UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (04/09/00)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

A special audience - a special performance

by Roman Kovbasniuk

WHIPPANY, N.J. - On Sunday, February 25, my friends came to see me perform in "Babes in Toyland," at the Shore Hills Country Club in Landing, N.J. For the past four months I have played Simple Simon on stage. As Simple Simon I sing, act and dance on stage.

I invited my friends from school to see my last performance of the year. I thought it was grand to have my friends at my show.

They thought the show was great. I thought it was the best performance I ever had - in fact the best of my entire life.

I have been on stage since I was 2 years old. I enjoy performing because it relaxes your body from working in school.

Even though I enjoy acting, I hope to become a movie animator someday. Maybe my friends will come to my movies and see all the things I have created. That would be really grand!

Parma freshman wins science awards

CLEVELAND - Cleveland State University was teeming with elementary and high school students on March 6-9, as the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) got under way. Among the over 500 students from grades 7 through 12 was Ulyana Horodyskyj, a freshman at Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio.

Her project, "Sailing Into Space: Reflecting on a Solution," was entered in the "Earth and Space" category and described her research on solar sails, a method of space propulsion that needs no fuel.

By the time the science fair was over, Ulyana not only won first place in her category, but sailed away with the Grand Award in Physical Science. This achievement entitles her to advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to be held in Detroit on May 7-13. (Ulyana will be presenting her research to the public on Thursday, May 11, at noon-3 p.m. at the Cobo Convention Center.)

This is the first time in NEOSEF's history that a high school freshman has won such an honor. It was a sweet achievement for Ulyana, who had just turned 14 the previous week. She is showing an aptitude for the field of astronomy, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Lev, who is studying astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, after attending the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair twice while in high school.

Less than a week later, Ulyana participated in the Ohio Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, sponsored by the University of Toledo in cooperation with the Academy of Applied Science and with the support of the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Ulyana's research on solar sails was judged most outstanding paper and was awarded first place and a college scholarship. She will now present her work at the National Symposium in Washington on April 27-30. She will compete with about 50 students from the United States and U.S. military bases throughout the world for college scholarships.

Ulyana is excited about her work and plans to continue studying solar sails. Her parents, Ivan and Luba, of North Royalton, Ohio, and her grandparents, Wasyl and Olha Ilczyszyn of Parma, Ohio, and Iwanna Horodyskyj of Chicago, are very proud of her.

Students present Social Studies Fair

NEWARK, N.J. - Students at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School here prepared individual as well as class projects for the school's Social Studies Fair. Seen above are second graders with their display. The fair was held in the St. John's Church hall on Sunday, March 19.

Hartford youths remember Kruty

HARTFORD, Conn. - Members of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) and the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, as well as students of the local School of Ukrainian Studies, jointly commemorated the Battle of Kruty of 1918 with a special program held at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church. On the right the youths are seen in a group photo taken during the event.

At the Battle of Kruty a contingent of 500 young Ukrainian men, members of the student unit of the Sich Riflemen, the Khmelnytsky Cadet School and a detachment of Haidamaky, fought courageously against a superior Russian Bolshevik force of 4,000. The battle is remembered as a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice.

We honor Taras Shevchenko

Dear Myshka:

We celebrate Taras Shevchenko's birthday on March 9.

- Roman Duchnycz, age 5
Newark, N.J.

PS: I go to St. John's Pre-School and Pani Marta's Music School.

Editor's note: Thanks, Roman, for your answer to Mykola Myshka's question. Next time, why don't you send us a photo of yourself?

Myshka's new hobby

Mykola Myshka has been studying his stamps depicting Ukrainian Kozaks. Here is a stamp designed by his namesake, the famous Ukrainian artist Mykola Ivasiuk, in 1920. Can you identify the type of craft these Kozaks are in? What was this type of craft named after? Send your answers to Lida Smyk, 385 Tremont Ave., Orange, NJ 07050. The first correct response qualifies for a prize.

Mishanyna

Among Ukrainians the PYSANKA and KRASHANKA are vital to our EASTER traditions.

The word krashanka comes from the root "kraska," which means to COLOR. These eggs are hard-boiled and EATEN.

Pysanka has the root verb "pysaty," which means to WRITE. Designs are written on the egg with BEESWAX.

There are many ancient FOLK TALES and CUSTOMS involving Easter EGGS. In PAGAN times a pysanka SYMBOLIZEd SPRING with a promise of new HOPE, LIFE, health and prosperity. After the acceptance of Christianity in 988 it became the symbol of Christ's resurrection and a promise of a better world.

HUTSULS believed that Jesus's mother tried to save his life by making pysanky to give to PILATE. As she cried, her TEARdrops turned into brilliant patterns of color. When she came to Pilate they dropped and rolled all over the world just as Jesus' teachings of LOVE and PEACE spread throughout our world. Hutsuls also believe that as long as we make pysanky the world will continue to EXIST.

Does your mother or BABA have a bowlful of pysanky in the house? They are supposed to symbolize protection against such forces of nature as LIGHTNING and FIRE.

As Ukrainians we should be proud of this ancient ART form. This Easter SEASON we at Ukelodeon hope you will have an opportunity to make some pysanky. Have FUN!

CHECK IT OUT:

Read about Canada's new stamp honoring hockey great Wayne Gretzky on page 11 of this issue. The stamp is one of a series of six that appear on a special souvenir sheet honoring hockey's greatest players.

OUR EDITORS:

UKELODEON is prepared by the editorial staff of The Ukrainian Weekly working in conjunction with Lydia Smyk, an elementary school teacher and mother of three. Ms. Smyk, who is originally from Ottawa, resides with her family in Orange, N.J.

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated May 14, please send in your materials by May 5. (We ask all contributors to please include a daytime phone number.)

Please drop us a line:

UKELODEON, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, (973) 644-9510. Call us at (973) 292-9800; or send e-mail to [email protected].

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