By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

As the “Community’s College,” SUNY Broome opens its doors to all members of Broome County and beyond. Many students are lifelong residents of the Southern Tier, whose plans to attend SUNY Broome were formed in infancy. But for Civil Engineering Technology: A.A.S.student Pavlo Fundiur, not only was SUNY Broome never on his radar, but neither was the United States. A refugee of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Fundiur has found an unexpected but truly welcoming home in Binghamton, NY, and on campus. 

Pavlo Fundiur was born in the Western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Life in the Ukraine was relatively calm during Fundiur’s formative years, as he balanced school with playing with his siblings and friends. But sadly, national turmoil was quietly building. 

While the Russian-Ukrainian War has technically been active since 2014, a defining catalyst took place in February of 2022 when Russian troops invaded Ukrainian borders. At that time, Fundiur was in the Ukrainian equivalent of high school, preparing for exams and planning for his future. While the location of his home in the west meant that combat was not directly in his backyard, his community still felt the impacts of the ongoing conflict. His focus shifted from school, to service.

“Instead of focusing on school, I put my efforts toward volunteering through my church,” said Fundiur. “Mass groups of refugees were fleeing Southern and Central Ukraine, so we worked to help them relocate in the West and provide the basic necessities.”

With the invasion officially underway, Ukrainian borders began to close for men between the ages of 18 and 60, to ensure their active support of the war effort. As Christians whose beliefs discourage engaging in physical combat, the Fundiur family was left at a crossroads. 

“As a Christian, I have always been taught that “’thou shalt not kill,’” Fundiur explained. “While I fully supported Ukraine’s desire to protect our country and our people, I was not personally comfortable with physically fighting. I hoped to do my part in different, nonviolent ways.” 

The Fundiurs ultimately made the difficult decision to apply for refugee status, leaving everything they had ever known behind. With the support of immediate family who previously settled in Binghamton, the group filed asylee applications and prayed for guidance.

In an act of genuinely miraculous timing, Fundiur, his parents, and his older sister boarded a plane bound for the United States on Aug. 18, 2023 – his eighteenth birthday. Clocking the minutes on his watch, he counted down the final moments of his youth mid-flight, acknowledging that he left Ukraine as a boy and entered the U.S. as a man. 

In true Southern Tier hospitality, the Fundiurs’ new community quickly enveloped them with love and support. The family lived at the Binghamton First Ukrainian Pentecostal Church (BFUPC)  for two weeks while arrangements were made to find a permanent apartment. Fellow church members collected essentials and prepared meals, proving that even in times of great trials, blessings can still be abundant.  

Civil Tech graduates find rewarding careers with consulting engineering companies, construction companies and government agencies such as New York State’s Department of Transportation or Broome County’s Engineering Department.
Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

One evening after a youth group service at BFUPC, a young man crossed the room with the specific purpose of introducing himself to Fundiur. Within minutes of getting to know one another, Fundiur and Nazar Logvis (CT ’09) realized that they had lots in common. Logvis happily took Fundiur under his wing and invited him to tag along when tackling side renovation projects. Taking note of Fundiur’s innate analytical and technical approach to construction, Logvis suggested that his new friend consider pursuing a career as a civil engineer. 

Logvis, an engineer for Broome County’s Department of Public Works (DPW), connected Fundiur to his alma mater, SUNY Broome, and encouraged him to follow his path into the Civil Engineering Technology: A.A.S. (CET) program. 

“Ukrainians love to build,” Fundiur laughed. “It’s funny, but so many people from our community have entered the fields of construction, design, and civil engineering. It must be a cultural thing.”

While beginning his college career in the Spring semester was admittedly daunting, Fundiur quickly immersed himself in the worlds of surveying, AutoCAD, and materials testing. Invigorated by each new CET course, he knew that he had found his calling in civil engineering. 

Adjunct Instructor Robert G. Harner, PE, CPESC, LEED-AP, said that Pavlo is a hard-working and responsible student who is willing to help his peers in class. He added, “I am impressed with his maturity as well has his work ethic. He will make a fine civil engineer one day.”

A summer internship alongside Logvis at Broome County’s DPW further solidified his appreciation for the field’s unique blend of engineering, architecture, construction, and design. 

Faster than he imagined, Fundiur is in the midst of his final semester of the CET program. Currently in the process of applying to potential transfer schools, he hopes to complete his bachelor’s degree and return to the Department of Public Works professionally as an engineer. 

When Fundiur isn’t on campus, he can be found fishing, souping up his car for track races, or volunteering with BFUPC’s teens club. Driven by his desire to emulate Logvis’ transformative impact on his life, Fundiur hopes to be a source of encouragement for other young people to approach their education, careers, and family life with conviction, hard work, and a Christ-centered approach. 

“I’m so appreciative of my life in Binghamton, but I have also not forgotten about all my family and friends in Ukraine,” Fundiur shared. “The local Ukrainian community has really rallied to support our refugees and civilians. BFUPC has hosted many fundraisers and drives. I’m thankful to have benefited from their care and am happy to do my part for many others in need.”

Learn more about SUNY Broome’s Civil Engineering Technology: A.A.S. program: Civil Engineering Technology A.A.S.

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