Friday, June 20, 2025
小蝌蚪APP System is pleased to include additional coverage from
Here is the original 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law article that inspired their story:
Student Spotlight: Scholar, Athlete, Entrepreneur, Soon-To-Be Attorney
Stanislav (Stan) Borodyansky took a non-traditional path to law school.
As a competitive rock climber and small business owner who dropped out of college
earlier in life, Borodyansky had a change of heart (and mind) in his 30鈥檚. His experience
running a chain of gyms 鈥� often winging it with his co-owners 鈥� gave Borodyansky an
appreciation for problem-solving. 鈥淪ometimes it was trial by error,鈥� he said. His
experience as a competitive rock climber since childhood gave him an appreciation
for adrenaline rushes. 鈥淭here鈥檚 risk and consequences.鈥� Put them together and they
added up to a new aspiration: attorney at law.
Stan Borodyansky speaks at the 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law 10th Anniversary Gala in September 2024
During a on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Borodyansky will receive his Juris Doctor degree
from the , where he is #1 in the Daytime Class of 2025 with a 4.03 GPA. Then it鈥檚 on to the
and a position in the litigation department of the Dallas law firm . "Litigation, that's been my passion during law school," Borodyansky said.
An Immigrant鈥檚 Perspective
As he looks ahead to a promising future as a lawyer, Borodyansky has quite a unique perspective. Not only is he an accomplished student, athlete, and entrepreneur, he is an immigrant 鈥� from 鈥� a city and country fighting for their future against an infamous aggressor 鈥� Russia. 鈥淲e were here on refugee status,鈥� Borodyansky said, explaining how his family was described when they arrived in the United States 34 years ago.
He and his parents emigrated here when he was five-years-old, a journey delayed by
the Soviet government, which often denied applications to emigrate by Jewish families
and those of other religions. 鈥淭hey wanted something better,鈥� Borodyansky said. His
parents were part of a large group known as the 鈥� Soviet Jews whose plans to leave the country had been refused by the government.
Finally, their wish to come to the U.S. was granted in 1991.
Stan Borodyansky holds an American Flag at approximately age 6
Borodyansky's his parents are engineers. They expected to live and work in New York but found opportunities in Dallas instead. He became a U.S. citizen when he was 16. Borodyansky still has memories of his early childhood apartment in Ukraine and the park where he once played. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where my whole family is from,鈥� he said.
He views the between Ukraine and Russia with frustration and skepticism. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a sovereign nation,鈥� Borodyansky said. 鈥淲e need to change the public perception that Ukraine鈥檚 at fault. They took Crimea, too,鈥� referring to of the country in 2014. His parents still have friends in Ukraine 鈥� and worry about their fate every time there鈥檚 an attack, like the recent bombing of Kyiv that killed 12 people on .
The Next Level
His decision to go back to college at 33 happened quickly. Borodyansky had done 鈥渁
few random semesters鈥� right out of high school, but back then the offer to be part
owner of a rock-climbing gym was too tempting to resist. More than a decade later,
even after the business had grown to eight gyms with 10,000 members, he had a reckoning.
鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 revolve around rock climbing,鈥� Borodyansky said with a laugh.
Stan Borodyansky and his wife rachel visiting the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
After enjoying success, 鈥淚 wanted to take my career to the next level and had to finish my 小蝌蚪APP degree,鈥� Borodyansky said. When he did some research and some math, 鈥淚 realized I could do all of this by 40, that became the goal and things really escalated." He is now 39.
Borodyansky enrolled at 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law in 2022 after receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from the 小蝌蚪APP Dallas main campus in southern Dallas, near his home in Oak Cliff. He has spent the last five years working tenaciously toward this moment. 鈥淭he school has prepared us well. I can see it and I鈥檝e experienced it," Borodyansky said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been stressful, but amazing to see everyone鈥檚 progress.鈥�
Competitive Climber
Stress 鈥� and how to deal with it 鈥� was something Borodyansky became accustomed to
as a competitive rock climber. It is physically and mentally challenging. 鈥淒on鈥檛 panic,
you have to keep it together,鈥� he said.
