New England - Past Events

National Advisory Council April 2017

Kosciuszko Foundation New England

Submitted by Carolyn Topor, President

            On Sunday, April 23, 2017 the Kosciuszko Foundation New England Chapter held the 17th Annual Awards Luncheon at which the Chapter recognizes and congratulates Kosciuszko Foundation scholarship and grant recipients. The luncheon took place at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. 150 people attended the Gala. Of the 29 recipients 14 were in attendance. Their accomplishments are extraordinary!

            In attendance were Marek Skulimowski, President & Executive Director of the Kosciuszko Foundation, Peter Novak, Trustee of the Kosciuszko Foundation; Marek Lesniewski-Laas, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland from Boston; Richard Kos, Mayor of the City of Chicopee; Professor Robert Rothstein Walter Raleigh Amesbury Jr. & Cecile Dudley Amesbury Prof. of Polish Language, Literature & Culture at UMass/Amherst; Ronald Lech, Presidentof the Polish Center of Discovery & Learning at Elms College; Carl Eger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Polish Center of Discovery & Learning at Elms College; Anthony Bajdek: National VP for American Affairs, Polish American Congress, President and Founder, Polish American Congress of New Hampshire, President and Founder, American Assoc of the Friends of Kosciuszko at West Point; Joseph Kos: President of the Polish American Congress of Western MA; Theresa Struziak Sherman, National Director of the Polish National Alliance; Wanda Milecki Commissioner of PNA District 1; Jeannie Zapala  VP/ PNA Council 62; Frederick Zimnoch, President of the Polish Genealogical Society of MA.

                                    Marek Skulimowski presented the award certificates to each of the recipients after which recipients spoke about their studies and/or research and their future plans.

            The Chapter also presented the NE Chapter Distinguished Polish-American Award for 2017 to Stephen Jendrysik a noted educator in high school and college, columnist, writer and narrator. As an historian he has made the people in Western MA aware of the legacy of the City of Chicopee and the Polish contribution.

            The Chapter also recognized The Irena Sendler awardees Jennifer Brzezinski 2015 and Johnie Sanders 2017

for their excellence in social work at Elms College.

            To cap off the Gala, Alison Chiang, Laureate of the 2014 KF Chopin Piano Competition, presented a recital "My Favorite Chopin" on a magnificent Bosendorfer piano in Abbey Chapel on the college campus. Her playing of the 24 Chopin Preludes held everyone spellbound!

Carolyn Topor, Pres. KF/NE; Alison Chiang, pianist; Marek Lesniewski-Laas, Honorary Consul

The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution

Alex Storozynski, author

In the Name of their Mothers
The Story of Irena Sendler
A documentary by Mary Skinner

This documentary tells the remarkable story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who organized the rescue of thousands of Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. 60 minutes.