Immaculate Conception High School honors graduates and top students

WARREN, Mich. - Commencement exercises for the Class of 1996 of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School began after a pontifical divine liturgy celebrated on June 2 by Bishop Michael Wiwchar CSsR, the Very Rev. Maxim Kobasuk OSBM and the Rev. Roberto Lucavei OSBM at Immaculate Conception Church in Hamtramck, Mich. Msgr. Stephen Chrepta served as chaplain to Bishop Wiwchar.

Bishop Wiwchar asked the students to remember the beatitudes in living in a dangerous world. He said, "Do not tie yourselves to earthly things... St. Paul said that we should stay with the task, never losing patience... Make no excuses, and you will be able to move mountains."

The Very Rev. Kobasiuk, pastor and superior at Immaculate Conception parish, greeted 16 seniors as the bishop conferred diplomas.

Michaeline Weigle, principal of Immaculate Conception High School, congratulated the students on their accomplishments and distributed scholarships to the seniors.

Special honors were conferred on the valedictorian, Erica Raffo, and the salutatorian, Tanja Rudnycky. Three seniors, Miss Raffo, Miss Rudnycky and Taras Strychar, received the 1996 Presidential Scholar Award, a merit scholarship to Wayne State University in Detroit (i.e., full, four-year academic tuition scholarship).

Certificates of recognition awarded by the Michigan State Board of Education and the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority recognized Miss Raffo, Mr. Strychar and Nancy Vitale for outstanding academic achievement in the State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship Program.

Additional city, county and academic scholarships awarded included private scholarships granted by numerous Ukrainian organizations, including the Buhay Chapel (Christopher Buhay), Ukrainian Future Credit Union, Ukrainian Selfreliance Credit Union, Women's Association for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine, Alexander and Diane Siomka, Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School Parents Club, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (Michigan Chapter), St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School Alumni Association, Rose and Paul Nakonechny in memory of their aunt, Minnie Disiak, and her late husband, Dymetro Disiak, and the Order of St. Basil the Great.

This was the 34th graduating class to complete Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School. As 16 seniors leave, 20 freshmen have registered for the upcoming 1996-1997 school year.

Recently the school's Taras Shevchenko Branch of the National Honor Society held its annual induction ceremony of new members at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. The festivities began with a divine liturgy concelebrated by the pastor of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Very Rev. Kobasuk, and the associate pastor of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic parish, the Rev. Roman Hykavy, at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warren. The church was filled to capacity with members of the NHS, their parents and friends.

Following the divine liturgy, 27 new members made their pledge in accordance with the theme "noblese oblige." Members were chosen on the basis of scholarship, character, service and leadership, and a 3.6 cumulative honors average. NHS officers, President Andrew Kuclo, Vice-President Nancy Vitale, Treasurer Tanja Rudnycky and Secretary Erica Raffo, lit the candles representing the flames of knowledge, scholarship, character, leadership and service.

A dinner reception for NHS members, honor roll members, their families and faculty of Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School followed at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Master of ceremonies Mr. Kuclo introduced the Rev. Lucavei, who offered grace before dinner. Miss Rudnycky addressed her fellow NHS members in Ukrainian, reminding them to follow in the footsteps of Taras Shevchenko, after whom this NHS chapter is named. The Very Rev. Kobasuk gave the keynote address, reminding NHS members to "...use talents for the glory of God."

Immaculate Conception High School Principal Weigle offered congratulatory remarks to NHS members, asking them to "...face daily challenges through hard work and persistence."

Miss Vitale received a special award presented by the vice-president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for her outstanding contribution to volunteerism.

Musical entertainment was provided by juniors Petro Lisowsky, Nanette Meyette and Orest Tarnavsky.

The closing prayer by Msgr. Chrepta concluded the ceremony.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 7, 1996, No. 27, Vol. LXIV

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