Bio: Holoyda, Olha (Ukrainian Society - 1972)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Holoyda, Olishkewych, Stankewych, Fedison, Musil, Harvey

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 2/03/1972

Holoyda, Olha (Ukrainian Society - 29 January 1972)

Miss Olha Holoyda, a senior in Neillsville High School, was presented to Ukrainian Society at formal ceremonies last Saturday evening in the grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago. She was presented by her father, George Olishkewych of Neillsville, and was escorted by George Stankewych of Chicago, a student in dentistry at the city Circle Campus of the University of Chicago.

Miss Holoyda was one of 17 debutantes presented in traditional ceremonies transplanted here from the old country. All those present were doctors, engineers and professional people in various fields, representing the upper crust of Ukrainian Society in the mid-west. Debutantes came from as far away as St. Louis, Mo, and Neillsville.

Sponsors of the annual event were: the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, Inc., Illinois branch; the Ukrainian Veterinary Medical Association of America and Canada, Chicago branch; and the Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America, Inc., Chicago branch.

More than 300 persons gathered in formal attire in the huge Grand Ballroom. The room was lighted by the bulbs of 86 lights in each of the 10 huge, ornate crystal chandeliers which hung from the ceiling. Miss Holoyda and the other debutantes were introduced from a podium on the stage over which was draped seven large American flags.

The entire ceremony was carried out in the Ukrainian language; but the few invited guests who did not know the language were able to follow the introductions without difficulty. In its entirety, the ceremony was one of extreme dignity and beauty such as is rarely experienced by an American today, except, perhaps, in formal state functions in the highest echelons of American society and government.

Attending as guests of Miss Holoyda and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Olishkewych, were Mr. and Mrs. James Fedison of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Jas A. Musil, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harvey of Neillsville. The Harveys and Olishkewyches were guests Saturday night and Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Fedison, who are niece and nephew of the Olishkewyches.