PARSIPPANY, N.J. – After thoroughly reviewing student applications for the 2023-2024 scholarships of the Ukrainian National Association (UNA), the UNA Scholarship Committee met on August 8 here at the Home Office to make its final determinations.
The credentials of the applicants were excellent, and some students applied for more than one scholarship for which they were eligible. Thus, the decisions of the Scholarship Committee were challenging. The criteria used by the committee included academic achievement; community and college activity; awards and honors; and content of essays submitted with the application.
This year, there were 44 applicants from 23 UNA branches throughout the United States and Canada for the scholarships and awards.
Special scholarships awarded by the UNA include the following for undergraduate students, funded by generous benefactors: the Joseph and Dora Galandiuk Scholarship ($2,000) for a student excelling in accounting or the sciences; the newly established Orest and Lidia Bilous Family Foundation Scholarship ($2,000) for a student who is studying political science; the Dmytro and Slava Jarosewycz Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) for a student of Ukrainian heritage excelling in his or her studies; the Maria and Taras Slevinsky Scholarship ($1,000) for a student studying nursing; the Philadelphia UNA District Committee’s Stefan Hawrysz Scholarship ($1,000) for a student from one of the district’s nine branches; and the Danylo Andrii Demidenko Scholarship ($500) for a student studying in the medical field.
The UNA also sponsors five UNA Heritage Scholarships of $1,000 each for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled on either a full- or part-time basis. These scholarships – which focus special attention on community involvement – were established in 2019 to coincide with the UNA’s 125th anniversary.
In addition, all student members of the UNA can receive monetary awards for their college studies. These awards are granted upon completion of the senior year of high school and during the students’ college and post-graduate years. This year’s awards once again ranged from $125 for incoming freshmen to $250 for graduate students.
The following students are recipients of special scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year:
Galandiuk Scholarship – Mark Rokycky, UNA Branch 277, who is entering his sophomore year at the University of Connecti-cut;
Bilous Scholarship – Matthew Manas-terski, UNA Branch 120, who is entering his senior year at the University of Pittsburgh;
Jarosewycz Scholarship – Darij Kulchyc-kyj, UNA Branch 83, who is entering his senior year at Franklin & Marshall College;
Slevinsky Scholarship – Alexandra Soltys, UNA Branch 88, an incoming freshman at Stockton University;
Hawrysz Scholarship – Joseph Stefurak, UNA Branch 501, who is entering his sophomore year at Pennsylvania State University; and
Demidenko Scholarship – Natalia Skyba, Branch 399, who is entering her junior year at Dominican University.
UNA Heritage Scholarship recipients for 2023-2024 are the following:
Sophia Kowal, UNA Branch 27, a junior at Northeastern University;
Maria Kulchyckyj, UNA Branch 83, a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University;
Kaitlen Telepko, UNA Branch 234, a senior at Seton Hall University;
Paul Williams, UNA Branch 37, a senior at Wake Forest University; and
Adriana Zaviysky, UNA Branch 155, a junior at Rutgers School of Pharmacy.
The UNA is grateful for the continued support of all benefactors who fund scholarships for our community’s students. The UNA processes, evaluates and handles the administration of the scholarships they fund based on criteria they establish. Individuals or organizations interested in sponsoring a scholarship are advised to contact UNA President and CEO Roman B. Hirniak at the UNA Home Office, 800-253-9862, extension 3016.
In order to apply for a UNA scholarship or award, a student must have an active, premium-paying UNA insurance policy during the previous two years, with a minimum value of $5,000 (term life policies excluded). The UNA offers a variety of qualifying policies at competitive rates.
For more information about UNA insurance and endowment policies, as well as annuities, IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, readers are advised to contact their branch secretary or the UNA directly at 800-253-9862.
In the more than 129 years of its existence, the Ukrainian National Association has always supported young people in their pursuit of higher education. In fact, the first UNA scholarships were actually small stipends awarded to promising students to help them attain a better future. The formal scholarship program, established in 1964, has awarded scholarships to thousands of young men and women – a legacy of which the UNA is justifiably proud.
PARSIPPANY, NJ – Each year, the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) offers special scholarships and monetary awards for its student members who are enrolled in colleges and universities. The deadline for applications for the 2023-2024 academic year is June 1, 2023, and the UNA encourages its student members to take advantage of this very important fraternal benefit.
In the more than 129 years of its existence, the UNA has always supported young people in their pursuit of higher education. In fact, the first UNA scholarships were actually small stipends awarded to promising students to help them attain a brighter future. A formal scholarship program was established in 1964. Since then, the UNA has awarded scholarships to several thousand young men and women.
