Passaic Today

Before attending Montclair State University, Alena Arzamastseva had already achieved significant milestones. She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games as part of the Belarusian National Swimming Team and served in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division after emigrating from Kazakhstan. Now, at 34, she has earned a degree in Sports Communication.

For Arzamastseva, graduating with Montclair’s Class of 2025 is as meaningful as her previous achievements due to the challenges she faced along the way. "When I arrived in the U.S. eight years ago, I couldn’t even buy a Coke at the store because I didn’t know the language," she says. "I couldn’t even imagine that I would get a degree here."

Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, Arzamastseva applied her focus and discipline from athletics and military service to her studies at Montclair. She made the Dean’s List every semester and was nominated for a Fulbright Award.

Her college experience included working with Hawk Communications, where she led a campaign for the New Jersey Warriors, a nonprofit hockey team supporting disabled U.S. military veterans. "Helping the New Jersey Warriors meant a lot to me," she says. "They have the same experience I did – brotherhood, family."

Keith Green, professor and director of Hawk Communications, comments on her skills: “Many of the skills Alena already possessed through her time as an Olympian and member of our military were evident, including leadership, teamwork and perseverance.”

Arzamastseva plans to combine her experiences into a career serving those who serve: “I want to go back into the Department of Defense as a civilian and keep serving that way.”

As graduation approaches, Arzamastseva reflects on her journey with pride. She credits her parents in Kazakhstan for their support: “My parents are my biggest supporters... They’re really proud of me.” Her graduation cap will read: “Winners never quit, quitters never win,” reflecting her belief in persistence.

Her advice to others is simple: “Believe in yourself, and study... Try to open your horizons a little wider every single day.”

Montclair State University will celebrate its graduates on May 7 and May 8 at Prudential Center in Newark.