More than 100 Ostroh Academy students won Ukrainian diaspora scholarships and grants

June 08, 2016

On 7 June, the diaspora scholarship and grant presentation ceremony took place in the National University of Ostroh Academy.

10 students obtained the Dr. Volodymyr Kuz Fund exhibitions for healthy lifestyle (Canada). 36 students were awarded the Dariia Mutsak-Kovalska and Mykhailo Kovalskyi Fund Grant (Canada). The grant is given to the bachelor degree program and master degree program students that are patriots, respect their national identity, live and promote healthy lifestyle, are active in social, political and academic life of the university.

The scholarships and grants were presented by Vira Malanchii, the niece of the founder of the Dr. Volodymyr Kuz Fund and the Honoured Member of Ostroh Academic Society, Bohdan Kolos, a former student of Dr. Kuz and the head of Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine, and Roksolana Lemyk, PhD in Legal science and a friend of Ostroh Academy of many years.

«The thing about coming to Ostroh Academy I like the most is talking to the students. They are the best here. The university administration is also very welcoming. I am very glad to see the university expanding and developing. I am sure that it will keep changing and everything will be even better,»

About 50 students whose fathers are currently participating in combat in ATO Zone were given the grants of Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and the Ukrainian-American Community Foundation Personal Grants (Rochester, NY) and the Ukrainian National Association Personal Grants (Parsippany, NJ).

During the event the Rector of Ostroh Academy Dr. Ihor Pasichnyk highlighted the importance of supporting the children of ATO soldiers as well as the combatants themselves:

«It is very important to stress the significance of the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and the Ukrainian-American Community Foundation aid. Also I would like to thank Foundation President Tamara Denysenko personally and Ukrainian National Association, especially its President Mr. Stefan Kaczaraj. Your support is extremely important for the university and for each and every student. You put your heart into what you do and the warmth of your heart lives on in every single student of the National University of Ostroh Academy».

Serhii Kardash, ATO combatant and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Ukrainian ATO soldiers: «On behalf of all of the university employees that participated in combat in this despicable undeclared war initiated by the Russian Federation, I want to thank the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union in Rochester and the Ukrainian-American Community Foundation in Parsippany. I believe that nowadays as we face many difficulties the values such as peaceful skies and blue and yellow flag are the factors that unite people to fight together. The international support proves that Ukrainian soul has no boundaries, no borders and is spread all over the world by Ukraine as well as by Ukrainian diaspora. I am sure that thank to your help our country has withstood the hardship and will flourish forever. From the bottom of my heart I wish our dear patrons to be blessed by God’s and succeed in every undertaking they start. May our country and Ostroh Academy enjoy prosperity and peace».

On the same day, Ostroh Academy hosted the ceremony of awarding the finalists of the 4th All-Ukrainian Students and Pupils Competition «The works of Ulas Samchuk in the scope of the present state of Ukraine».

«I am really grateful to our grantmakers, because due to their help the students of Ostroh Academy have been able to get financial support from Canadian sponsors for 19 years. Furthermore, such kind of financial aid is a good example to follow as I am sure that Ostroh Academy graduates will become affluent and influential, so when time comes, they will become benefactors themselves and support someone’s initiatives or help those having hard time»,

Ruslana Kalamazh, Vice-rector for Teaching and Education, Doctor of Psychology, also spoke to the audience:

«From the bottom of my heart I thank Oksana Sokolyk and Yaroslav Sokolyk, due to whom the Competition „The Works of Ulas Samchuk in the scope of the present state of Ukraine“ has been held for 10 years at Ostroh Academy. Each year we come up with new topics of essays for the participants and this time it was as follows: „The works of Ulas Samchuk in the scope of the present state of Ukraine“. This year the students form Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn and Kherson region took part in the Competition. We were delighted to find out that one of the winners was Khrystyna Semeryn who had also won Petro Yatsyk Ukrainian language International competition this year».

Incidentally, Vira Malanchii has been coming from Canada to Ostroh Academy for 19 years and each time she is surprised by every single change that happens at the university, so she takes picture of them all.

«For many people in Canada it is very important to remember their Fatherland, their roots, which are here in Ukraine. The one that loves Ukrainian land sincerely always suffers when there are problems here. One of the reasons why we have been coming here for many years is that with our presence we want to show our love to Ukraine and our will to make it prosper»,

At the end of the event those present were provided with the opportunity to give some money for charity. The funds raised were given to the 1st year Cultural studies and Philosophy student Viktoriia Kychuk.

«I want to express my gratitude to the Dariia Mutsak-Kovalska and Mykhailo Kovalskyi Fund and the Canadian Foundation of Ukrainian Studies especially to Natalka Zhyla, for their supporting and motivating the youth to improve themselves. Thanks to you, we can continue realising our projects and develop ourselves. They say that the one who invests in youth invests in the future, and I hope that I will be capable of justifying their confidence. Health is the basis for everything. We must remember that healthy lifestyle is not one-day style; it has to be the style of your whole life. I hope the youth will take care of their health not only for their own welfare, but for the welfare of the country, as only a healthy generation can built a healthy state »,