THE NEWS FROM HERE (07/20/03)

THE NEWS FROM HERE

Successful Ukrainians can be found in the United States, and abroad. The next four Ukrainians - a teacher, two students and an investment officer - all have personal accomplishments while also contributing to their communities. Vera A. Bej, a superb educator for many years, which is reflected in the variety of awards she has received, gave back to her community through her involvement in the Ukrainian Heritage School in Philadelphia. Yuriy and Khrystyna Choliy toiled to fulfill their aspirations, triumphing in the end. Though they are not native English speakers, the couple tutored at their school. Finally, Andrew Petriwsky, an investment officer at the Western NIS Enterprise Fund, who earned a bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in business administration from the University of San Francisco, is helping Ukraine receive the best resources for food available.

SHIPPENSBURG, PA.: Educator is recognized

On April 26 the Eagle Foundation honored Vera A. Bej with Teacher of the Year award. Ms. Bej received the award at the sixth annual Recognition Dinner at the Camp Hill Country Club in Pennsylvania. In addition, Rep. Patricia Vance from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Sen. Harold Mowery from the Senate of Pennsylvania presented Ms. Bej with citations.

Ms. Bej is no stranger to awards, however, as can be seen in the citation from the House of Representatives. In 1986, Ms. Bej was awarded the Pennsylvania Association of Social Studies Teachers' Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award. Two years later Ms. Bej received the Ukrainian American Veteran Ukrainian of the Year Award (1988) and the Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year award (1988). Ms. Bej also went on to win the 2000 Cumberland Valley National Honor Society's Smartest Teacher Award and the Humanities Teaching Award.

Ms. Bej was a language teacher at the Ukrainian Heritage School in Philadelphia from 1967 until 1991, when she became the curriculum director and principal. Since 1973 Ms. Bej has been a social studies and humanities teacher at Cumberland Valley High School. In addition, from 1984 to 1996, while teaching high school, Ms. Bej was a faculty member and assistant director of the Governor's School for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

RANDOLPH, N.J.: Immigrants' American success

Another great achievement in the realm of education concerning Ukrainians involves Yuriy and Khrystyna Choliy of Netcong, N.J., who were among the "Students recognized for hard work," at the County College of Morris commencement ceremony, according to the headline over a story by Matt Manochio of the Daily Record. According to the Morris County newspaper, the Choliys arrived in the United States six years ago, after leaving Ukraine hoping to find more opportunities.

Despite limited knowledge of the English language, the couple enrolled at the County College of Morris in Randolph, N.J., and just graduated - both with 4.0 grade point averages. Mr. Choliy received his associate's degree in mathematics, and he plans to attend Rutgers in the fall. Ms. Choliy graduated with a degree in computer information systems, and she is a student at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

While at County College of Morris, the Choliys tutored at the Center for Assessment and Learning. At the graduation ceremony, Yuriy and Khrystyna Choliy, both age 28, were mentioned by County College of Morris President Edward Yaw, who said of the couple, they "overcame obstacles to achieve success."

KYIV: Providing Ukraine with what it needs

Another Ukrainian achieving success is Andrew Petriwsky, a former resident of Colorado who now works in Ukraine as an investment officer at the Western NIS Enterprise Fund. In 1999 the Western NIS Enterprise Fund invested $2.5 million in Euromart, Ukraine's first cash-and-carry outlet, founded in 1997. Euromart has five locations in Ukraine: two in Kyiv, and one each in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia.

Though supermarkets, cash-and-carry outlets, and hypermarkets are spreading throughout Ukraine, currently, traditional markets, street vendors, small stores, and other outlets still dominate. However, because "Hungry consumers feed supermarkets," according to Viktoria Braychenko of the Kyiv Post, Mr. Petriwsky believes that with time Ukraine's retail trade system will reach a point where supermarkets account for about 50 percent of retail receipts. This figure might be achieved with the industry-predicted boom in supermarkets pervading Ukraine's largest cities.

This potential for supermarkets in Ukraine forces them to deliver the best they can - meaning high standards in food and service for Ukrainians. "The competition, which will be very serious, will force retailers to develop more actively and to work to the highest Western standards," Mr. Petriwsky said.

- compiled by Roxolana Woloszyn

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