Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor celebrate 60th anniversary (12/12/99)

Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor celebrate 60th anniversary

by Bohdan Nehaniv

DETROIT - The Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor celebrated their 60th anniversary on November 7 with a reception followed by a luncheon at the Ukrainian Cultural Center.

This year seven students, all of whom were entering college, were presented with scholarships. Guests also were honored by the presence of Myron and Sophie (Storoz) Kasey, the only remaining charter members of the original organization. A musical interlude at the reception was provided by Darryl Zusko, pianist, his sister Dara-Lynn Zusko, violinist.

On October 9, 1939, a group or Ukrainian university graduates met at Wayne State University and founded the Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor. This organization, dedicated to the interests of the Ukrainian community in the Detroit and Windsor area, has flourished throughout the past 60 years. In 1964 the organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Michigan.

Two objectives have inspired the organization's existence: the promotion of the cultural interchange of ideas and fellowship among its members and their community, and the encouragement of students of Ukrainian descent in their pursuit of higher learning through scholarships, bursaries and loans.

The Scholarship Program is the pride and joy of the Ukrainian Graduates Club, and its members have sustained a special effort to encourage the Ukrainian youth of the Detroit and Windsor area to pursue higher education, to learn Ukrainian and to be active in the cultural life of the Ukrainian community by recognizing achievements with scholarship awards. Beginning with a modest one-semester scholarship in 1941, the scholarship program has expanded to disburse, by 1993, 15 scholarships with a total value of $6,000.

The success and stability of the scholarship program was assured in 1969 when Ray Sepell attained tax-exempt status for the Scholarship Fund. Generous donations by Mr. Sepell, Joe Gurski, Ted Geleney, Archie Corsa and others led the way to building the Scholarship Fund. On many occasions the scholarship offerings were enriched by the provisions of small loans to needy students or by featuring special memorial scholarships. During the past five years alone, 21 scholarships totaling $7,800 have been awarded to deserving students.

The main focus of the Scholarship Program, however, is directed at graduating high school students. Scholarships of $300 to $500 are awarded to applicants with excellent scholarly achievements and participation in the Ukrainian community.

Over the years. both individual members and the club itself have organized drives and made donations to support Ukrainian studies at various institutions. These included the Harvard Ukrainian Studies Chair Endowment Fund; the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, Germany; the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome; St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg; the Ukrainian Studies Book Fund for the University of Windsor Library; the Ukrainian Studies Fund supporting Ukrainian courses at the Wayne State University, as well as the establishment of a Ukrainian Room at the university; and the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture in Warren, Mich.

In 1955 the practice of awarding special honors to a person of Ukrainian descent for community service was initiated and has continued to the present day. The Ukrainian of the Year Award is presented annually at the anniversary banquet. The recipients of the Ukrainian of the Year award included not only activists in the Detroit-Windsor community, but also those from farther afield. This year the Ukrainian of the Year Award went to Dr. Alexander List of Windsor, Ontario. Dr. List is a long-time member of the graduates, and last year's president.

In 1998 the Distinguished Service Award was introduced in order to recognize prominent leaders of the Ukrainian American, and/or the Ukrainian Canadian communities. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Roma Dyhdalo of Troy, Mich., for her leadership and dedicated work with the organization Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council of the Detroit Metropolitan Area, as well as many other groups.

The most tenacious bond among the graduates for the past 60 years has been The Graduate Bulletin, beginning with the first issue in 1940 by the original founder and editor Martha Wichorek. The bulletin has kept the members in touch with each other and the community.

Many changes in format and frequency of publication marked early years. Its banner assumed many forms, but its mission remained steadfast. Many editors have contributed their time and talents to making the Bulletin an indispensable part of the organization. The current editor, Olga Meyer, carries on this tradition of commitment. The Graduate Bulletin is symbolic of the organization's perseverance. It continues to maintain the bond that has informed and sustained the club throughout its 60 years.

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