Ukrainian American youth in Olympic Torch relay

by Nicholas Medvid

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Paul Joseph Shtohryn, 18, of St. Joseph, Mo., was one of the bearers of the 1996 Olympic Torch relay on May 16.

Mr. Shtohryn was selected to carry the torch for a portion in the city across the bridge over Garfield Avenue and the railroad tracks along the boulevard system. He was one of 31 persons who carried the Olympic flame through St. Joseph. Police estimated that morning's crowd watching the relay at between 30,000 and 50,000.

After leaving St. Joseph, the torch relay headed to Kansas City, Mo. Paul is the son of Roman and Lisa Shtohryn and the grandson of Stephania Shtohryn, also of St. Joseph.

The selection of Paul as a possible candidate for the torch relay started with the efforts of his aunt and others. After a screening process and in consideration of his academic grades, community charity work and his involvement in sports, mainly track, Paul was among the applicants selected.

Paul is a member of the graduating class of Benton High School. He has received a scholarship to attend Northwest Missouri State University in September. He plans to major in computer science.

In addition to attending school, Paul finds time to do charity work at a child care center and holds down a part-time after-school job. Paul's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jaroslaw Shtohryn (Mr. Shtohryn is deceased), came to St. Joseph from Ukraine in 1950. Stephania Shtohryn is a member of UNA Branch 355 and also a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Joseph.

Through her efforts, Paul just recently received the benefits of his endowment certificate made possible by the Ukrainian National Association. Paul will use the money to help pay for his college tuition.

Paul helps his grandmother in the upkeep of the church by maintaining the lawn area surrounding the church. Since the pastor, the Rev. Roman Kozak, travels almost 200 miles (from Omaha, Neb.) once a week to visit his parish, the upkeep is dependent on parishioners like Mrs. Shtohryn, her grandson and other loyal community members.

Paul was quoted in the St. Joseph News Press on May 15 as saying, "It's always been a dream of mine to do something for the Olympics - volunteering something."

For the family, and especially Mr. Shtohryn's grandmother Stephania, this was indeed a very proud moment.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 23, 1996, No. 25, Vol. LXIV

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