Mike and Elsie Kawulych
Students taking courses in Ukrainian folklore will have access to new scholarship money, thanks to a significant new donation by Elsie Kawulych and Doug Kawulych to the Kule Folklore Centre and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. The new donation by the Kawulych family will be added to the "Elsie and Mike Kawulych Family Endowment," providing awards for undergraduate and graduate students studying Ukrainian Folklore. The Kawulych Ukrainian Folklore Graduate Award is valued at $1000 for highest graduate marks. The Kawulych Ukrainian Folklore Undergraduate Award, at $500, awarded to students with the best grades in Ukrainian Folklore. Dozens of students have already received the honour of these awards, which will now be expanded.
Elsie Kawulych is an outstanding and long-term volunteer, committing many thousands of hours to the Vegreville Pysanka Festival, the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Ukrainian dance, The Canadian Cancer Society, Senior's housing, the Scouting movement, and many other organizations that help build society and build acceptance of cultural diversity. Elsie has received many important awards for her tireless contributions, including a recent induction to the Order of Canada. Well deserved.
Mike Kawulych was born in France of Ukrainian emigrants in the interwar period. He moved to Canada to establish a very solid career as a prominent lawyer. He passed away recently in Vegreville.
Elsie and Doug were inspired to move on this donation idea after the "Evening with Bohdan Medwidsky" event on June 7. The Kawulych family stands among the major donors to the Kule Folklore Centre: Peter and Doris Kule, Erast and Lydia Huculak, the Wasyl and Anna Kuryliw Family, and Bohdan Medwidsky. The Kawulych endowment will now have more capacity to enlarge these awards and support future excellent students.