Taras Hrycyna

This year over the weekend Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23, graduation exercises were held at St. Vladimir’s College in Roblin, Manitoba.

On Friday evening, a concert was presented by the students of the College. The concert was a repeat of a concert performed by the students on their concert tour of The Pas and Flin Flon in northern Manitoba in early May. The concerts were also performed in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Winnipeg later in June. The concert itself, before parents, parishioners and guests, was very emotional. Paul Bakan, the choir master, was performing his final concert with the students of the College. During the concert the students sang religious songs and as Ukrainian folk songs. Following the concert, cultural awards were presented.

The following day, on Saturday morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the school Chapel with the main celebrant being Rt. Rev. Mitrat Michael Buyachok. His Grace Metropolitan Michael Bzdel was absent this year, because he had to attend to the Pope’s visit to Ukraine at that time. This was the first time in 25 years, that the Metropolitan was absent from the College’s graduation ceremonies.

Following the Divine Liturgy, diplomas were presented by Rt. Rev. Mitrat Michael Buyachok and the Principal of the school, Lloyd J. McKinney, to the following graduating students:

Ryan Baschak (Regina, Saskatchewan); Jean-Paul Beaucher (Sooke, B.C.); Curtis Koteiko (St. Louis Saskatchewan); Steven Labay (Mitchell, Manitoba); Nicholas Rudyk (New York, New York); and Markian Wytialowsky (Toronto, Ontario).

Some of the Academic Awards presented were as follows: Metropolitan Michael Bzdel C.Ss.R., Religion Award - Ihor Salamaszek, Ukrainian Language Award - Christopher Yeo and Ihor Salamaszek, Mathematics Award - Christopher Yeo, Athlete of the Year-Eric French (Toronto), General Proficiency Award College Staff Award – Ihor Salamaszek, Outstanding Student - Citizenship Award - Ihor Salamaszek (Toronto), Daniel G. and Judge Mary A. Wawrykow - Memorial Award Christopher Dimmery and Nicholas Rudyk, Ukrainian Millennium Mathematics and Science Award - Curtis Kotelko, Science Awards were presented to Eric French (Biology) (Chemistry) (Physics), Ihor Salamaszek, Christopher Yeo, Computer Science – Nicholas Tywoniuk.

Following the presentations, a banquet was held for the students, staff, guests and their families. All were pleased with their academic achievements and everyone was looking forward to the next academic year.

Steve Rudyk, father of Nicholas Rudyk, who graduated this year, is impressed with the results of the College, although he regrets only sending his son for only one year (Grade 12).

“The school has a wholesome environment. It is constantly supervised, provides discipline and structure, and is an opportunity (for students) to stay closer to their Ukrainian roots and Ukrainian background.

Every year the students conduct a concert tour of religious songs and Ukrainian dance. Rudyk thinks that the College concert tours are important, as “they give the students a chance to travel from community to community and meet other people, see new faces, see the geography and history of Canada”.

Lloyd McKinney, Principal in 2001 says the greatest joy for the teachers and staff was to see the improvement in students at the end of the school year: “Seeing good young men who will accomplish the most that they can with their life. Seeing respectful young men not only of themselves, but with each other. We do not want to see people short change themselves (or their lives)”.

Mr. McKinney also commented on how the staff helps develop spirituality in the students: “We support the Ukrainian Catholic faith. Clergy come in to say the Liturgy during the week, for Confession and to give classes in Religion.”

St. Vladimir’s College is a private Ukrainian Catholic boarding school situated about 4 hours from Winnipeg on the beautiful Canadian Prairies. It is the sole remaining Ukrainian Catholic boarding high school in North America.

For over 51 years, St. Vladimir’s College in Roblin, Manitoba has been providing an excellent academic program based on discipline, supervision, guidance, Ukrainian cultural activities and the Ukrainian Catholic Rite.