NOTES ON PEOPLE (07/24/05)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Valedictorian headed for top university

AUSTIN, Texas - Craig Andrij Wilson, son of Chrystia Wynnyk and Grant Wilson, and grandson of Ostap Wynnyk, graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Lake Travis High School, which is rated as one of the Top 10 Texas public schools for academic curriculum.

He is also a National Merit Finalist who was awarded a National Merit Scholarship. Only 2,500 of the 1.3 million students that compete in the National Merit Scholarship Program's competition are awarded this honor.

Craig has become a legend on the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) circuit. He is the 2004 and 2005 State Computer Science Champion. The Texas UIL offers the most comprehensive academic competitive program in the nation. More than 500,000 students in Texas compete in the UIL academic contests. Craig is second in the state in science and sixth in math for 2005.

Craig is part of a very elite group of students - 0.4 percent of all students worldwide - who enter science fairs and make it to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) as finalists. He won a college scholarship from the American Association of Artificial Intelligence at ISEF 2004 Portland with his computer science project on "Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Algorithms." Many of ISEF's finalists go on to become Nobel Prize laureates.

Craig chose the Engineering Honors Research Program at the University of Texas at Austin, a top 10 engineering school. He will major in electrical and computer engineering. He has also amassed an impressive list of scholarships: National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Texas State Legislature Valedictorian, University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering Honors Research, UT National Merit Scholar, Emerson Electric, ISEF American Association of Artificial Intelligence, Univision/Toyota, Lake Travis School District Scholar, Lake Travis Education and Texas University Interscholastic League Foundation.

In addition to earning a multitude of academic accomplishments Craig has played on his high school varsity tennis team for four years. Each year he has been named to the Texas All State Tennis Academic Team. He has played line one singles and doubles at district and regional championships. Craig co-founded the Computer and League of Nations clubs at his school. He is also a member of the National Honor Society tutor team and a past state competitor in the Destination Imagination engineering competitions.

Craig is also an active member of the Austin Ukrainian American Club. He enjoys computers, reading, tennis, hanging out with his brother and friends, and his latest interest - the electric guitar.

Taras Schumylowych to exhibit paintings

HAINES FALLS, N.Y. - Taras Schumylowych will exhibit his paintings "U.S. Coast Guard Boston Light Station, 1716" and "U.S. Coast Guard Stepping Stone Light Station, 1877-1944" (both tempera) at the 58th annual group exhibition sponsored by the Twilight Park Artists.

The exhibit, which usually features the works of about 70 artists, will be held on Saturday, August 13, and Sunday, August 14, in the Twilight Park Clubhouse in Haines Falls, N.Y., where the first such exhibit was held in August 1947.

Mr. Schumylowych first exhibited at this show in 1968.

A children's art show also is included in this annual exhibition and will take place in the Clubhouse Tea Room. Three of Mr. Schumylowych's grandchildren, Xenia, Justin and Larissa, will display their new paintings.

This will be Xenia's second year exhibiting with the adult artists. Last year, her first with the adults, she sold one of her two paintings, titled "A Bleak Day in the City." This year, she will show "Escape to Lake Tahoe" and "Minekill Falls," both acrylic.

Still exhibiting in the children's division, Justin will show his "Waterhole in the Mountains" and "Secret Meadow," while Larissa will display "Watermelon Delight" and "The Circle of Life," all in tempera.

The exhibit opens to the public with a wine reception on Saturday at 5-7 p.m. and continues through Sunday, at 1-5 p.m. An artist demonstration is planned for Sunday at 3-4 p.m.

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