Stan Borodyansky, at 14, climbing a rock wall during a competition
As a pre-teen, Borodyansky got into the sport through a friend. As he progressed, he acquired the nickname 鈥淏ig Stan.鈥� During a promotional video for Summit Climbing Gym, Borodyansky described what he liked about rock climbing. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e on your project and you鈥檙e feeling so good about it 鈥� right when you get it, it鈥檚 the best feeling. And if you don鈥檛, it鈥檚 not the best feeling.鈥� He was straightforward, even as a 12-year-old.
What will Stan think about as he crosses the commencement stage? Watch the video at the end of this story to find out (Hint: It's about gratitude)
Borodyansky competed across the country with one of the first rock climbing teams in the U.S. As he got older, he switched from competing to coaching. 鈥淚 said 鈥業 get paid for being here, even better鈥�,鈥� Borodyansky said. Later, he became a coach for the U.S. national speed climbing team, which included traveling outside the U.S. for international competitions.
Coaching kids and adults alike helped Borodyansky improve a crucial skill in the legal
profession. 鈥淚鈥檝e coached all ages, from 4-years-old to 70-something. That has helped
me communicate with people,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to translate and convey your message
so they can do a better job.鈥� Borodyansky is confident he will be able to communicate
clearly and effectively with judges when he gets the opportunity.
Stan Borodyansky and business partners celebrating the groundbreaking for a new rock climbing gym in 2021
Expanding his business from one to eight locations along with his partners, Borodyansky learned about patience and persistence. 鈥淵ou have to keep track of a lot of different things. That鈥檚 what being a lawyer will be,鈥� he said. Borodyansky also believes the organizational and problem-solving skills he acquired while running a business will benefit him as an attorney. In 2023, he sold his interest in the business. He is proud to say rock climbing is now an .
From Rocks to Mocks
Over the past three years, Borodyansky has competed in mock trials and moot court contests. In 2023, he and his law school partner Alex Valdez won the annual Thompson Coburn upper-level Moot Court competition held at 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law. Thirty students competed, arguing an issue about access to contraception and the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. 鈥淭hat was definitely memorable. You go in really nervous, you study, you prepare just a great moment at the end,鈥� he said.
Borodyansky also competed in the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates
(TEX-ABOTA) Best in Texas Voir Dire mock trial tournament, with classmate Aaron Mendonsa.
Stan Borodyansky and Alex Valdez hold their trophy after winning the 2023 Thompson Coburn Moot Court Competition
Borodyansky cites four distinct 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law strengths that have equipped him for the legal profession. Number one: 鈥淭he professors are amazing. They want you to succeed,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome are still practicing themselves.鈥� The size of the College and the classes are important, too. 鈥淚t has a community aspect,鈥� Borodyansky said. Third: the location in downtown Dallas near the courthouses 鈥� in the , which has been . Finally, the focus on experiential education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 theory and practice together,鈥� he explained.
The moot court, trial advocacy, and legal research experience, combined with the , Joyce Ann Brown , and partnerships that lead to internships, make 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law different and special, Borodyansky believes. 鈥淚鈥檝e never experienced anything like this,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he camaraderie in the trenches鈥� of pursuing a law degree along other dedicated, likeminded students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not too late. You can do this whenever you want. There鈥檚 no rule in life that
says you go to high school, college, law school or whatever afterwards,鈥� Borodyansky
said. As an older student 鈥測ou鈥檙e more mature and more organized. Being a non-traditional
student is 100% an advantage.鈥� For him, it was clearly worth the wait.
Stan credits everyone around him for the success he's had at 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of
Law.
Stan Borodyansky from 小蝌蚪APP Dallas College of Law at Carrington Coleman, waiting to start his new position
From 鈥� Featured Law News