On June 9, the National University of Ostroh Academy hosted the award ceremony for the winners of the 12th All-Ukrainian Competition for university and secondary school students, «National Consciousness in the Creative Vision of Ulas Samchuk», dedicated to the 121st anniversary of the writer’s birth.
The event was moderated by Vitalii Maksymchuk, Head of the Department of Ukrainian Language and Literature, Associate Professor and Candidate of Philological Sciences:
«Our competition has once again shown that Samchuk’s word is eternal. It has the power to shape a nationally conscious society and helps us understand the tragic pages of history: the First and Second World Wars, the Holodomor, and the Soviet system of labour camps. However, this requires reading Ulas Samchuk, who is rightfully called the “Ukrainian Homer of the 20th century”, although he is not studied in Ukrainian schools. The word of Ulas Samchuk is imperishable. To keep it alive and powerful, Ostroh Academy has made considerable efforts».
Over the years, the university has organized twelve competitions dedicated to the study of Samchuk’s legacy, published his works (some of them for the first time), and held scholarly conferences devoted to his literary heritage. The university has repeatedly appealed to public authorities to reinstate Ulas Samchuk in the national school curriculum. Students of Ostroh Academy also staged Samchuk’s drama Listen! Listen! Moscow Is Speaking!.
Rector of Ostroh Academy, Professor Eduard Balashov, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, emphasized that Ulas Samchuk became a living symbol of the Ukrainian word, a chronicler of national history, and a profound thinker of his era:
«His name is written in golden letters in the treasury of Ukrainian literature and public thought. Ulas Samchuk’s word remains as alive and prophetic today as it was when he wrote, filled with faith in the future. This year’s competition theme is symbolic, as in his writings national consciousness became a space where a free, strong, and unconquered Ukraine was envisioned. In Samchuk’s word we hear an unwavering belief in the power of the human spirit, human greatness, and the resilience of the nation. His literary legacy is not only a historical chronicle but also a guiding light for us today, as he became the voice of those who were forced into silence. For Ostroh Academy, supporting such initiatives is extremely important, as we continue the tradition of serving Ukrainian education and culture while fostering generations that preserve and strengthen national values. I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers, particularly Vitalii Maksymchuk and the Department of Ukrainian Language and Literature, Ruslana Kalamazh, teachers and mentors for supporting young talents, as well as all participants. I am also sincerely grateful to Ms. Oksana Bryzgun-Sokolyk. May Ulas Samchuk’s word inspire you to new discoveries and achievements, and to the pursuit of Ukrainian culture, truth, and the future».
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student’s Affair, Professor Ruslana Kalamazh, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, added:
«I would like to congratulate all participants and your mentors, and to thank you for joining the study and promotion of the legacy of our Ukrainian Homer. It is extremely important that everyone, in their own place, takes such steps to ensure that Ulas Samchuk’s word continues to be heard. His personality and legacy are still not appreciated to the extent he deserves. Therefore, if our voice continues to be heard and such competitions are held, the time will come when, at the national level, the full significance of Ulas Samchuk and his literary and creative heritage will be recognised. I would also like to mention Ihor Pasichnyk, President of Ostroh Academy, as it was he who initiated cooperation with Ms. Oksana Bryzgun-Sokolyk and the establishment of this competition. The themes of previous competitions have varied, but they all contribute to shaping you as citizens and Ukrainians, as well as to the formation of your national Ukrainian identity».
This year, 33 submissions were received: 24 literary essays, 7 scholarly essays, and 2 media publications. Participants included students from the National University of Ostroh Academy, Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Odesa Law Academy National University, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, as well as pupils from grades 7-11 of secondary schools across Ukraine.
The participants represented Volyn, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya, Kyiv, Odesa, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Zakarpattia, Kherson, Zhytomyr, Poltava, Ternopil, and Donetsk regions.
Based on the results of the competition, the prizes were awarded as follows:
Category «Best Literary Essay»
- 1st place – Dmytro Semenov, 9th-grade student of Cherniakhiv Lyceum No. 2 of the Cherniakhiv Settlement Council, Zhytomyr District, Zhytomyr Region;
- 1st place – Olha Herasymchuk, 10th-grade student of Cherniakhiv Lyceum No. 2 of the Cherniakhiv Settlement Council, Zhytomyr District, Zhytomyr Region;
- 2nd place – Viktoriia Savenko, 4th-year student of the National University of Ostroh Academy;
- 2nd place – Veronika Sobchuk, 9th-grade student of the U. Samchuk Kremenets Academic Lyceum;
- 3rd place – Daryna Yeroshenkova, 8th-grade student of Lyceum No. 9 named after Yevhenii Yenin of Pavlohrad City Council, Dnipro Region;
- 3rd place – Kateryna Bezkorovaina, 9th-grade student of Medvyn Lyceum, Bila Tserkva District, Kyiv Region;
- 3rd place – Sofiia Saveluk, 9th-grade student of the U. Samchuk Kremenets Academic Lyceum;
- Encouragement award – Maryna Solomai, 1st-year student of the National University of Ostroh Academy;
- Encouragement award – Anastasiia Khotsia, 10th-grade student of Secondary School No. 166, Kyiv.
Category «Best Academic Essay»
- 3rd place – Andrii Savkiv, 2nd-year student of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University;
- 3rd place – Anna Kolesnikova, 3rd-year student of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University.
Category «Best Publication in Ukrainian Media»
- 3rd place – Valentyna Zakharchuk, 1st-year Master’s student of the National University of Ostroh Academy;
- 3rd place – Mariia Panasiuk, Master of Cultural Studies, National University of Ostroh Academy.
«Fresh ideas, interesting reinterpretations of Ulas Samchuk’s texts, and refined style… It is encouraging that the participants of our competition not only read Maria but are also familiar with Volyn, Youth of Vasyl Sheremeta, OST, The Planet of DPs, What the Fire Does Not Heal, and At the Edge of Time. They reinterpret these works and perceive Shевченko-like motifs in Samchuk’s writing, recognising their relevance today. Some essays sound like symphonies, mysteries, profound philosophical reflections, and most importantly, they contain faith in the awakening of national consciousness among Ukrainians and confidence in Ukraine’s victory and bright future»,
«First of all, I would like to thank the organisers for holding this competition and for the opportunity to present my work and be heard. For me and for today’s youth, it is very valuable that we can compare renowned Ukrainian writers and their works with today’s Ukrainian reality, which may have changed in some ways, but in others, unfortunately, has not. I hope this tradition will continue, because we have no right to forget the works of outstanding Ukrainians, and above all – Ulas Samchuk»,
As a reminder, the All-Ukrainian competition is held on the initiative and with the financial support of Oksana Bryzgun-Sokolyk (Canada), a representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and the sole custodian of Ulas Samchuk’s legacy. Oksana Bryzgun-Sokolyk and the late Yaroslav Sokolyk initiated the installation of a monument to the prominent Ukrainian writer and publicist for his 100th anniversary, the opening of the Ulas Samchuk Museum in Rivne, and granted Ostroh Academy the rights to republish his works for a wider readership in Ukraine.
