Tag: Ukrainian School

Ukrainian Independence Day event will be held on campus Saturday

The Ukrainian School of San Antonio, which holds classes on the OLLU campus, will host a Ukrainian Independence Day celebration on Saturday at noon in Main Building, Room 311. The OLLU community is invited to join the celebration.

The Ukrainian School has been meeting on the OLLU campus for more than a year. It teaches Ukrainian language and culture to children living in San Antonio and South Texas. Many of the children and their families have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

The Independence Day celebration will include performances by the children from the school, music and a potluck meal featuring Ukrainian dishes.

OLLU Professor and District 4 City Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia will welcome participants on behalf of the City of San Antonio.

Ukrainian School celebrates Independence Day at OLLU

The Ukrainian School of San Antonio celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday with parents, friends and two prominent leaders: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and District 4 City Councilwoman and OLLU Professor Adriana Rocha Garcia, PhD.

The students, half of whom are refugees, sang, danced and recited poems during the celebration at Metz Hall. A social hour followed with a potluck meal of Ukrainian food.

Ukrainian Independence Day is recognized on Aug. 24. But a mini-celebration was held on Saturday in Metz Hall. 

“Independence Day holds immense importance for any country, but its significance becomes even more profound during war times,” said Olenka Bravo, a Ukrainian School co-founder and teacher. “Our people and our homeland are in need of support, now more than ever. We understand that fatigue might be setting in for Americans. But Ukraine continues its fight for global freedom and democracy.

“Having lived in Texas for over 10 years, I now consider myself a Texan. However, I’ve always held a dream of having a place in San Antonio with a Ukrainian heart. The Ukrainian School carries significant weight within the Ukrainian community, especially at this juncture. It serves as a haven for kids born here who still maintain a connection to their roots, as well as for children who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the war.” 

OLLU new home to Ukrainian School

The Ukrainian School in San Antonio held its grand opening Saturday in Metz Hall. The school, which meets every other Saturday, teaches Ukrainian language and culture to children living in San Antonio and South Texas. Many of the children and their families have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Prior to finding a home at OLLU, the families met sporadically in an attempt to ensure that the Ukrainian culture and language is imparted to their children.

The OLLU-Ukrainian School connection was created by District 4 City Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, PhD, who is the European liaison for the City of San Antonio and also an OLLU professor of marketing. She, along with OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, PhD, were present Saturday to welcome the Ukrainian School to its new home on the OLLU campus.

Olenka Bravo, one of the organizers of the Ukrainian School, led a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new school and thanked the university for providing a home base for the school.