UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (06/11/00)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Reach for the stars

by Ulyana Horodyskyj

It all started when I asked if there was a better way of moving through space than by using rockets. When my father said, "why don't you find out for yourself," I had no idea what lay ahead.

After months of research, I had my answer: solar sails! While everyone else was relaxing during spring break, I was in Washington taking part in the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (NJSHS). This annual competition is sponsored by the United States armed forces and allows high school students to present their scientific research to each other and a panel of experts. Making it to this event is the goal of thousands of students throughout the United States and U.S. military bases all over the world. Only the top 48 papers are selected. I had qualified for this competition by winning at the Ohio JSHS. I couldn't believe that I had gotten so far, for it is unusual for a freshman to win at the state level. I was placed in the engineering and computer science category, where all the other presenters were boys!

When it was time for my presentation I expected to be nervous, but somehow I was able to relax and did my best. I wasn't expecting to win anything, especially after hearing some of the other presenters. However, after I finished, several people came up to me and said I had done a wonderful job. I was delighted to hear that!

At the awards assembly all the paper presenters were introduced and given medals. Just standing up there with a medal around my neck was enough to make me happy. I had learned a lot and made friends with students from around the country.

When my name was called as the first-place winner in my category, I was the most surprised person in the auditorium. Besides winning a college scholarship, I will represent the United States at the International Youth Science Forum in London later this summer. This event brings together over 300 students from 50 countries for a two-week scientific and cultural exchange program.

The next week it was off to Detroit for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Over 1,200 students from 40 countries - only 140 of whom were freshmen - were eager for the competition to begin. Judging lasted a full day. The judges were demanding and asked many challenging questions. I knew that winning anything at this "Science Olympics" would be very difficult. Only about 40 percent of the participants get any awards.

I did my best and was not expecting much. Competing with the best science, math and engineering students in the world was enough of a reward for me. When the awards ceremony started and I heard my name called, I literally sailed onto the stage. What excitement! What an honor! I received first place from the U.S. Army and third place from the American Astronautical Society.

This competition was both exhausting and exhilarating, and one of the best experiences of my life. During this hectic week the experiences I had and the friends I made were unbelievable! I now have pen pals from South Africa, pins from all over the world, and a lot of memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I was hoping to meet some fellow students from Ukraine. Unfortunately, the young man from Kyiv who was to compete never arrived. That was the only disappointment for me at an otherwise wonderful and unforgettable event.

On top of all that excitement, when I arrived home from Detroit, I had a message from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They have invited me to present my research to about 120 space scientists at the 11th Advanced Space Propulsion Research Workshop in Pasadena, Calif.

As one of the speakers at the International Science and Engineering Fair said, "We are seeing a change in the attitude about educational excellence: an attitude that will stress academic excellence as much as athletic excellence."

People may not think that conducting scientific research is like competing on the athletic field. Let me tell you, they are wrong! I play soccer on my school's team, but I get as much satisfaction figuring out how something works as I do making a goal play on the field. Just as I practiced hard to develop my soccer skills, I worked on my project for a long time before I got any results.

Who would have thought that asking a question would lead to all these wonderful experiences?

Now, to all you budding scientists out there, I have one suggestion: Reach for the stars and do not give up. If you work hard, you will be amazed by what you can achieve.

Editor's note: Ulana Horodyskyj was featured in UKELODEON's April issue.

SUM kids cycle for Ukrainian medical relief

by Andriy Bihun

GOSHEN, N.Y. - Early in May, young Ukrainians of the Goshen branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) conducted a cycling fund-raiser for Ukraine's medical community. Preceding the event, the children enlisted individual sponsors from the local community, each of whom pledged a dollar amount per mile that the children would travel. On the day of the "wheel-a-thon," each child strove to cycle as many miles as possible, knowing that the proceeds were destined for SUM's Emergency Medical Aid for Ukraine (EMAU) fund.

Together with their parents, the children started their trek in the town of Goshen, located approximately 75 miles northwest of New York City. Goshen is home to the start of the Orange County bicycle path, designed for cyclists and sporting enthusiasts. The path leads into the neighboring town of Monroe (best known as the birthplace of Velveeta cheese).

Cycling along the designated path and stopping at predetermined checkpoints to register their mileage, the group of SUMivtsi progressed admirably. Since the ages of the children varied greatly - from 3 to 13 - so, too, did their accumulated miles at the end of the day - ranging from three miles for the youngest, to nine miles for the older youths.

Taking part in the fund-raiser were: Ivanka and Oksana Bihun, Viktoria Dolichny, Andrij and Danylo Kobyleckyj, Tanya and Mykhajlo Pawlyk, Tanya Prymak, Bohdanna Sadnytzky, Anna and Mykola Stroynick and Stefanie Vazeos. Sponsor contributions totaled over $800 for the Emergency Medical Aid for Ukraine fund.

For the past eight years EMAU has been successful in initiating and completing several major medical projects in Ukraine, supplying not only necessary equipment - valued at several million dollars - but also ongoing medical support. EMAU has been successful in integrating doctors and nurses from American hospitals to volunteer their time to travel with the new medical equipment to Ukraine and pass on their knowledge to the medical staff in Ukraine. The support system, along with the medical equipment, has substantially upgraded medical institutions throughout Ukraine and has positively altered the lives of many ill Ukrainians.

Donations, questions or comments may be referred to the coordinators of EMAU: Roman and Hania Dashawetz, Emergency Medical Aid for Ukraine, 22 West Split Rock Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.

Illinois student receives Golden Apple Award

CHICAGO - Larissa Zelisko of Hinsdale, Ill., has been awarded the status of Golden Apple scholar for her outstanding academic record and passion for teaching. She is very active in her community and carries a 4.0 grade average at Hinsdale Central High School. The reward for her hard work and dedication is a $5,000 scholarship. In return, she will teach for five years in an Illinois school of need. She plans to study secondary English education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

As part of the package, Ms. Zelisko, 17, will take part in a unique four-year summer program taught by Golden Apple Award-winning teachers, which includes teaching internships in Chicago schools and seminars on the art and craft of teaching. Through the Summer Institute she will receive three times the amount of teaching experience she would otherwise receive. She will also be mentoring during college and the early years of teaching with outstanding, award-winning teachers.

The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program recruits bright and talented high school students who represent rich ethnic diversity for teaching careers in high-need classrooms throughout Illinois. The program is Illinois' premier teacher recruitment and pre-induction program, funded primarily by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Myshka heads for Ukraine

Well, I'm off to go visit some ancient places in Ukraine this summer. How about you? Drop me a line and let me know!

Letter to Mykola Myshka

Lesia Ilyasova, a junior at Union Catholic High School in New Jersey, sent in the following winning response to the question posed by Mykola Myshka in the May issue of UKELODEON. She will receive a philatelic prize (via the mail, of course).

Dear Myshka:

The first Ukrainian astronaut, who went on a U.S. space shuttle mission, was Leonid Kadenyuk. We even have a picture of him [from the time he visited local Ukrainian community]!

Lesia Ilyasova
Newark, N.J.

The decorative panel (above, right) of a stamp issued to mark the 1997 mission of the Columbia Space Shuttle, Ukraine's first collaborative space mission with the U.S., mentions Cosmonaut-Researcher Leonid Kadenyuk.

Mishanyna

To solve the Mishanyna in this issue, find the words that appear in capital letters in the text below.

In JUNE, with VACATION time approaching, we thought we could take you on a mini-tour of Ukraine and visit some exciting landmarks.

To the west you can hike in the beautiful CARPATHIAN mountains. There are many examples of folk art in this region, but watch out that a TREMBITA doesn't wake you in the morning.

Ukraine is full of ancient buildings. Mykola can't want to see the 13th century fortress in UZHHOROD. Many Ukrainians travel along the DNIPRO river to vacation in the Crimea at health sanatoriums on the BLACK SEA. There you can visit LASTIVIANE HNIZDO, a well-known landmark.

You can also travel to the banks of the river STYR, where you can find a city called LUTSK which was founded about 4000 BC. There you can find another CASTLE from the 14th-century.

To the north is POLTAVA, another city full of history charm and culture.

On the banks of the DNISTER, a major river in western Ukraine, there is a town called KHOTYN, which has a fortress from the 13th century.

These are just a few of Ukraine's treasures. We tend to forget these landmarks, which young explorers would have FUN discovering.

OUR EDITORS

UKELODEON is prepared by the editorial staff of The Ukrainian Weekly working in conjunction with Lydia Smyk, an elementary school teacher at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J., and mother of three.

Send in your articles, letters, photos, etc. to: The Ukrainian Weekly, UKELODEON, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, N.J., 07054. Or you can e-mail us at: [email protected].

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated July 9, please send in your materials by June 30. (We ask all contributors to please include a daytime phone number.)

CHECK IT OUT:

In the centerfold of this issue, read about Plast's "Sviato Vesny" for "yunatstvo" (youths age 12-18) and "novatstvo" (kids age 6-11).

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