The special scholarships awarded by the UNA – but funded by generous and altruistic benefactors – include the following for undergraduate students:
• Joseph and Dora Galandiuk Scholarship ($2,000) for students in the sciences or accounting;
• Orest and Lidia Bilous Family Foundation Scholarship ($2,000) for students studying political science;
• Dmytro and Slava Jarosewycz Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) for students excelling in their studies;
• Stefan Hawrysz Scholarship ($1,000) for students from one of the UNA’s Philadelphia District branches;
• Maria and Taras Slevinsky Scholarship ($1,000) for students in nursing; and
• Danylo Andrii Demidenko Scholarship ($500) for students in the medical field.
In addition, the UNA sponsors five UNA Heritage Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each, for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in either full- or part-time programs. These scholarships – which recognize academic achievement and community involvement – were established in 2019 to celebrate the UNA’s 125th anniversary.
The Orest and Lidia Bilous Family Foundation Scholarship was established in December 2022, becoming the newest addition to the UNA’s scholarship program. With that addition, the UNA has 11 special scholarships in addition to the regular monetary awards based on the applicant’s year of study. These are granted upon completion of the senior year of high school and during the freshman, sophomore and junior years of college.
Incoming freshmen receive the lowest award amounts, while seniors receive the highest. Amounts awarded by the UNA Scholarship Committee depend on the availability of UNA funds in any given year.
Last year, the UNA Scholarship Committee recognized 43 students from the United States and Canada with special scholarships or monetary awards.
In order to apply for a UNA scholarship or award, a student must have a current UNA insurance policy with a minimum amount of $5,000 (term policies excluded). The most common policies are Endowment at Age 18 and the 20-Year Endowment. These policies are usually purchased for children by their parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles.
To learn more about the UNA’s scholarship program and eligibility requirements, or to download an application, readers may visit the following link on the UNA website: unainc.org/benefits/scholarships/.
It is important to note that the UNA also offers a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA), another common vehicle for academic funding, whereby up to $2,000 per year can be deposited into an account with tax-free growth, provided the funds are withdrawn and used for studies.
For more information about UNA insurance policies, endowments, annuities, IRAs and the ESA, readers may contact their branch secretary or the UNA directly at 800-253-9862.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Each year, the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) offers special scholarships and monetary awards for its student members who are enrolled in colleges and universities. The deadline for applications for the 2022-2023 academic year is June 1, 2022, and the UNA encourages its student members to take advantage of this very important fraternal benefit.
by Eugene Serba
The Scholarship Committee of the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) is pleased to announce the establishment of a new scholarship for students. The Maria and
Taras Slevinsky Scholarship will provide students who are studying nursing full time $1,000 per year. Eligibility for the new scholarship includes the following criteria: 1) students must have a UNA qualifying policy; 2) students must be studying nursing full time; 3) students must be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada; and 4) students must submit a completed UNA scholarship application and provide a brief essay.
The scholarship is named in honor of Maria and Taras Slevinsky. Mr. Slevinsky passed away in July in Connecticut. His wife of over 70 years, Maria Slevinsky, and his granddaughter, Lydia Kowinko, chose to honor Mr. Slevinsky by establishing a UNA scholarship in Mr. Slevinsky’s name. Mr. Slevinsky was a secretary of UNA
Branch 93 in Bridgeport, Conn., and was active in the Ukrainian community in Connecticut. The UNA’s Scholarship Committee extended a special thank you to the Slevinsky family for establishing the Maria and Taras Slevinsky Scholarship.
PHILADELPHIA – The Ukrainian National Association (UNA) has a long-standing tradition of assisting students in their pursuit of higher education. Despite the continuing challenges of the coronavirus, the UNA continued that tradition in 2021. The UNA Scholarship Committee met virtually on June 22 to review all applications for scholarships and awards.
There was a total of 44 applicants from 23 different UNA branches. The number and quality of applicants this year were truly exceptional, with a number of students applying for more than one scholarship for which they were eligible.
The special scholarships awarded by the UNA include the following for undergraduate students:
– Joseph and Dora Galandiuk Scholarship ($2,000) for students in sciences or accounting
– Drs. Maria, Dmytro, and Olha Jarosewycz Scholarship ($1,000) for students excelling in their studies
– Vera Stangl Scholarship ($750) for students studying journalism or nature/ wildlife
– Joseph Wolk Scholarship ($750) for students of Lemko heritage
– Ukrainian National Home Corp. of Blackstone, Mass., Scholarships ($500 each) for students from UNA New England branches
– Stefan Hawrysz Scholarship ($750) for students from one of the UNA’s Philadelphia District branches. This scholarship was created in 2021 by the Philadelphia District of the UNA.
