This year’s recipient of the +Sr. John Paskevich, SSMI Memorial School Endowment Award is Peter Zulin, an 8th grade student at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ.

Fostering education at all levels has been a basic tenant of the League of Ukrainian Catholics of America (LUC) since its inception in 1933.   This year the National Board of the LUC continues a tradition established in 1997. The Endowment Fund was named after the late +Sr. John Paskevich, SSMI who served as the Religious Director of the National Board of the League from 1987 until 1996 when +Sr. John fell asleep in the Lord.  +Sr. John was an educator with a life-long commitment to the Catholic education of youth. Eager to learn and excel, she encouraged her staff and students to do their best and to be the best.  This Endowment Fund awards an annual monetary gift to a selected Metropolia parochial school in the name of an exceptional student nominated by the school principal.  

Receiving the award was a very pleasant surprise for Peter, who initially couldn’t understand why the principal, Mr. Michael Szyphulsky, insisted he wear his school union on a school dress-down day.  Fr. Ivan Turyk, pastor of Assumption parish, describes Peter as an outstanding all around student who attends Divine Liturgy regularly and is a senior altar server.

Ms. Marion C. Hrubec, President, National Board of the LUC, presented the award to the worthy student as his 8th grade colleagues looked on.  Also witnessing the presentation were Peter’s proud parents, Jessica and Peter Zulin,

His younger brother, Andrew, also a student at Assumption School, his grandmother, Mrs. Barbara Houghton, Sr. Yosephata, MSMG, assistant principal, Mr. Szyphulysky, principal, and Fr. Ivan Turyk.