On Saturday, October 30th, 2004, in the Golf Club Le Challenger, 2525 Rue des Nations, in Ville St. Laurent, over 220 guests took part in the 39th Annual Scholarship Ball of the Canadian Slovak Professional and Business Association (CSPBA). This annual ball is a formal event with live music and dancing. The Scholarship Ball, since its inception, has always been a dignified event and the climax of the Montreal Slovak Social Calendar.

Ernest Palus, Stefanie Licursi, Nicole Seben, Lawrence Hrycyk, Brittany Olah, Brian Taveres, Jana Michalkova, Dana-Jay Reda, Marek Lalli, Kristen Theodore, Samuel Luptak, Mikulas Arendas, Matthew Angelus Sitting Dr. Jozef Brody and Eduard Baluch – scholarship trustees

Cocktails, with a large selection of delicious hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine, started at 6:00 P.M. After that, at 7.00 P.M., the emcee for the evening’s festivities, Dr. Steve Hreha, introduced the thirteen scholarship winners and their escorts. The thirteen scholarships awarded this year amounted to $7,900. The members of the CSPBA are proud of the fact that during our 42 year existence, the Association has awarded scholarships to 338 students of Slovak descent, who pursued their education beyond high school, for a total of $173,400.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2. The Rozkopals, The Brodys, The Arendass, The Sebens 3. P.Tourigny, S.Mailath, G.Cloutier 4. K.Demo with friends 5. J.Fuska, J.Corej 6. A.Vybohova with friend 7. F.Rohac (right) with saxofonist 8. A.Hrycykova, S.Brodyova, R.Vandzurova 9. The Rozkopals 10. S.Hreha 11. E.Baluch 12. J.Chomay 9 10 11 12

When father Ristau blessed the Ball and the ever-young Ann Vyboh sung the National anthems, the guessed were seated at their tables. Our emcee then introduced some special guests (Chargé d’Affaires of the Slovak Republic Mr. Steven Rozkopal and his wife Silvia, the Slovak Commercial Attaché Mr. Dusan Badzuch with his daughter Barborka, Count Steven Mailath and his wife Countess Maria, the President of the Hungarian Ball Mrs. Barbara Brzezinski with her husband Alex, the Honorary Consul of Croatia Mr. Gilles Cloutier with his wife Michelle Paquett and Montreal City Councilor Me. Dida Berku and her husband Jack Kincler). After a short interruption, the excellent five course dinner with wine was served (soup, salad, vegetable lasagna, veal á la marsala, desert with coffee, or tea).

13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
13. M.Arendas 14. M.Lalli 15. J.Michalkova 16. B.Olah 17. D.Reda 18. K.Theodor 19. L.Hrycyk 20. B.Taveres 21. S.Licursi

The main event of the evening, the awarding of scholarships to students, took place during the serving of the desert. Mr. Edward Baluch, one of the three trustees of the CSPBA Scholarship Fund, started the presentation of this year's awards. Nine students (six from CEGEP and three from Universities) received $500 scholarships, which were awarded by our president Dr. Jozef Brody. Then the following special awards were bestowed :

1.		$800 Scholarship from La Maison Slovaque, presented by Mme Eva Petráš, the President of La Maison Slovaque, to the best university graduate student, to Mr. Ernest Palus, a graduate student from Concordia University.
2.		Mr. Pierre Brunet, the owner of ten McDonald’s franchises, awarded a scholarship in the amount of $800 to the best university student from Concordia University Samuel Luptak.
3.		Matthew Angelus of Marianopolis College, the best student from CEGEP, was presented with the Gouvernment of the Slovak Republic award and a check for $800, by Chargé d’Affaires of the Slovak Republic Mr. Steven Rozkopal.
4.		Ms. Suzan Hurtuk, long time companion of the late John Šimkovits, presented the $1,000 John Šimkovits Memorial Scholarship to Nicole Seben from College André-Grasset, the best overall student.

When the trustee Eduard Baluch introduced Nicole Seben, he emphasized that in the 39-year history of CSPBA and his long-term work as a principal of a High School, he never met such an outstanding student as Nicole. Her overall average was very close to 100%. After Nicole obtained her award, she gave her valedictorian thank you speech in fluent English, French and Slovak.

Immediately following the speech, Harold Birkens’ Band began to play dance music, which followed the playing around each table to satisfy the guests requests. After a short while, the CSPBA president Dr. Jozef Brody thanked the conveners of the Ball Mrs. Helen Corej and Mrs. Rose Marie Stano and presented them with flowers, as the token of appreciation. He also introduced the ten past presidents (E.Baluch, J.Chomay, J.Corej, J.Homa, J.Jasko Jr., J.Kocisko, S.Kubina, J.Reha, E.Petras and J.Vandzura), and bestowed a Meritorious Service Award to Mrs. Ann Vyboh, for her long term services and singing at many occasions organized by various Slovak organizations.

26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33
26. Music by Harolda Birkensa 27. L.Kubina, Hrycyk, S.Kubina, A.Hrycyk, R.Vandzura, Mrs.Beg, J.Vandzura, Mr.Beg 28. The Arendases 29. The Brodys 30. E.Petrasova, L.Eldridge 31. J.Brody 32. J.Brody, J.Vybohova 33. H.Corejova, J.Brody, R-M.Stanova

In his “State of the Association” address, Dr. Brody emphasized that togetherness of the Slovak community is the only guarantee of survivor of Slovak organizations such as CSPBA. He also thanked all 22 advertisers and 7 door prize donors, and specially those who contributed to the Scholarship Fund this year. He appealed to all to look for the reasons to support such an boastful cause rather than to look for a reason not to. Successful Slovak students are the foundation of our future and therefore to support them is our noble duty.

At Midnight, the draw of the seven door prizes made a number of people happy. The presentation of the following prizes to the lucky winners was made by our emcee Dr. Steven Hreha :

1. Two return airline tickets to Prague or Bratislava, donated by the director of CSA in Montreal Mr. Miroslav Kozich;
2. A crystal vase, donated by Chargé d’Affaires of the Slovak Republic Mr. Steven Rozkopal;
3. Personal painted portrait, donated by our local artist Mr. Peter Krc (who displayed during the Ball a beautiful portrait of his daughter Renata);
4. An ink-jet color printer, donated by Mr. Victor Pospodinis from Canacomp Systems Inc.;
5. 2 monthly suppers for the entire year, donated by Mr. Pierre Brunet, owner of the ten McDonalds restaurants in the Montreal area (Cote-des-Neiges, Cavendish Mall, Queen Mary, Westmont, Decarie, Wal-Mart, Beaumont, St. Jacques, St. Denis and La Gare Centrale).
6. Two dinners (worth $100) at the La Sarcelle restaurant in Bedford donated by Mr. and Mrs. Aladar Galbavý. This is an outstanding establishment, which in a lovely environment serves delicious Slovak, middle European and French food.
7. Two lunches at the Vieux Mozart restaurant in Old Montreal, donated by owner Mr. & Mrs. Peter Noga. This Slovak restaurant is a very fine establishment of which our community should be proud.

After the door prizes were presented Harry Birkens and his band played on ‘till the wee hours of the morning when everyone, after an evening of good food and fine entertainment, said good night and “See you next year on the jubilee 40th Annual Scholarship Ball”.