The Philadelphia District Committee of the Ukrainian National Association is pleased to announce the establishment of the Philadelphia District Stefan Hawrysz Scholarship in the amount of $750 per year. Students who are members of the Philadelphia District Branches (Nos. 10, 83, 153, 162, 163, 173, 362, 397 and 501) of the UNA are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
The award is named in honor of Stefan Hawrysz, a former UNA National Organizer, Auditor and Advisor who personally enrolled over 2,500 UNA members and established 16 UNA branches. Mr. Hawrysz also served as chairman of the Philadelphia District Committee of the UNA and was a Philadelphia community activist.
The Philadelphia District of the UNA continues to support local organizations, and parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, are encouraged to enroll their children in the UNA in order to take full advantage of the various fraternal benefits offered by the organization.
Eligibility for the new scholarship includes the following criteria: 1) students must have a UNA qualifying policy; 2) students must be members of any Philadelphia District Branch; 3) students must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college or university in the U.S.A. or Canada; and 4) students must submit a completed UNA scholarship application and provide a brief essay.
The UNA has a long history of supporting students in their academic studies, and the first scholarships were small stipends awarded to promising students to help them attain a better future. A formal scholarship program for student members was established in 1964. With the addition of the Philadelphia District Stefan Harwysh Scholarship, the UNA now has 11 Special Scholarships in addition to UNA Awards, which are based on the applicant’s year of study.
Readers are advised to visit the UNA’s website, www.unainc.org, to see a listing of all of the UNA scholarships and the requirements for student applications. For more information about UNA scholarships, readers may contact Maria Drich, 973-292-9800, ext. 3035.
The deadline for 2021-2022 applications on all scholarship awards is June 1, 2021. In addition to scholarships, the UNA offers a number of options for both parents and grandparents to assist with handling the cost of higher education for their children. Most popular are endowment policies that provide insurance protection and at maturity allow students to use the funds for college expenses. In addition, the UNA offers a Coverdell Education Savings Account that allows up to $2,000 per year to be placed in an account that will grow tax free. Withdrawals from the account can be made up to age 30 for a student’s qualified educational expenses.
To discuss available UNA products or options for college funding, readers may contact any of the Philadelphia District Branch Secretaries listed below.
The Ukrainian National Association has a long-standing tradition of assisting students in their pursuit of higher education. Despite the challenges of the coronavirus, the UNA continued that tradition in 2020. The UNA Scholarship Committee met on June 26 to review all applications for scholarships and awards.
There was a total of 54 applicants from 26 different UNA branches. The number and quality of applicants this year was truly exceptional, with a number of students applying for more than one scholarship for which they were eligible.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – In 2019 – during its 125th jubilee year – the Ukrainian National Association established the UNA Heritage Scholarships in order to underscore the UNA’s longstanding role in the Ukrainian community.
Five scholarships were awarded by the UNA Scholarship Committee for the 2019-2020 academic year. The students chosen were recognized for their academic achievements and Ukrainian community involvement.
Both undergraduate and graduate students, enrolled full- or part-time in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, are eligible for the new scholarships. Applicants must be UNA members for at least two years (as of the deadline for submission of applications, in this case, September 1, 2019) and must have a life insurance policy of at least $5,000 (Term Life policies are excluded).
The announcement of this new fraternal benefit appeared in the UNA’s recent summertime mailing to all its members, and applications were available by calling the UNA Home Office or visiting the UNA website.
The UNA Scholarship Committee announced the following as recipients of the 2019 UNA Heritage Scholarships.
Chloe Diakiwsky (UNA Branch 161) of Ambridge Pa., has a passion for music and the arts, and is a sophomore studying at Berklee College of Music. She is very active in various projects and programs of the youth group at Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church and helped raise funds for her church’s Bell Tower Restoration Project. She is also an acolyte at her parish.
Mark Kachai (UNA Branch 171) of Pittsgrove, N.J., is a sophomore studying biology at Rowan University. He is interested in medicine and helped coordinate a relief effort that sent medical and surgical supplies for injured soldiers and civilians in eastern Ukraine. He is active in Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization and is a volunteer with the Ukrainian Federation of America.
Alexa Kolakoski (UNA Branch 362) of Pittstown, N.J., is majoring in biology at Northeastern University. Her goal is to become a doctor of veterinary medicine. She attended Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Camp at Soyuzivka for six years and was a student of the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Academy for 13 years. At Northeastern, she is a member of the Ukrainian Cultural Club.
Michael Kulycky (UNA Branch 465) of Dorval, Quebec, is a freshman at Marianopolis College, where he is majoring in pure and applied science. A member of the Ukrainian Youth Association, he has worked as a life guard and counselor at the organization’s Veselka camp. He is also a member of the Troyanda dance ensemble and recently formed a Ukrainian dance band called Chaban i Vovk.
