross-country running with map reading, has been a lifelong passion for Frolenko. From competing in Canada to most recently at the 2022 Junior World Orienteering Championships in Portugal, Frolenko’s involvement in the sport speaks to his adventurous spirit of welcoming new things.

When asked about his future plans, Frolenko’s response is perhaps not anticipated — “I have no clue what I’m doing after graduation,” he said.

“I’m just going to take a gap year or two and see where things take me. Maybe I’ll risk it and do something crazy, or maybe I’ll go back to graduate school at Penn State or go back to my original plan of attending medical school. Perhaps I will teach Spanish or neuroscience. Maybe I will even end up cooking in Mexico,” Frolenko said. “I have no idea, but I’m going to see where my passions take me and know that Penn State has prepared me.”

As Frolenko continues in his journey through Penn State, he said his diverse involvements demonstrate that Penn State students can explore all their interests, even when they don’t know what the future holds for them.