Ukrainian refugee graduates from Philly high school with big dreams
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- After fleeing from Ukraine during the war, Maria Steblyna became an accomplished student and an advocate for her homeland.
Steblyna moved to Philadelphia and became a student at String Theory School of Design.
As a student, she led a student-led charitable initiative called, 'United Hearts United Nations.'
Through the initiative, students like Steblyna joined forces with two organizations, Bridges2030 and TEEEM.
They held a bake sale, a charity concert, and collaborated with business leaders to raise more than $5,000.
The funds, which will be matched by TEEEM, are intended to benefit Tomorrow by Together, a student-run nonprofit based in Ukraine.
TEEEM, which stands for 'The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission,' works with over 130 schools nationwide. It connects students with global communities such as Ukraine.
Bridges 2030 is a Philadelphia non-profit that helps forcibly displaced families and is particularly focused on aiding Ukraine.
On June 12, 2026, Steblyna received her high school diploma from Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, a String Theory Charter School, and an Arts Associate Degree from String Theory College's IDeATE program.
The IDeATE program (Innovation, Design, Arts, Technology, and Entrepreneurship) engages students in critical forms of 'design thinking.'
Steblyna aspires to attend Parsons School of Design. Although she was accepted, she is unsure of whether she has the funds to make it possible.
Ultimately, she dreams of becoming a creative director, designing events and fundraisers.
And she hopes the war in Ukraine will end as soon as possible.
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