Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor – Scholarship
and Ukrainian of the Year Awards
The Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and
Windsor, an organization of college and university graduates, professionals and
business persons in the Detroit MI/ Windsor ON Metropolitan Area met on Sunday,
October 16th, 2011, in Windsor, Ontario to celebrate their 72nd
anniversary, award scholarships to 8 new graduates, and to proudly honour
Walter Yaworsky, MD, CM, as their 2011 Ukrainian of the Year.
Founded in 1939, the
Ukrainian Graduates have been actively involved in the Metropolitan Are's
Ukrainian community for the past 72 years, awarding financial scholarships to
hundreds (492 to date) of post-secondary student graduates of Ukrainian
heritage, and annually since 1955, giving special recognition as Ukrainian of the
Year to outstanding individuals particularly active in the Ukrainian community
with notable contributions, and exceptional distinction in their profession or
career.
Some past recent
recipients of the Ukrainian of the Year Award included: Hon. Senator Paul
Yuzyk, Hon. Walter Tarnopolsky, Hon. Justice John Sopinka, The Right Hon.
Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn, Dr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolskyj (attorney –
Demjanjuk Trial in Jerusalem), Congressman David Bonior, Dr. Jaroslav
Dutkewych, Maestro Volodymyr Schesiuk, John Jaciw, Jaroslav Duzyj, Maestro Oleh
Mahlay, Irene Momotiuk, Vera Kostiuk-Busch, Dr. Uli Busch - Distinguished
Service Award (attorney – Demjanjuk Trial in Germany), Anna Macielinski and George Stasiw.
The 2011 Ukrainian of
the Year, Dr. Walter Yaworsky, is a retired prominent Windsor Psychiatrist and
Life Member in the Ontario Medical Association, past-president of Medical Staff
at Hotel Dieu Hospital and the Windsor Academy of Psychiatry, and a long-time
Board Member of the Essex County Medical Society. A graduate of Kingston’s
Queen's University, he interned at Toronto General Hospital and completed a
four-year residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor,
returning to Windsor in 1965 to practise psychiatry until his retirement in
2002.
A member of the
executive of the Ukrainian National Federation, Windsor Branch since 1982, he
served as Vice-President for 8 years, President for 21 years and currently
serves as Secretary. A member of the Ukrainian Graduates for over 40 years, Dr.
Yaworsky was President in 1982, held many other important positions in the
organization and currently serves on the Scholarship Committee. He is a
past-president of the Ukrainian Canadian Business and Professional Association
of Windsor, and has served on committees of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. He
was awarded the UCC’s Shevchenko Medal in 1995.
Born in Windsor to
Michael and Julia (Martiniuk) Yaworsky, Walter is married to Gloria and they
have two sons, Paul a research scientist in Boston, and Andrew an electrical
engineer with General Motors. The Graduates wholeheartedly congratulate Dr.
Walter Yaworsky for a memorable and distinguished life of dedicated service to
the Detroit and Windsor communities.
Named Memorial
Scholarships were awarded to the following esteemed graduates who will be
continuing their studies at the institutions indicated:
Wichorek Family
Memorial Scholarship to Larissa Babak (Henry Ford Community College);
Ted Gelemy Memorial
Scholarship to Bogdan Belei (University of Michigan);
William Sutar
Memorial Scholarship to Alexandra Beswerchij (Wayne State University);
Kasey Family Memorial
Scholarship to Jenna Edwards (Michigan Technological University);
Dutkewych Family
Memorial Scholarship to Alexandra Fedorak (DePaul University);
Monica Trendowski
Memorial Scholarship to Alexander Figacz (University of Michigan);
Stephen Wichar
Memorial Scholarship to Daniel Kindiak (University of Windsor); and
Joseph Elnick
Memorial Scholarship to Ivanna Murskyl (University of Michigan).
The program was moderated by Dr. Jaroslav Sawka, current President
of the Ukrainian Graduates, who also introduced the Ukrainian of the Year.
Invocation and benediction was given by Rt. Rev. Eugene Halitsky of Sts.
Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church. Scholarship presentations were
made by Lydia Taraschuk, Chair of the Scholarship Committee. The event was
attended by over 100 members, friends, family and guests of the Graduates.
PHOTOS
1 - Scholarship recipients present with Scholarship Committee
chair Lydia Taraschuk are left to right, Bogdan Belei, Ivanna Murskyl, Daniel
Kindiak, Larissa Babak and Alex Figacz
2 - L. to R.: Gloria and Walter Yaworsky with Jaroslaw Sawka