Ukrainian American Club scholarship winner named

The annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon sponsored by the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, held March 31 at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club was a resounding success. After welcoming and greeting members and guests, introducing several important guests, and conducting a brief business meeting, Daria asked the Very Rev. John Fatenko, pastor of Southwest Florida Ukrainian Orthodox faithful and the de facto Ukrainian American Club’s chaplain, to provide the invocation, then turned the meeting over to professor Victor Lisnyczyj, chairman of the Scholarship Committee. Over 70 members and guests then enjoyed a delicious buffet luncheon provided by Heron Creek’s catering service, with cake and coffee for dessert.

    Lisnyczyj introduced all members of the Scholarship Committee — Lidia Bilous, Ihor W. Hron, Christyna Sheldon, Katherine Steciuk and Eugene Tomashosky, then presented a slide show of all past scholarship recipients. Letters from the three scholarship recipients were read by Katherine Steciuk (2011 recipient Francesca Tebano), Ihor W. Hron (2012 recipient Kayley M. Taylor) and Lidia Bilous (2014 recipient Shaye W. McKee).

    The most important segment of the gathering, the presentation of this year’s Scholarship Award, followed. Lisnyczyj introduced the 2015 award recipient, Port Charlotte High School graduating senior Valerie Segebre, and her parents, and presented her with a $1,000 scholarship. After reading her winning essay, Valerie spoke briefly, expressing her appreciation for the award. The affair concluded with photographs of Valerie with her family and with the Scholarship Awards Committee.
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    The April monthly membership meeting of North Port’s Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”) last Friday was chaired by Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA (Ret.). After the traditional formalities (salute and Pledge of Allegiance, invocation and moment of silence for departed comrades), post finance officer Oleh Sawkiw presented his report, which was approved after a brief discussion. The minutes of the previous meeting, distributed via mail and email, were also approved.

    Members then discussed the plans for activities during the next three months, including the post’s participation in the Chernobyl disaster commemoration, Venice Memorial Garden’s Memorial Day program on May 22, “Panakhyda” (brief prayer service) May 26 for the repose of souls of all departed veterans, and the community Memorial Day observance at North Port’s Veterans Park on May 25, as well as May and June monthly membership meetings. The next meeting will be held at 3 p.m. May 1 at the Oseredok.
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    Ukrainian Christians in Ukraine and many Ukrainians, Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians outside of Ukraine, including our community in Southwest Florida, will celebrate this Sunday the “Greatest Day,” or “Velykden,” as Ukrainians refer to the Easter holiday.

    The celebration on Sunday will be preceded by a series of Passion services today through Saturday. The blessing of traditional Ukrainian Easter food baskets containing babkas and paskas (special Ukrainian Easter breads), sausage, ham, cheese, butter, eggs and “pysanky” (artistically hand-decorated Easter eggs) and horseradish will be held Friday afternoon at both Ukrainian churches in North Port. 

 Atanas Kobryn  covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com.

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

 by Atanas Kobryn