Ukrainian National Association resort crowns its Miss Soyuzivka for 2005 (09/05/04)

Ukrainian National Association resort crowns its Miss Soyuzivka for 2005

by Sonia Semanyszyn

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - On August 14, precisely at midnight, a new Miss Soyuzivka was crowned here at the Ukrainian National Association's upstate New York resort.

To give readers a flavor of the event, we won't announce the name of the winner right at the top of this story, but will keep you in suspense.

The weekend got into gear on Friday evening, August 13, starting out with the traditional Odesa Night seafood buffet on the Veselka Patio. Later in the evening patrons were entertained by the Luna band playing tunes on the Tiki bar deck.

The next day, Saturday, brought perfect weather, which Soyuzivka guests enjoyed by being outside, whether by hiking, or swimming, or just lounging around on the Veselka Patio. Everyone's spirits were flying high.

As the day progressed, Miss Soyuzivka contest coordinator Stephanie Hawryluk, a former UNA advisor, received applications from some beautiful young ladies. By the start of the judging session there were six applicants.

The judges revealed that they had a difficult time reaching a verdict, as all the applicants were very highly qualified and beautiful young ladies with dean's list or National Honor Society credentials. After much deliberation, the scoring numbers were tallied and placed into a secret location until such time as the winners were announced.

During the deliberation period Luna played for the guests' enjoyment, while the students and counselors from the dance camp entertained everyone with a rousing kolomyika.

There was some nostalgia in the air as all remembered that the grande dame of Ukrainian dance, Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky, had passed away earlier this year, and she was dearly missed at this time. "Pani Roma," as she was known, was an ardent supporter of the Miss Soyuzivka pageant every year.

The judges for this year's event were: Orest Kyzyk, who in his younger years was an employee of Soyuzivka, and today, having achieved financial success, still supports Soyuzivka; Bohdanka Puzyk, director of the Children's Day Camp at Soyuzivka; and Zenia Matkiwsky Olesnycky, a former Miss Soyuzivka.

Meanwhile, back at the zabava, after the resounding kolomyika, Sonia Semanyszyn called upon the outgoing Miss Soyuzivka, Dianna Shmerykowsky, to give her farewell speech, which she did in both Ukrainian and English. At this time, some of the former Miss Soyuzivkas who were present in the hall were announced, including Anya Bohachevsky-Lonkevych, and Lydia Chopivsky-Benson

Then, as midnight approached, Ms. Semanyszyn proceeded to announce the finalists of the Miss Soyuzivka pageant:

second runner up - Sophia Panych, a dance camp counselor (who received a free weekend stay at Soyuzivka); and
first runner up - Anya Rayko, a current Soyuzivka employee (who received a free week's stay at Soyuzivka).

Finally, the name of Miss Soyuzivka for 2005 was announced: Maya Woloshyn. It is interesting to note that Maya's mother also had also been a Miss Soyuzivka - 25 years earlier.

The new Miss Soyuzivka received a $300 stipend and a free week's stay at the UNA resort.

The management and staff of Soyuzivka and the UNA concluded the evening's contest by taking the opportunity to thank all the young ladies for their participation, the judges for their deliberations and Mrs. Hawryluk for her preparatory work in making this year's Miss Soyuzivka contest a successful event.

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