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American Morning
Russian Teen Sisters Receive Masters Degrees From Stanford
Aired June 19, 2002 - 09:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are at the height of graduation season, so we thought we'd like to introduce you to two amazing sisters. Anjela and Diana Kniazeza have just received their Masters Degree from Stanford University. That's amazing enough, but we have to tell you they each hold two other Masters Degrees from universities in their native Russia.
And, check out their ages. Anjela is 16 and Diana and her little sister, Diana, is 15. And they're joining me right now to talk about how they have accomplished this amazing feat and what is ahead for them.
Ladies, congratulations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, thanks a lot.
KAGAN: You are fresh from graduation. You just finished.
ANJELA KNIAZEZA, 16-YEAR-OLD STANFORD GRAD: Yes, it's true. We're finished on June 16th at the commencement ceremony at Stanford University. And we're here in New York since yesterday.
KAGAN: And very excited. And you actually have your diplomas with you. Why don't you hold them up...
A. KNIAZEZA: Yes, that's right.
KAGAN: ... and show them. And tell us what you got your masters in.
A. KNIAZEZA: That's a masters degree in international policy studies. And the concentration was international political economy. So it was a masters program which allowed us to take courses from different departments, including the area of our concentration -- previous concentration, economics and quantitative methods.
KAGAN: You guys are so excited talking about economics like most 15 and 16-year-old sisters are excited talking about the prom, which is what most American teenagers at your age are thinking about. How do you get from Russia to Stanford?
DIANA KNIAZEZA, 15-YEAR-OLD STANFORD GRAD: Well, we actually were looking for an opportunity to take courses in economics and quantitative methods in the United States, realizing how important it is for our professional qualifications, skills and for our professional career. And we got admitted to Stanford University.
KAGAN: Which is not easy.
D. KNIAZEZA: Yeah, that's absolutely true.
KAGAN: I went there. I was telling you that I went to Stanford, too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's great.
KAGAN: Yes, it's a very fun place -- an excellent place to go to school. But when I think back about being at Stanford, I think about football games, basketball games and frat parties and some studying, but not the level that you ladies have achieved. Did you get to have any fun while you were there too?
A. KNIAZEZA: Oh, yes. It was a lot of fun for me, especially the class that I was taking was really (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) all the classes in quantitative method, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and, of course, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) economics classes.
KAGAN: And of course.
A. KNIAZEZA: Classes related my concentration. But there was a lot of fun there, too. Right?
D. KNIAZEZA: Yes, absolutely. Had all kinds of hobbies, like we started playing tennis and basketball. So yes, that was interesting.
KAGAN: Yes?
(CROSSTALK)
A. KNIAZEZA: Biking. Yes, emphasize the weather the was absolutely amazing. So it was an incredible time, and I think one of them happiest years of my entire life.
KAGAN: Oh, that's nice. Now we talk to a lot of smart kids, but not smart sisters. Are there some high-pressure parents at home that are pushing you guys to go after these degrees?
D. KNIAZEZA: No, absolutely. Probably just great opportunities for us that we were keen (ph) to using. Maybe our advantages that we realized at very early ages what do we want, what we want to specialize in, what do we want our lives (ph)?
KAGAN: And you have to tell me quickly, what is next in your lives, your young lives, your very successful lives?
A. KNIAZEZA: UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope to start, and Diane, too, double program in economics in fall of 2002 as (UNINTELLIGIBLE) School of Business in New York university. And I hope to stay in the program several years, and afterwards, to look for a full-time job related to my favorite area of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) research in economic and finance.
KAGAN: Well, I have no doubt you ladies are going to achieve that. Real go-getters. And once again, congratulations on your graduation and on your masters.
KAGAN: Anjela and Diana -- say your last name again for me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kniazeza.
KAGAN: Kniazeza. See, you're doing better in economics than I am in Russian studies. Excellent. Thank you so much. Congratulations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
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