Ukrainian Debutante Balls

RYE BROOK, N.Y. – The Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) hosted its 56th annual Debutante Ball at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, N.Y., on February 22. Over 800 guests gathered to celebrate as 15 young women made their formal debut into the Ukrainian American community.

The UAYA Debutante Ball, under the auspices of the National Executive Board, is a longstanding tradition among UAYA members of the Northeast. The event has its roots in European court custom and was adopted in the mid-20th century by Ukrainian American diaspora organizations. This year’s debutantes joined the ranks of nearly 900 young women who have taken part in this rite of passage over the past half century.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Six debutantes were presented at the Plast Cleveland chapter’s Debutante Ball, which was held on February 15 at the Embassy Suites Hotel Cleveland-Rockside.

This year’s debutantes hailed from Ohio and Canada, with escorts from Ohio and New York. Presented at the ball were: Talya Dolban, escorted by Darien Kulchytsky; Emily Polatajko, escorted by Nicholas Jarosewich; Melanie Polatajko, escorted by Andrew Lisowsky; Sophia Rakowsky, escorted by Roman Jakubowycz; Sofia Zunt, escorted by Paul Williams; and Adrianna Zura, escorted by Daniel Rakowsky.

WHIPPANY, N.J. – The Parent’s Association (Lanka Batkiv) of the Newark, N.J., branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization held its annual Plast Debutante Ball at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, N.J., on January 25. The debutante ball is a traditional event at which each debutante is formally presented to the community as a young lady.

Marta Sygida-Kowal and Orest Temnycky served as this year’s masters of ceremonies, and they formally opened the event by welcoming the debutantes, their families and guests. After being formally introduced, each debutante was welcomed as she was escorted through the center of the ballroom.

DEARBORN, Mich. – This year marks the 51st anniversary of the annual Winter Ball and Presentation of Debutantes hosted by the Detroit chapter of the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America (UESA). The celebrated event, with nearly a year’s preparation, arrived with tremendous support from the local community and those traveling long distances for the occasion. This elegant event was held on Saturday, January 25, in the Grand Ballroom of the historic and ornate Dearborn Inn Marriott situated on the spacious grounds of the Henry Ford Greenfield Village, in Dearborn, Mich.

The memorable evening began with guests gathered in the elegant foyer of the Dearborn Inn Marriott for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, before being ushered into the Grand Ballroom for the formal presentation of the debutantes, the dinner and ball. This year’s debutantes continue a tradition and join a group of nearly 500 debutantes that have graced Detroit’s debutante stage since the inaugural ball in 1959.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y. – Over 700 guests celebrated 15 debutantes at the Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball on February 8 at the Hilton Pearl River in Pearl River, N.Y. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s event will benefit the Ukrainian American Veterans’ Wounded Ukrainian Soldier Project. Pictured above are the debutantes and their escorts (from left): Nicholas Santone, Solomiya Koziy, Mark Klemick, Kalyna Woloszyn, Roman Zharovsky, Sofia Turko, Michael Knysh, Juliya Martchiuk, Roman Raguso, Adrianna Mandzy, Darius Kulchyckyj, Katerina Bazarko, Azarchyk Babczenko, Katherine Anne Czernyk, Catherine Marie Tymkiw Hanifin, Lev Lysyj, Hannah Bazylevsky, Paul Williams, Sofia Tetiana Savchuk, Alex Brandafi, Alexa Sophia Malone, Taras Erachshaw, Kristine Kostiv, Andrey Petruniv, Olya Yezerska, Alexander Jaroszak, Natalia Elizabeth McMeekin, Daniel Ougrin, Arianna Porytko Thomson and Michael Wroblewski.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – On March 2, the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) held its 55th annual debutante ball at the Sheraton hotel in Parsippany, N.J. This ball marked the debut for 19 young women, who were celebrated by over 1,000 guests, including family, friends and UAYA members. 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Branch of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA-Illinois), along with the UMANA Foundation, hosted the traditional annual Banquet and Charity Ball with Presentation of Debutantes on February 16 at Chicago’s historic Palmer House in the heart of the downtown “Loop” area. 

WHIPPANY, N.J. – The Parents’ Association of the Newark, N.J., branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization held its annual Plast Debutante Ball at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, N.J. on January 26. The debutante ball is a traditional event at which each debutante is formally presented to the community as a young lady.

PHILADELPHIA – The 65th annual Engineers’ Banquet and Ball, with presentation of debutantes, sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America, took place on Saturday, February 2, in the classically elegant and completely renovated Grand Ballroom of the Bellevue Hotel. This is, without question, the finest ballroom in the Philadelphia area.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y. – On the evening of February 9, here at the elegant Hilton Pearl River Hotel, well over 500 members of the Ukrainian American community welcomed into society seven young ladies from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley at the Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball.