Simply Slavic announces 2017 scholarship winner
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Above, Simply Slavic festival volunteers gathered recently at an appreciation dinner at St. George Croatian Center Lodge 66.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Above, Simply Slavic executive committee members present Paul Vitaly Yasnowski, recipient of the 2017 Simply Slavic scholarship, with his award. From left, are Yasnowski, Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer, Dave Slanina and John Slanina.
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The Simply Slavic committee announced its 2017 scholarship winner at its recent festival volunteer dinner at St. George Croatian Center Lodge 66 on Vestal Road in Youngstown. YSU student Paul Vitaly Yasnowski, a sophomore from Lordstown, was granted the scholarship. The fund will be used to assist with his tuition as he pursues a degree in biology. He plans to enter the field of optometry.
All applicants are required to submit an essay on how the Slavic culture affects their lives. In his essay, Yasnowski wrote about his adoption from Ukraine into a Ukrainian-American family that made their culture part of family activities through church, folk dance and travel.
This is the fourth year the organization has presented a scholarship earned from funds generated by the annual June festival. Undergraduate YSU students who have completed their freshman year and are enrolled at YSU are encouraged to apply. Applicants must share why they are interested in Slavic culture or history. Scholarship funds can be used for tuition or study materials as well as applied to programs for study abroad.
A panel from the Simply Slavic organizing committee selects the winners after reviewing the essays, overall academic achievement, faculty recommendations and involvement in their culture.