Applicants for the special scholarships were reviewed by the UNA Scholarship Committee and winners were determined based on academic achievement, financial need, field of study and activity in the Ukrainian community.
The Joseph and Dora Galandiuk Scholarship, in the amount of $2,000 was awarded to Alexander Zelez, member of UNA Branch 277, who is an honors student studying to be a physician assistant at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. Going into his senior year, Mr. Zelez is active in student life at college as a member of the Physician Assistant Association, where he spends many hours on volunteer projects. He also serves as vice-president of the Catholic student club at the college. In the Ukrainian community, Mr. Zelez is a graduate of the St. Michael School of Ukrainian Studies in Hartford, Conn., and performed with the Zolotyj Promin dance ensemble and is a member of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA). He also worked as a counselor at UAYA sports and youth camps.
The Drs. Maria, Dmytro and Olha Jarosewycz Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000 was awarded to Matthew Handzy, member of UNA Branch 88, who is an honors student studying computer science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. As with many Ukrainian children, Mr. Handzy learned to keep Ukrainian traditions, attending the School of Ukrainian Studies in Newark, N.J., and as a member of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. He attended many Plast camps and worked as a counselor. Mr. Handzy also played guitar with the high school jazz ensemble, and is proficient in Chinese. In the Ukrainian community, he remains active with the Rutgers Ukrainian Students’ Club.
The Vera Stangl Scholarship in the amount of $750 was awarded to Larysa Iwaskiw, a member of UNA Branch 134 and an honors student in biology at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J. She is a graduate of the Lesia Ukrainka School of Ukrainian Studies in Whippany, N.J. She served as a translator for a family from Ukraine, who brought a 13-year-old boy for treatment at a nearby hospital. Ms. Iwaskiw sees her future in the medical field, and plans to become a doctor..
The Joseph Wolk Scholarship in the amount of $750 was awarded to Matthew Tomaszewsky, a member of UNA Branch 8 and an honors student at Syracuse Unviersity. Mr. Tomaszewsky attended the Yonkers School of Ukrainian Studies, and is a member of the UAYA, as well as the Cortland American Youth Athletic Association.
Two students were selected for the Blackstone Scholarship, founded by the Ukrainian National Home Corp. in Blackstone, Mass., in the amount of $500 each. Maria Kulchyckyj and Katarina Sokol were awarded the scholarship.
Ms. Kulchyckyj, a member of UNA Branch 83, is studying health science and social policy and social justice at Brandeis University. She attended the Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies in Washington, and is an active member of Plast, as well as Roma Pryma Bohachevsky dance ensembles during summer camps at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center.
Ms. Sokol, a member of UNA Branch 414, is studying biology at Hofstra University in New York. She is a graduate of the St. Michael School of Ukrainian Studies in Hartford, Conn., plays bandura, and has performed with the Zolotyj Promin and the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky dance ensembles.
The remaining 36 student members of the UNA were awarded standard scholarships, with amounts based on year of study. The amounts were broken down accordingly: 15 freshmen received $125 each; seven sophomores received $150; seven juniors received $175; and seven seniors received $200.
Congratulations to all of the UNA scholarship winners! The UNA wishes you all continued success and achievements. The success of the Ukrainian National Association, as a fraternal insurance organization, depends on its membership. We invite you all to remain active members of the UNA, subscribe to our publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, visit the Soyuzivka Heritage Center, and sign up your friends and relatives to become UNA members as well. As members of the UNA, you have an opportunity to take advantage of all of the benefits the UNA has to offer. For more information about the UNA and its scholarship program, readers may telephone 800-253-9862 ext. 3011, or visit the UNA’s website, www.ukrainiannationalassociation.org.
