Despite a harrowing car ride from Ukraine to an airport in Poland, ticketing issues, an 18-hour delay in Iceland and sporadic cellphone service, 17-year-old Maksym "Max" Lyshchuk, a Ukrainian college student, eventually made his way to the United States, all while traveling alone.

Max, who attended Hampton University in Virginia this summer, is now residing with Kathy Taylor and her family in Hershey. Later this month, he will begin attending classes at Lebanon Valley College in Annville.

Taylor, who was an approved host for foreign students, was asked to house Max after he completed his semester at Hampton. "Max's dad wanted to get Max out of Ukraine. Ukrainian males ages 18 to 64 can be drafted into the army," Taylor explained, noting that Max will turn 18 on Monday, Aug. 22. "Max found Hampton online, which offered any Ukrainian student free tuition, room and board for its summer session. They needed hosts) after the summer school was over for four to six weeks until (the students went) to their next place."

After Max completed school on July 23, the Taylors picked him up in Virginia and brought him to Hershey. However, Taylor was unsure what Max's next step would be. Since Max is on a student visa, he has to attend school or return home and he is not permitted to work off campus.

So, Taylor contacted Lebanon Valley College. "My parents were alumni, and I was a member of the board of trustees," she said. "Lebanon Valley put together a plan that made it feasible for (Max) to (attend)."

Max recalled a phone call from his grandfather when he was still in Ukraine that would forever change his life. "I woke up at 6 a.m. and my grandfather said the war started," Max said. "We packed some documents and some clothes because (he said) we are going to his house at the edge of the city, and I was not understanding what was going on."

After being joined by his parents and 6-year-old brother, Max and his family spent a lot of time in the basement of his grandfather's home because of the air raid sirens going off in the neighborhood. He also recalled hearing missiles striking sites nearby.

"After we moved back to our flat in April, we (learned) that Hampton offered a program (for) Ukrainians and my dad said he would try to get me there for summer to study," Max said. "On June 6, we got the answer that I was accepted."

By working with the United States Embassy in Poland, Max was able to travel to the United States after a stop in Iceland. Leaving the Nordic region, he then flew to Baltimore and spent the night in Washington, D.C., where he sought refuge in a hostel before traveling to Norfolk, Va., the next day. "I didn't know the way because I had no internet connection and I asked a woman and she offered to buy me an Uber," said Max. "I was excited by people's kindness."

Currently, Max is enjoying seeing attractions in Pennsylvania, including Longwood Gardens. He plans to visit Hersheypark and has joined the new Hershey Community Center. He also recently took up playing the acoustic guitar.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Taylor family to help Max with college expenses. For more information, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-ukrainian-student.