Ukrainian professionals address students at Rutgers University (01/14/01)

Ukrainian professionals address students at Rutgers University

by Deanna T. Yurchuk

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Eighteen Rutgers Ukrainian Students' Club members gathered in a university hall on December 5, 2000, to listen to presentations on Ukrainians in the "real world" at the first annual banquet and information session between Ukrainian professionals and students.

Representatives from the Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association (UAPBA) of New York and New Jersey and the Ukrainian Engineers' Society of America (UESA) spoke about their organizations and networking among Ukrainian professionals.

The first speaker was Dr. Bohdan Vitvitsky, founder and current vice-president of the UAPBA. He gave a brief history of the UAPBA and spoke about the importance of having individuals from various professional backgrounds and experiences in one organization. "We try to bring together different people with a common interest of working for the community," he said. The UAPBA does not limit itself to Ukrainian-speaking individuals, rather it includes everyone of Ukrainian descent or married into a Ukrainian family, according to Dr. Vitvitsky.

In an effort to illustrate UAPBA activities, Dr. Vitvitsky spoke about the organization's past projects, including the Famine Oral History Project, the "Doing Business in Ukraine" conference, the "2020 Conference", "How Western Media Cover Ukrainian Topics" conference, Friends of Columbia University Ukrainian Studies (FOCUUS) events and others. Dr. Vitvitsky also reminded the audience of college students that "people are resources and everyone has a unique set of valuable experiences and knowledge from which others can learn."

Leonard Mazur, president of the UAPBA, continued Dr. Vitvitsky's presentation by encouraging the college students to be active in both their careers and the community. He stressed that the UAPBA is always looking for young people to bring innovative ideas. "Very often our Ukrainian organizations consist of like-minded individuals with the same objectives, leading a narrow-minded existence," he said. According to Mr. Mazur, the UAPBA is currently reaching out to two groups - college graduates and recent immigrants from Ukraine - in order to find new perspectives.

Mr. Mazur said he believes that the Fourth Wave of immigrants from Ukraine have been largely ignored by their fellow Ukrainians in this country. "It's puzzling," he said, "when our parents came to America they were greeted with such great generosity. We need to do something to bring the new immigrants into our community. They are our lifeline."

The other presenters were UESA members Andriy Wowk, New Jersey chapter president, and Alexander Salewycz, New York chapter president. After a short speech about the history and main objectives of the society, Mr. Wowk introduced the organization's current project, a website that the UESA has established which he called a "clearinghouse for information" and a "means to communicate with all members."

Mr. Wowk also proposed setting up a "UESA Student Affiliate Group" at Rutgers for aspiring engineers. "It would be a great resource for professionals looking for interns and for graduates about to enter the professional world," he said. In turn, Mr. Salewycz spoke of the society's social events, including ski trips, the annual Debutante Ball in Philadelphia and the annual Christmas Yalynka, which he urged the students to attend and use as opportunities for networking.

Roman Bauer, a mechanical engineering major at Rutgers, was glad to have met professionals from his field. "It's good to know that there are older Ukrainians who are ready to offer us their insight and support in a growing job market," he said.

Rutgers Ukrainian Students' Club President Roman Holowinsky added, "It's important that Ukrainian organizations like these exist and that we have opportunities to speak with professional people. In the same respect, it is important that they meet us, so that the older generation knows that there is intelligent and talented youth out there to support and lead their organizations in the future." Mr. Holowinsky also expressed gratitude to the four speakers and to Rutgers students, Matthew Rakowsky, Lida Boychuk and Roman Bauer, who helped organize the event.

Referring to the "2020 Conference" that took place two years ago, which was aimed at determining whether there will be a diaspora in the year 2020, Mr. Mazur told the students, "It's on your shoulders. What's going to be there in the future is up to you and a whole host of people like you." Borrowing from the motto of the U.S. Marines he stated, "We are looking for a few good Ukrainians."

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