Gregory Serba (UNA Branch 173) of Philadelphia is studying toward his M.B.A. in finance at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, while working full-time as a software implementation consultant. For many years, he was a tennis player and counselor at Soyuzivka Heritage Center’s Tennis Camp. As the grandson of an UPA member, he is involved in the work of the Society of Veterans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in the U.S.A.
The UNA has a long history of supporting students in their academic studies, and the first scholarships were small stipends awarded to promising students to help them attain a better future. A formal scholarship program for student members was established in 1964.
Earlier this year, the UNA announced the recipients of its regular scholarships and student awards for 2019-2020. Special sections featuring the students recognized by the UNA’s scholarship program appeared in September in both The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda.
More information about UNA Heritage Scholarships may be obtained by calling the UNA’s Fraternal Department at 800-253-9862, ext. 3035. Updated information for the 2020-2021 academic year will appear in the “Our Benefits” section of the UNA website at unainc.org.
In addition to scholarships, the UNA offers a number of options for both parents and grandparents to assist with handling the cost of higher education for their children. Most popular are endowment policies that provide insurance protection and at maturity allow students to use the funds for college expenses. In addition, the UNA offers a Coverdell Education Savings Account that allows up to $2,000 per year to be placed in an account that will grow tax free. Withdrawals from the account can be made up to age 30 for a student’s qualified educational expenses.
The highest award – the Joseph and Dora Galaniuk Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 – was awarded to Nataliya Savchuk, a member of UNA Branch 59, who is an honors student pursuing a degree in kinesiology at Temple University.
Nataliya arrived in the United States with her mother when she was an 11-month old child. She has traveled often since her arrival in Stamford, Conn., to Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, where her family is from. This ability to travel maintained the link to her homeland, her native Ukrainian language and culture. Nataliya’s passion since third grade has been ballet, and she dreamed of ballet in her future. But, as she wrote in her letter, life does not unfold as we would like. She had to cut her training after suffering an injury. But she overcame the fact that she could not achieve her dreams and she was able to transform her disappointment into help for other dancers through physical therapy. Nataliya began yoga and found an interest to pursue studies in biology and anatomy. She is currently studying kinesiology, which focuses on the mechanics of the movements of the body. She hopes to eventually defend her doctoral thesis in physical therapy. She realizes, at age 19, that life gives many opportunities and it is important to progress toward one’s goals.
The Drs. Maria, Dmytro and Olha Jarosewycz Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, was awarded to Alexander Lischak, a member of UNA Branch 15, who is an honors student studying English at Youngstown State University.
Alexander was born in Lviv, and along with his twin brother lived in a children’s home until the age of 18 months, when he was adopted by a loving Ukrainian American family. From his perspective, he feels blessed by God with his good fortune. Since childhood he has been an altar server at St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, performed with Ukrainian dance groups, sang in a youth choir and worked as a counselor at children’s summer camps. This past summer, he traveled for three weeks in Ukraine to teach English to Ukrainian children.
Active in his community and successful in his studies, Alexander doesn’t seem to rest on his laurels. After earning a degree to become a high school English-language teacher, he dreams of joining the Peace Corps and working for two years in Ukraine. He says two countries – the U.S. and Ukraine – will always remain in his heart.
The Joseph Wolk Scholarship, in the amount of $750, was awarded to Natalie Ginn, a member of UNA Branch 247 and an honors student studying neuroscience at the University of Delaware.
Natalie was raised in a Lemko family, where holidays were a time to honor Ukrainian traditions. Since birth, she has had a love for Ukrainian language, embroidery, Ukrainian music and dance, Ukrainian national holidays and cuisine. Natalie is steadfast on course toward her goals and is proud to be Ukrainian.
The Blackstone Scholarship, founded by the Ukrainian National Home Corp. in Blackstone, Mass., in the amount of $500 each, was awarded to Christina Gluch, a member of UNA Branch 277 and an honors student at Seton Hall University; Maria Kulchyckyj, a member of UNA Branch 83 and an honors student at Brandeis University; and Jonathan Platosz, a member of UNA Branch 254 and an honors student at the University of Rhode Island.
The remaining 36 students were awarded standard scholarships, with sums based on their year of study. These scholarships were distributed as follows: 11 freshman-year students were awarded $125; seven sophomore students were awarded $150; 10 junior-year students were awarded $175; and eight seniors were awarded $200 each.
The Ukrainian National Association congratulates all of the scholarship winners for academic year 2017-2018. The UNA wishes them all success in the future.
The UNA encourages students to continue their active membership by subscribing to our publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly and by having your family members sign up for membership. As members of the UNA, you have an opportunity to take advantage of all the fraternal benefits and privileges that the UNA offers and to take up your role in the preservation of Ukrainian culture and heritage.
More information about the UNA scholarships can be obtained via the website www.ukrainiannationalassociation.org or via telephone, 800-253-9862 ext. 3011.
