For service to Ukrainian philately or numismatics
In 1984, the recently elected executive team of Val Zabijaka, president, and Wesley Capar, vice-president, came up with the concept for an award that would recognize services to Ukrainian collecting. The decision was made to name the award after Julian G. Maksymczuk, a prolific researcher and author, who produced an entire series of very useful catalogs dealing with various fields of Ukrainian philately.
The Julian G. Maksymczuk Award recognizes excellence in philately or numismatics for the following categories:
RESEARCH – Recognizes original research that significantly advances understanding of Ukrainian philately, postal history, or numismatics.
PUBLISH – Honors individuals whose publications have notably contributed to philatelic and numismatic knowledge.
LEADERSHIP – Celebrates outstanding leadership characterized by the ability to guide society members, inspire participation, develop talent, and foster an effective and engaged organization.
COMMUNITY PROSPERITY – Acknowledges a strong commitment to service within the philatelic or numismatic community, demonstrated through volunteerism, mentorship, and community engagement.
INNOVATION & BIG IDEA – Recognizes innovative ideas or initiatives that have made a significant positive impact on the society—whether by increasing revenue, reducing costs, improving operations, or enhancing member satisfaction.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT – Honors individuals whose long-term dedication, leadership, and contributions have profoundly advanced Ukrainian philately or numismatics.
RISING STAR – Recognizes a new member (less than two years in the society) who exemplifies UPNS values, shows exceptional promise, or has already made a noteworthy contribution.
Do you know someone in UPNS or a non-member that deserves the Julian G. Maksymczuk Award? Download, complete and submit the nomination form
| 1984 | Jay T. Carrigan, John Hotchner |
| 1985 | George Slusarczuk, Montreal UPNS Chapter |
| 1986 | Bohdan Pauk |
| 1987 | Ukrainian Philatelic Society of Austria |
| 1988 | Wesley Capar |
| 1989 | Wasyl Palienko, Bohdan Pauk (2nd), Krymsky Philatelic Society (Kyiv) |
| 1990 | Demetrio Kolodziej, Lviv Philatelic Organizing Committee |
| 1991 | Ingert Kuzych, Ivan Perederyj, Jaroslav Semotiuk, Paul Spiwak |
| 1992 | Ivan Budka, Borys Fessak, Roman Smyk, Andrij Solczanyk, Val Zabijaka |
| 1993 | Wes Capar (2nd), Alexander Ivakhno |
| 1994 | Roman Byshkevych, Alexander Malycky, Roman Maziak, Ukrainian Collectibles Society in Australia |
| 1995 | Marta Arhat |
| 1996 | Gregory Prymak |
| 1999 | Oleksa Bilaniuk, Roman Byshkevych (2nd), Bohdan Hrynyshyn, Serhij Jarmak, Stepan Kikta, Viktor Mohylny, Ivan Perederij (2nd), Societe Franco-Ukrainienne de Philatelie |
| 2000 | Hryhoriy Lobko, Andrew O. Martyniuk, Lubomyr Onyshkevych, George Slusarczuk (2nd), Val Zabijaka (2nd), Detroit UPNS Chapter |
| 2001 | John-Paul Himka, John Jaciw, Ingert Kuzych (2nd), Volodymyr Shvets, Georg von Steiden, Marka Ukrainy |
| 2002 | Peter Cybaniak, Roman Dubyniak, George Fedyk |
| 2003 | Borys Fessak (2nd) |
| 2004 | Vsevold Furman, Karen Lemiski, Jaroslav Semotiuk (2nd), Jerry Tkaczuk |
| 2006 | Andrij Solczanyk (2nd) |
| 2007 | Ukrainian Collectibles Society (Toronto) |
| 2008 | Jan Verleg, Vyacheslav Anholenko, Don Wynnyczok, Michael Shulewsky |
| 2009 | Jerry Kalyn, Dmytro Doblevych, Lew Hryhorczuk, Mikhail Istomin |
| 2010 | Bohdan Sowa |
| 2011 | George Slusarczuk (3rd), Lubomyr Onyshkevych (2nd), John Roberts |
| 2012 | Stefan Werbowyj, George Fedyk (2nd), Frank Fursenko, Ukrainian Collectibles Society (Toronto) (2nd) |
| 2013 | Association of Ukrainian Philatelists and Numismatists in Montreal, Mike Matus, Stepan Moskal |
| 2014 | Mark Stelmacovich |
| 2015 | Dr. Ihor Kulczycky |
| 2016 | Jerry Kalyn (2nd), Paul Spiwak, Roman Procyk, Martin B. Tatuch |
| 2017 | Mark Stelmacovich (2nd), Peter Butler, Bohdan Pauk (3rd), Ukrainian Collectibles Society (Toronto)(3rd) |
| 2018 | Ukrainian Collectibles Society in Australia (2nd), Garfield Portch, Frank Alusio |
| 2019 | John Roberts (2nd), for lifetime achievement and contribution as Editor of Ukrainian Philatelist |
| 2020 | Jerry G. Tkachuk (2nd), for lifetime achievement as UPNS expertizer of Western Ukraine |
| 2021 |
Ingert Kuzych (3rd), Jay T. Carrigan (2nd - posthumous), Mark Stelmacovich (3rd), for their efforts in expanding the Carpatho-Ukraine entry in the Scott catalog |
| 2022 |
Brian Grant Duff, for initiating campaign for a Canada Post Ukraine postage stamp John Nagridge, for design of UPNS brocure promoting Ukrainian philately Petro Korpanyuk, for Large Vermeil at CAPEX 2022 for "My Native Land" Oleksandr Zharivskyi, for Large SIlver at CAPEX 2022 for "Catalog of Envelopes of the Publishing House 'Dyvosvit'" |
| 2023 |
Ihor Smelyansky, the CEO of Ukrposhta, for leadership and revitalized Ukrainian philately using Russia-Ukraine war Natalia Mukhina, the head of philatelic production department at Ukrposhta, for promotoin of war time stamps in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine Vadim Ischenko, member of the Kyiv Philatelic Society, for tremendous growth in activity and membership of KPS over the past year |
| 2024 |
Michael Kogan, for Facebook page “Ukrainian Resistance to Russian Aggression through Philately” |
| 2025 |
Ingert Kuzych (4th) for his Western Ukraine 1918-1919: A Specialized Catalog George Fedyk for Ukrainian Underground Post 1949 – 1983 |