EDMOND —
Ukrainians Nataliya Yanyuck and Victoria Kopchak visited Edmond this week and left with two things — memories of the city and a pair of cowboy boots.
They are part of a larger delegation sponsored by the International Rule of Law Consortium and the Open World Leadership Center, a non-partisan federal agency. Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich, appointed by former Gov. Brad Henry in January 2011, organized their local activities.
Gurich, taking a break during a busy day to speak to The Edmond Sun, said the guests from Ukraine have visited Oklahoma law schools and seen court in action. They are highly professional lawyers and well educated, said Gurich, the third woman in state history to be appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
“They have asked wonderful questions,” she said.
Gurich said in a sense all Americans are ambassadors, and the more they are able to interact with citizens of other nations, the better.
Wednesday afternoon, Yanyuck and Kopchak visited the office of Nelson, Roselius, Terry and Morton, an Edmond law firm. They toured the office and each received a pair of boots as a gift from the firm.
Daniel Aizenman, a new lawyer with the firm, and his family are hosting the Ukrainians. The visit to the firm was an effort to increase their exposure to the American legal system, which is one the goals of the sponsoring organizations, Aizenman said.
“I have learned through my conversations with Victoria and Nataliya that countries, former Soviet block countries like Ukraine, are still in the infancy stages of their legal system development,” said Aizenman, who conversed with the guests in Russian. “Exposing the delegates to our American legal and judicial system can give them ideas to take back and implement as their own country’s legal system continues to evolve.”
Ukraine, a republic, achieved final independence with the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, according to the CIA World Factbook. Its constitution was adopted in June 1996. Its legal system includes a civil law system, judicial review of legislative acts, a constitutional court and a supreme court.
Kopchak, a lawyer from Khersonoblenergo and an Open World facilitator, interpreted for Yanyuck, an associate law professor at Ivan Franko National University of L’viv, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe and one of the most prestigious universities in Ukraine.
Their visit to America has included Washington, D.C., where they toured the U.S Supreme Court and a number of monuments. Wednesday afternoon they toured the University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute, led by Dwight Adams. They knew about Adams being former director of the FBI lab in Quantico, Va.
“Edmond is very lucky to have such an institute,” Kopchak said.
Most of all, they have been touched by American hospitality.
“The big thing is the people in Oklahoma and everywhere were just so friendly and open minded,” Kopchak said. “We never had a reception like that anywhere.”
Open World conducts the first and only international exchange agency in the U.S. legislative branch. It has enabled more than 17,000 current and future leaders from former Soviet bloc countries and some other nations to meaningfully engage and interact with members of Congress and their American peers.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
Local News
Related Photos
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Ukrainians Nataliya Yanyuck and Victoria Kopchak, front and center, pose with members of Nelson, Roselius, Terry and Morton during their tour of the Edmond law firm.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Ukrainians Nataliya Yanyuck, left, and Victoria Kopchak receive cowboy boots, a gift from the Edmond law firm of Nelson, Roselius, Terry and Morton.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Victoria Kopchak receives a pair of cowboy boots from the Edmond law firm of Nelson, Roselius, Terry and Morton.
-
MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Daniel Aizenman, a lawyer with Nelson, Roselius, Terry and Morton, poses with Ukrainians Nataliya Yanyuck, left, and Victoria Kopchak during their tour of the Edmond law firm.
Discussion
Edmond law firm hosts Ukrainian exchange delegates
- Local News
-
-
Covell/I-35 work on track
The hotel and conference center project on Interstate 35 is very much on track, said John Weeman of Partners In Development told The Edmond Sun on Tuesday. Weeman is in the process of selecting one of three people for a construction partner, he said.
-
2 officers suffer injuries in drug-related pursuit
Two police officers suffered injuries during a call in which suspects fled in a vehicle and possessed meth, police said.
-
City Council approves church remodel
A request by Redeemed Christian Church of God Kingdom Chapel to remodel a facility at 307 E. Danforth for a church was approved recently by the City Council.
“The church wants to rent a 2,302-square-foot space in the office building on the north side of Danforth, east of the convenience store, south of the Timber Ridge Addition,” said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner. “There will be no new construction other than interior remodeling to accommodate the church.
The church does not request changes to the one driveway or sidewalk of the property, Schiermeyer said. No changes will be made to the outside of the two-story brick veneer building. A sprinkler system will not be required. -
Arcadia Lake nears reopening for summer season
Work on reclaiming Arcadia Lake has been ongoing since high water forced its closure earlier this month.
-
Professor: Constitutional heritage can bring sense of belonging to U.S. citizens
Education is fundamental in preparing a citizenry to live under a free constitutional republic, said Kyle Harper, founding director of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage at the University of Oklahoma. Harper is also the senior vice provost at OU as well as an associate professor of Classics and Letters.
A sense of identity by belonging to a tradition is an ingredient in being part of a free republic, he said while speaking to the Edmond Republican Women’s Club on Monday. An educated citizen must be aware, alert and intelligent to care about public affairs, he said. -
Red Cross seeks volunteers to aid in Moore storm recovery
Before arriving in Oklahoma last year, Edmond resident Sofia Griffith already had a growing Red Cross volunteer résumé.
-
DA files formal charge in Craigslist sex case
Prosecutors have filed a formal felony charge against an Edmond man arrested on a complaint related to the alleged solicitation of a minor via Craigslist, according to court records.
Friday afternoon, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown said a member of the OSBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested the man that morning after a two-month-long investigation into solicitation for sex with minors via Craigslist. -
Oreo stacking contest slated for Crest Foods in Edmond
Crest Foods is calling all stackers, ages 6-11, to visit the Edmond store from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to try their hand at an Oreo stacking event. The store, 2200 W. 15th St., is one of several Crest sites where youth can attempt to stack Oreos. The team that builds the highest stack in 30 seconds qualifies for the finals round the following weekend, said Donna Kamas, public relations manager.
-
State photo-ID databases become troves for police
The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver's-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations.
-
Lucas: Farm Bill approval vital for state farmers
The U.S. House will approve a farm bill this year, Rep. Frank Lucas said Saturday.
The bill will be debated on the House floor Wednesday and Thursday and will pass after 30 to 60 amendments are considered. - More Local News Headlines
-
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
