UNWLA names Denver activist as Woman Leader of Excellence (11/08/98)

UNWLA names Denver activist as Woman Leader of Excellence

DENVER - Nadia Vinych has been named as a 1998 Woman Leader of Excellence by the Ukrainian National Women's League of America for the Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition annual awards event.

Born in Krasnodar, Ukraine, in 1926 and immigrating to the United States in September of 1950, Ms. Vinych experienced more hardships than most see in a lifetime.

Walking westward across Europe during the end of World War II with her mother and father, young Nadia's leadership and adaptation skills maintained her family's survival. During her family's five-year stay in refugee camps she quickly learned the German language and managed to obtain work and attend nurse training school at St. Joseph Hospital in Bamber, Germany, in 1946.

Upon arriving in the United States in 1950, she was employed as a nurse's aide in both Newark and Summit, N.J. In 1951 she worked her way through the Chicago School of Medical Technology and then worked as a laboratory technician at Women's and Children's Hospital, Henrotin Hospital and Lutheran Deaconess Hospital until 1959 when she and her new husband, Victor, moved to Denver.

A dedicated mother and homemaker Mrs. Vinych always found the time to nurture and promote her Ukrainian culture, and the Ukrainian community in Denver. In 1979 she became a founding member of Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 38. The group dedicated itself to assist newly immigrating Ukrainians, preserving Ukrainian culture in the United States, and supporting Ukraine's struggle for freedom and, later, the country's independence.

Since 1969 Mrs. Vinych has served in various leadership roles of the UNWLA, including three years as branch president. During her tenure, Branch 38 was one of the most active in the nation, assisting victims of the Chornobyl disaster, broadcasting an educational radio program to inform Americans about Ukraine and its history, and educating American politicians about Ukrainian concerns.

The Women Leaders of Excellence Awards program is the Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition's premier award event. Each affiliate member-organization is asked to nominate the person who has best represented leadership to the organization during the last year. These winners were honored at a tribute program, "The 1998 Galaxy of Stars" on November 5. From these ranks, one woman is honored overall as the Woman Leader of Achievement.

The Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition comprises of over 90 organizations (professional, business, civic, girls, corporate and political). Through these affiliated groups, the coalition represents 50,000 women and girls throughout the state of Colorado. The mission of Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition is to sponsor activities that honor women leaders; provide leadership training; encourage women to serve on boards and commissions; and to exercise the coalition's collective strength on issues of common interest.

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