PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Each year, the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) offers special scholarships and monetary awards for its student members who are enrolled in colleges and universities. The deadline for applications for the 2022-2023 academic year is June 1, 2022, and the UNA encourages its student members to take advantage of this very important fraternal benefit.
In the more than 128 years of its existence, the UNA has always supported young people in their pursuit of higher education. In fact, the first UNA scholarships were actually small stipends awarded to promising students to help them attain a better future. A formal scholarship program was established in 1964. Since then, the UNA has awarded scholarships to several thousand young men and women.
The special scholarships awarded by the UNA – but funded by generous and altruistic benefactors – include the following for undergraduate students:
- Joseph and Dora Galandiuk Scholarship ($2,000) for students in sciences or accounting;
- Drs. Maria, Dmytro and Olha Jarosewycz Scholarship ($1,000) for students excelling in their studies;
- Stefan Hawrysz Scholarship ($1,000) for students from one of the UNA’s Philadelphia District branches (created in 2021 by the Philadelphia District Committee with an allocation of $750, but the award amount has now been raised to $1,000);
- Vera Stangl Scholarship ($750) for students studying journalism or nature/wildlife;
- Joseph Wolk Scholarship ($750) for students of Lemko heritage; and
- Ukrainian National Home Corp. of Blackstone, Mass., Scholarships ($500 each) for students from UNA New England branches.
In addition, the UNA sponsors five UNA Heritage Scholarships of $1,000 each for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in either full- or part-time programs. These scholarships – which recognize academic achievement and community involvement – were established in 2019 to celebrate the UNA’s 125th anniversary.
In November of last year, the Maria and Taras Slevinsky Scholarship was established in memory of her grandparents by Lydia Kowinko. Mr. and Mrs. Slevinsky both passed away in 2021. The $1,000 scholarship is to be awarded to undergraduates studying nursing.
The newest addition to the UNA scholarship program is the Danylo Andrii Demidenko Scholarship established in memory of her son by Christine T. Prynada. Mr. Demidenko, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, passed away in January at the age of 32. The $500 scholarship is intended for undergraduates pursuing studies in the medical field.
With these two recent additions, the UNA has 13 special scholarships in addition to the regular monetary awards based on the applicant’s year of study. These are granted upon completion of the senior year of high school and during the freshman, sophomore and junior years of college. Incoming freshmen receive the lowest award amounts, while seniors receive the highest award amounts. Amounts awarded by the UNA Scholarship Committee depend on the availability of UNA funds in any given year.
Last year, the UNA Scholarship Committee awarded 10 special scholarships and approved monetary awards to 29 students from throughout the United States and Canada.
In order to apply for a UNA scholarship or award, a student must have a current UNA insurance policy with a minimum amount of $5,000 (term policies excluded). The most common policies are Endowment at Age 18 and the 20-Year Endowment. These policies are usually purchased for children by their parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles.
To learn more about the UNA’s scholarship program and eligibility requirements, and to download an application, readers may go to the following link on the UNA website: https://unainc.org/una/benefits/scholarships/.
It is important to note that the UNA also offers a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA), another common vehicle for academic funding, whereby up to $2,000 per year can be deposited into an account with tax-free growth, provided the funds are withdrawn and used for studies.
For more information about UNA insurance policies, endowments, annuities, IRAs and the ESA, readers may contact their branch secretary or the UNA directly at 800-253-9862.