Ukraine Defense Support (UDS), Ukrainian Students United at the University of Washington (UW), and the Toloka Cultural Center are hosting the"Unissued Diplomas"exhibition from Feb. 18 - March 14 at the UW Allen Library.
This global tribute honors the memory of 40 Ukrainian students whose lives were tragically cut short by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Since its launch, Unissued Diplomas has been displayed at over 250 exhibitions in 30 countries, sharing the stories of young Ukrainians who never got the chance to graduate. Now, organizers in Seattle hope to raise awareness of the war’s third anniversary and the devastating toll on Ukrainian youth. According to Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Education, more than 3,500 educational facilities have been hit, with one in every seven schools destroyed in the first two and a half years of the war.
“Many Ukrainian refugees in Washington state are university students. We cannot allow the memory of those who were killed to fade,” said Lina Ngo, a UDS volunteer leading efforts to bring the exhibition to Seattle.
Carl Larson, president and co-founder of UDS, echoed this sentiment. “One of the most horrific aspects of Russia’s invasion is the indiscriminate killing of children and young people. We are grateful for the opportunity to honor their memory.”
The Unissued Diplomas exhibition is just one of several events marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Other initiatives include:
- Air Raid Siren at Washington State Capitol – On Monday, Feb. 24 at noon, UDS will play a short air raid siren in Olympia, symbolizing the daily reality Ukrainians face, enduring these alarms for 1,095 consecutive days.
- Seattle Landmarks in Ukrainian Colors – Iconic buildings, including the Great Wheel, will be illuminated in blue and yellow to show solidarity with Ukraine.
- "Ask Me About Ukraine" Campaign – On Saturday, Feb. 22, UDS volunteers will set up stations in Seattle and surrounding areas, inviting passersby to engage in discussions about Ukraine.
- "War is Not Over" March & Rally – On Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 AM - 3 PM, the Ukraine Association of Washington State will lead a march from Pike Place Market to the Space Needle.
- Children’s Shoe Memorial – Following the march, a display of children’s shoes near the Space Needle (1 PM - 3 PM) will be a stark reminder of young lives lost in the war.
Founded in 2022 by Carl Larson and Pam Dalan of Seattle, UDS provides critical frontline support to Ukrainian defenders. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, UDS has raised over $1.2 million to help keep Ukraine’s defenders alive.
For Lina Ngo, the Unissued Diplomas exhibition is deeply personal. “We’re hosting Unissued Diplomas to highlight the human cost of Russia’s war. Each diploma represents a student who should have been celebrating their achievements but instead lost their life defending their country. This exhibition ensures their stories are not forgotten.”
Ngo knew six of them personally—two were her friends. “They had dreams, plans, and futures—stolen futures.”
Beyond honoring their memory, Ngo hopes the exhibition will resonate with American audiences, many of whom don’t fully grasp the personal toll of the war.
“Ukrainians already live this pain, but many here don’t realize that this isn’t just happening somewhere far away. We want people to connect with these stories and push for continued support for Ukraine,” said Ngo.
Author: David Kirichenko