NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida awarded its ninth annual scholarship this year to a graduating high school student in Port Charlotte, Fla. Eight scholarship winners between 2007 and 2014 were awarded scholarships of $1,000 each after submitting winning essays covering themes related to Ukraine.
This year’s scholarship awards luncheon sponsored by the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by President Daria Tomashosky of North Port, was held at the prestigious Heron Creek Golf and Country Club in North Port.
After welcoming members and guests, introducing several important guests and conducting a brief business meeting, Ms. Tomashosky asked the Very Rev. Ivan Fatenko, pastor of Southwest Florida’s Ukrainian Orthodox faithful and the Ukrainian American Club’s chaplain, to deliver the invocation. She then turned the meeting over to Prof. Victor Lisnyczyj of North Port, chairman of the club’s Scholarship Committee.
After guests enjoyed a delicious buffet luncheon, Prof. Lisnyczyj introduced all the members of the Scholarship Committee: Lidia Bilous, Christyna Bodnar-Sheldon, Ihor W. Hron, Dr. Katherine Steciuk and Eugene Tomashosky. Letters from several previous scholarship recipients were read by individual members of the committee.
The most important segment of the gathering, the presentation of this year’s scholarship award followed. Prof. Lisnyczyj introduced Port Charlotte High School graduating senior Valerie Segebre and her parents, and presented her with a $1,000 scholarship and a certificate. After reading her winning essay, Valerie spoke briefly, expressing her appreciation for the award.
Valerie was the first award recipient from Port Charlotte High School. All previous recipients, including students of Ukrainian descent, had been graduating seniors of North Port High School.
The Ukrainian American Club, which sponsors various communitywide activities showcasing Ukrainian culture and history, invites graduating seniors of local high schools to write an essay with a Ukrainian theme thus encouraging them to study relevant material before writing their essays. This broadens their knowledge and, scholarship organizers hope, will enable them to speak out on behalf of the Ukrainian cause in their professional lives.