Ukrainian Technological Society presents annual scholarship awards

by Nicholas C. Kotow

PITTSBURGH - The Ukrainian Technological Society of Pittsburgh, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Scholarship Program on Sunday, August 4, at its Scholarship Social in the auditorium of the Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Building on the University of Pittsburgh campus in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.

President Ihor Havryluk welcomed the 2002 scholarship awardees and their families, members and guests. He noted that the society was founded in 1970 and recognized Michael Korchynsky and S. Michael Tymiak, two of the original four founders, who were present in the audience.

The first program adopted by the society was the annual dinner and dance and presentation of the Ukrainian of the Year Award; the second program adopted was the presentation of scholarships to young college-bound Ukrainian students from Western Pennsylvania and bordering cities in Ohio and West Virginia. The UTS Scholarship Program began in 1972 with fund-raising, and the first four scholarships of $250 each were awarded on May 27, 1973, at a scholarship concert featuring pianist Roman Rudnytsky.

President Havryluk thanked the Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Ukrainian community for generously supporting the Scholarship Program for 30 years through their attendance at scholarship concerts and dinners, and with mail-in contributions, and asked for their continued financial support.

Nickolas C. Kotow, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, next gave a brief history of the 30 years of the Scholarship Program. Scholarship awardees are selected mainly based upon their academic record with participation in Ukrainian and American activities also considered. He noted that during this time the society had made 283 awards totalling $115,000 to some 208 different students.

He recognized Olga Manasterski, who with her husband, Chester, had developed the guidelines for the Scholarship Program, and who with her sons had established a scholarship in his name after Mr. Manasterski passed away in 1980. Also, in 1980, the Ukrainian Selfreliance of Western Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union established a scholarship. Yaroslaw Hodowanec, manager, was present to represent the credit union.

President Havryluk and Debra A. Walenchok, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented the 2002 Scholarship Awards of $500 each to the following: Susan K. Alstad received the Chester Manasterski Memorial Scholarship; Gretchen Anne Reinhart received the Ukrainian Selfreliance of Western Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union Scholarship; Alexandra L. Sawchuk received the Pavlo Havryluk Memorial Scholarship; Alexander Begey, Matthew P. Haritan, Michael Peter Kokus and Mark D. Losego received Akim and Tatiana Kutsenkow Memorial Scholarships sponosored by Dr. and Michael Kutsenkow of Carnegie, Pa.; and Andrew Haritan, Rachel Ann Losego, Michael Polnyj, Jeffrey Robert Ronosky and Lynne M. Szarnicki received Ukrainian Technological Society Scholarships.

In addition, a $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Natalya Lytvynova, who was coming from Ukraine at the end of August to begin graduate studies at the Marywood School of Social Work in Scranton, Pa.

Following the presentation of the awards, Mrs. Walenchok thanked Kateryna Dowbenko of the department of Slavic languages and literatures at the University of Pittsburgh for her help in making arrangements for the Scholarship Social, and Michael Komichak, director of the "Ukrainian Radio Program," for his active radio support of all aspects of the Scholarship Program since its inception. She also thanked members,Irene K. Grimm and Kristina K. Szmul for their help with this year's Scholarship Program.

Concluding the ceremonies, Mr. Kokus, who is attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., played a medley of Ukrainian songs, which he had arranged for the bassoon. He was accompanied on the keyboard by his brother, Nicholas. All were then invited to enjoy refreshments in the courtyard.

The Ukrainian Technological Society has IRC 501(c)(3) status, and contributions to the UTS Scholarship Fund are deductible from the federal income tax to the extent allowed by law. Contributions are welcomed throughout the year, and may be sent to: Ukrainian Technological Society, P.O. Box 4277, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 1, 2002, No. 35, Vol. LXX

| Home Page |