Fifteen SUM members debut at organization's annual ball (03/30/03)

UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS

Fifteen SUM members debut at organization's annual ball

by Adrianna M. Rudyk

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - On March 1, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, 15 giddy, bubbly and excited teenage girls were transformed into elegant, graceful and poised young ladies. The event was the well-attended 39th annual Debutante Ball of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM). The beaming smiles, glistening eyes and proud stance of young ladies ready to be announced and accepted into the social circle of the Ukrainian community was both the culmination and the reward for the ball organizers' efforts.

After an enjoyable cocktail hour, the air of excitement heightened as the guests entered the main dining room. The lights in the hall came up and the participants listened to the official greeting of parents, family and other guests. The main speaker was Kornel Wasylyk, representing the SUM national board.

More than 350 dinner guests anxiously awaited the grand entrance of this year's debutantes. The masters of ceremonies, Yaroslav and Lesia Palylyk, introduced each young lady along with her escort. They represented five branches of the Ukrainian American Youth Association: Passaic, N.J. - Lana Abruskato (with escort Stefan Shchur), Amy Johnson (Michael Kapitula), Oksana Paluch (Roman Kebalo), Oksana Rusynko (Daniel Maksymiv), Tetiana Hamaniuk Saleh (Markian Romaniv), Larissa Sydor (Pino Tortorici); Yonkers, N.Y. - Marusia Drobenko (Paul Bybel), Rosa Maria Lotocky (Alexander Hulinsky), Alina Sysak (Wasyl Liber); Irvington, N.J. - Oksana Maria Laschuk (Peter Kasyanenko); Hartford, Conn. - Julia Paslawsky (Andrew Bzonytsky); Chrystyna Tsar (Maksym Say), Anastasia Teterechko (Andrew Kudryk); New York, - Katherine Rojowsky (Christopher Gojdycz) and Julianna Wynohradnyk (Christopher Sambrato).

As each debutante was announced, she was escorted by her partner to meet her parents, who congratulated their daughter and expressed their love and admiration on the occasion of her debut. The young debutant, in turn, gracefully curtsied to all present.

The 15 young couples delighted the audience with an intricate minuet choreographed by ballet master Hryhorij Momot. This segued into the debutante's first waltz. Halfway through, the young ladies fathers cut in, and completed the dance with their daughter. All other guests then joined in dancing to the tunes of Zolota Bulava from Montreal.

The evening continued with an elaborate banquet, which was preceded by a prayer conducted by the Rev. Bohdan Danylo. He added his own blessing and encouraged each debutante to lead a beneficial and Christian life, never forgetting her heritage.

As a memento of this unforgettable event, the debutantes and all guests received a program book listing each young lady and her escort. The booklet also summarized each debutante's accomplishments and interests, both academic as well as societal, and her future plans.

This successful evening was the result of the efforts of a well coordinated debutante ball committee led by Mr. Palylyk, which fulfilled its goal of hosting an elegant, memorable and enjoyable evening.

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