Street in Ukraine to be named after State College as sister cities relationship blossoms
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- Nizhyn’s mayor proposed naming a street after State College as a symbol of friendship.
- Sister’s Sister raised more than $13,000 to restore a central boiler serving thousands.
- Sister’s Sister has already paid for half of an occupational therapy kitchen.
The State College Borough Council chambers carried an air of excitement Monday evening as dozens of people brightened the room with blue and yellow colors, symbolic of the Ukrainian flag, to embrace the bond between two communities separated by oceans but united in values.
The ceremony welcomed Nizhyn Mayor Oleksandr Kodola back to State College three years after the borough and city in Ukraine formed a sister city partnership. Kodola also attended the Borough Council meeting and shared stories of resilience from his war-torn community that has received humanitarian support from State College residents.
“You united people, you inspired people, you created trust between Americans and Ukrainians during one of the most important moments in our modern history,” Kodola said.
He also announced that he would propose a street in Nizhyn to be named after State College, calling it “a symbol of friendship between our cities, and a lasting sign of gratitude from the people of Ukraine.”
“Many years from now, people will remember that during one of the defining moments of modern history, Americans and Ukrainians stood together. And State College will always remain part of this story,” he said.
The Ukrainian mayor’s last visit to the borough was in May 2023, about a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That visit included a moving ceremony that led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that established State College and Nizhyn as sister cities. This partnership began the cultural exchange, civic collaboration and ongoing support between the two communities.
Carrying himself with quiet confidence, Kodola appeared to embody the resilience of Nizhyn, a city that has continued to function and rebuild amid the hardships of war.
“During the hardest period for Ukraine,” Kodola said, “the people of State College chose compassion, leadership and action.”
Kodola began his remarks with gratitude to the wider community for supporting Nizhyn, and the efforts of Sister’s Sister, a local nonprofit that has raised funds to restore critical infrastructure and provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian city.
Founded in 2022 by State College resident Svitlana Budzhak-Jones, the organization was created to raise funds for Nizhyn after the city came under attack during the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Thanks to your leadership and dedication, humanitarian aid reached Nizhyn consistently and effectively,” Kodola said.
Among the first projects Kodola highlighted was a campaign that raised more than $13,000 to restore a central boiler system that was damaged during Russian attacks, bringing heat and hot water back to thousands of Nizhyn residents.
The organization also played a role in raising funds and coordinating aid projects that provided sterilization equipment for Nizhyn’s maternity ward, delivered wheelchairs, stretchers and rehabilitation supplies and supported children with disabilities, social service centers and elderly residents, he said.
“This work carries enormous meaning for our people, because humanitarian support during wartime brings more than practical help,” Kodola said. “It brings hope. And hope gives people strength.”
Toward the end of Monday’s meeting, Kodola recognized several volunteers based in Ukraine who worked with Sister’s Sister and were present in the audience. He then presented awards to local volunteers and donors who supported the organization’s humanitarian efforts, including Dr. Clayton Adam Cooper, a doctor at Geisinger who was credited with helping collect and send medical supplies from Geisinger’s health system to Ukraine.
“We’ve been sending packages and packages of medical supplies to Ukraine, including to the front line where the soldiers are dying. So, thank you very much on behalf of the entire country,” Budzhak-Jones said.
Kodola also presented State College Mayor Ezra Nanes with a distinctively Ukrainian memento that he called a “Ukrainian link,” described as a symbol of power and leadership in Ukraine.
“This is really such a beautiful gift. I am very moved by the symbol that you’ve given me and by your friendship,” Nanes told Kodola. “We are with you, we stand in solidarity with Nizhyn and with Ukraine, always. We stand with you in this fight, for your self-determination and for your right to live in peace.”
Looking ahead, Budzhak-Jones highlighted Sister’s Sister’s latest initiative to build an occupational therapy kitchen at a Nizhyn hospital designed to help amputees regain independence. She said the organization has already paid for half of the installation.
They are currently accepting donations for this project that can be made through the organization’s website. They will also be collecting donations and handing out gifts in exchange during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on July 8 through July 12.
This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 1:13 PM.
