FAIRFAX, Va. – Recent George Mason grad and student-athlete Nikita Gubenko, a first-generation American with deep family ties to Ukraine, participated in the Ukraine Veterans Charity Golf Tournament on June 7 held at Andrew's AFB Golf Course in Maryland.
 
The tournament featured U.S. General David Petraeus as the Keynote Speaker at the Gala and Awards dinner. A delegation from Ukraine's parliament and government attended along with some of Ukraine's war heroes. All the proceeds benefitted Ukraine's History and Veterans organization.
 
"It was such an incredible experience to hear the stories of veterans who have fought in battle and sacrificed almost everything in their lives," said Gubenko.
 
Gubenko had the privilege to play with two courageous veterans from different wars: a United States Veteran who fought in Iraq back in 2007, and a combat medic at the front line in Ukraine.
"These two veterans had such incredible stories, and they were just a few of many veterans that participated in the tournament," added Gubenko.
 
The U.S. veteran, an amputee from a combat injury he suffered while fighting in Iraq in 2007, wasn't supposed to survive the injury. The Ukrainian medic saved many lives but lost her husband in the war.
 
"The experience opened my eyes and put everything into perspective," Gubenko said. "When it was just a normal day for me on the golf course, some veterans said it was one of the best days of their lives. The experience shows us how we take a lot of things for granted."
 
Gubenko was struck by a special moment when the event started playing the national anthem around the entire military base. "The five Ukrainian soldiers around me, three of which were amputees and could barely stand all rose and stood for the national anthem which really hit me hard."
 
The Great Falls, Va. native has a strong connection to the war-torn area. Nikita's parents Tatiana and Alexander Gubenko were born and raised in the Ukraine region before emigrating to the United States in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and some instability in the job market. Several of his family have left Ukraine as the conflict continues between Russia and Ukraine, but relatives, including his grandmother Larisa, still reside in Kyiv.
 
Nikita signed up this past fall to be an ambassador of the Borderlands Foundation, a historical center supporting the heroes who sacrificed for their country in the war against Russia. As part of the requirement to play in the Ukraine Veterans Charity Golf Tournament, Nikita raised $1,700 to benefit the foundation's efforts in bringing awareness to the veterans of Ukraine's military while preserving their stories of heroism and sacrifice.  
 
"The Borderlands Foundation is doing an amazing thing here," Gubenko added. "Many soldiers after combat have extremely difficult times coming back to normal life, and unfortunately experience PTSD and other mental traumas. What golf does is give them hope and a hobby to enjoy as they come back to normal life. I truly believe in this cause, and I look forward to supporting this organization in the future."