NOTES ON PEOPLE (07/28/96)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Selected to attend Leadership Camp

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - Adrianna Rudyk, a junior at Yorktown High School, was one of 125 students selected to attend the National Leadership Camp at Outlaw Ranch, S.D., on July 9-14.

The National Leadership Camps are five-day workshops for student leaders designed to increase their self-understanding and confidence; foster development of sound philosophy of leadership and increase their skills in communication, problem-solving, group process and organization. Students from several states were in attendance.

Miss Rudyk has been an active member of the Student Senate, helping to organize many student activities and programs. She has received awards for active participation in Senate activities, including committee work. She also plays violin in the school orchestra, sings in the school chorus and is a member of the track and volleyball teams. Miss Rudyk is fluent in Ukrainian and has taken advanced placement Spanish.

Outside of her school activities, Miss Rudyk belongs to the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and has been a counselor at the summer D.A.R.E. camps in Yorktown. She has also attended camps for counselors sponsored by the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM-A). This year she won first place for over-all scholastic and athletic ability during a recent SUM-A competition with over 400 participants from around the United States.

The National Leadership Camps are sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Department of Student Activities, for members of the National Association of Student Councils, National Honor Society and other student leaders. Miss Rudyk is a member of UNA Branch 8.

Vocal trio releases new recording

SASKATOON - The young Voloshky vocal trio has combined talents with Ron Cahute of Burya and Johnny "Frosty" Moroz of Trubka to produce "Blossoming," a new and entertaining mix of folk songs.

Voloshky, who are university students Nadya Foty, Marusia Kachkowski and Christina Soroka, have been performing in Western Canada for several years. "Blossoming" brings to the fore the group's trademark a cappella sound, interspersed with tunes accompanied by Mr. Moroz's acoustic guitar and Mr. Cahute's orchestral back-up.

The signature selection on the album is a medley of live folk songs titled, quite appropriately, "Medley." And in moments inspired by the Veryovka Choir's folk renditions, Voloshky have included two selections in the traditional Ukrainian folk style known as "bilyi holos."

"Blossoming" will be available on CD and cassette tape formats at selected outlets after May 15. All three members of the ensemble are members of UNA Branch 444.

For more information contact Voloshky at: P.O. Box 22005, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7H 5P1; or call (306) 955-5366; fax, (306) 374-8501.

Congratulated by Illinois governor

Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar presented a letter of congratulations to Bohdan Watral for receiving the 1996 Herb Wegner Memorial Award. It was awarded to Mr. Watral for his groundbreaking efforts to establish credit unions in Ukraine, which have resulted in the establishment of more than 140 credit unions serving some 45,000 members there. Mr. Watral is a member of UNA Branch 399.

Promoted to rank of lieutenant colonel

WEST POINT, N.Y. - William N. Prokopyk was recently promoted to lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army, in a ceremony at The United States Military Academy.

Lt. Col. Prokopyk graduated in 1979 from the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at Youngstown State University and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering and an M.S. in operations research from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has received numerous decorations, among them the Bronze Star and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

During 16 and a half years of military service he has seen two tours of duty at Fort Bragg, N.C., as well as Fort Hood, Texas. He is currently at the department of mathematical sciences, United States Military Academy at West Point.

Lt. Col. Prokopyk is married to the former Carolyn Davenport and has two sons, William Jr. and Andrew. He is the son of Wasyl Prokopyk and the late Elizabeth Prokopyk. Lt. Col. Prokopyk is a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 230.

Chosen for touring program in the arts

BIG SANDY, Texas - Composer, concert and recording artist David Michael Bilowus, son of Peter and Mary Bilowus of West Seneca, N.Y., received notice of his acceptance to two performing arts touring programs, affording him additional opportunities to perform throughout a six-state region.

Mr. Bilowus, currently living in Hawkins, Texas, is one of approximately 141 artists who was selected to be included on the Texas Touring Program Roster, which will be made available to performing arts presenters throughout Texas. Presenters participating in the program can apply to the Texas Commission on the Arts for up to 50 percent of the artist's fees.

Mr. Bilowus was also selected by the Mid-America Arts Alliance board of directors to participate in their Touring Arts Program, which supports artists and presenters in a six-state region, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Presenters in this region can apply for up to 25 percent of the artist's fees.

Mr. Bilowus, a music faculty member at Ambassador University in Texas and a graduate of State University of New York in Buffalo, plans to tour with performances of his original solo piano compositions, which paint colorful images of locations around the world, including ocean coasts, mountains of Ukraine, lakes of America and streams of the Orient.

"My music is a reflection of my personal life's experiences, of places I've traveled, and people who have impacted my life," said the gifted artist. Mr. Bilowus uses elements of classical, jazz, pop and folk music in his works, attracting audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

According to Livingston Biddle, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. Bilowus is "a most gifted artist. One who combines in an exceptional manner the talents of both composer and performer with his wholly engaging personality."

Many of Mr. Bilowus' compositions are available on his recording "Forms of the Ocean." For more information about the touring arts program and/or about his recording, call 800-484-9254, extension 4614.

Mr. Bilowus is a member of UNA Branch 127.

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