For promoting the city in 2014, 22 awards and four honorary awards were presented. The artistic program featured, among others, the group Tres and Wojtek Andrzejewski, a student of the BOK-MCC music studio. Mirek Kuc and Sławomir Zimniak performed Chopin’s Prelude in E minor for two guitars, arranged by Mirek Kuc.
Honorary awards were presented to
- Piotr Żądło, president of the Bolesławiec District Beekeepers’ Association. Piotr Żądło has been the long-serving president of the Bolesławiec District Beekeepers’ Association. Through his work, he popularizes beekeeping and the health benefits of bee products. For years, he has cooperated with the local governments of Bolesławiec County, integrating the beekeeping community and providing education on bee breeding and the principles of organic farming. He promotes Bolesławiec’s beekeepers and the city of Bolesławiec through the media and meetings organized by the Bolesławiec District Beekeepers’ Association.
- ret. Lt. Col. Jan Szuszkiewicz, president of the Association of Polish Army Soldiers. Together with the Association’s members, he promotes Bolesławiec’s military history. Soldiers who once served in Bolesławiec come from all over Poland to the annual meetings organized by the Association. The Association’s members also cooperate with other associations of former soldiers. The Bolesławiec branch No. 3 of the Association has more than 30 members who actively participate in the life of the city.
- the Bolesławiec Senior Citizens’ Council. The Council was established by the Mayor of the City on December 22, 2009. Its second term has been in operation since June 13, 2013. It consists of 11 members, and its chair is Maria Szpak. The Senior Citizens’ Council performs advisory and consultative functions for local government bodies on matters concerning the quality of life of older people. The Council identifies the priorities, needs and problems of senior citizens and presents proposals and applications concerning actions for seniors.
- Zehnder Group Bolesławiec Sp.z.o.o. The Zehnder company began production in Bolesławiec in 1999. It produces top-quality radiators here, recognized worldwide. Since its establishment, the company has continued to grow and is one of Bolesławiec’s best-known companies. The Zehnder plant was the first to invest on a large scale in the northern part of Bolesławiec, today’s Bolesławiec Economic Activity Zone. Piotr Kościsz is director of the Zehnder company’s Bolesławiec branch.
In the science category, awards were presented to
- Ewa Szachowicz, a long-serving employee of Municipal Public Preschool No. 7 with integration classes. She has been the facility’s director since 2008. She is a creative and innovative director who seeks new solutions, methods and forms of work. Boldly, responsibly and successfully, she introduces modern concepts of preschool education. She was the first in Bolesławiec to initiate cross-border cooperation between Polish and Czech preschools. She conceived three projects co-financed by EU funds with the support of the Nysa Euroregion. At Ewa Szachowicz’s initiative, the entire teaching staff improves its qualifications by participating in training financed from external sources.
- Rafał Molendaa studentof the third-year humanities class at the General Secondary School No. 1. He was a finalist in the 3rd National Olympiad of Knowledge about the Polish and European Labor Market. In the previous school year, he became a laureate of the Lower Silesian Tax Knowledge Competition, took part in the district competitions of the 2nd National Olympiad of Entrepreneurship and Management, in the Knowledge of the Third Polish Republic Olympiad, and in the provincial final of the “25 Years of the Senate in Poland” Competition. In addition to academic achievements, he has also succeeded in competitive bridge: he is the champion of the macroregion and Lower Silesia, took fourth place in the Polish Team Championships and seventh place in the Polish School Youth Pairs Championships.
- Municipal Preschool No. 3. Thanks to the commitment of the entire preschool community, the facility earned several valuable certificates: “Add a Language to Your Favorites,” “Together Fully Able,” “Healthy Preschooler Academy” and “Safe Preschool.” In 2014, two projects co-financed by the European Union with the support of the Nysa Euroregion were carried out: “Little Cross-Border Researchers” and “Movement and Play Develop Polish and Czech Preschoolers.” It twice received the title of “Fastest Preschool” in the European Street Race, the title of “Preschool in Motion” in a nationwide Ministry of National Education campaign, the title of “Preschool Well Preparing for School,” and third place in the Lower Silesian final of the “I’m 6 Years Old” competition.
- the team of students from Primary School No. 2: Olga Bajer, Jakub Mazur and Jacek Harmider. Three six-year-old pupils of Primary School No. 2 won the title of Lower Silesian Champion in Education for Safety 2014. The competition was organized by the Board of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and the Association of Polish Municipalities of the Nysa Euroregion. In May 2014, the team received the Cup of the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, and in June, during the 18th “The President Invites” gala, it received the “Talent of the Year 2014” certificate.
In the culture category, awards were presented to
- Mateusz Grobelny. Mateusz Grobelny’s artistic work in ceramics is known and appreciated worldwide. His most spectacular and emotionally engaging activity is building and firing wood-fired Kilns–Sculptures. For two years, he has been the curator of the International Ceramic and Sculpture Open-Air Workshop. His achievements in the previous year included, among others: the solo exhibition “Body Structures” and the lecture “Scars from Fire” at the Beskidzka Gallery of Art in Szczyrk; the premiere of the film “Man of Fire”; the presentation of works as part of the Ceramics Biennale on the island of Bornholm in Denmark; an exhibition following the 2013 International Ceramic Symposium in Gmunden at the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Italy; the creation of the “Wall of Fire” kiln-sculpture during the 20th Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival; and a ceramic bench in Bolesławiec Market Square.
- Halina Bałacka-Kłak, an instructor at the Contemporary Dance Studio at BOK-MCC. Halina Bałacka-Kłak teaches three age groups; 60 people attend the classes in total. She is the author and choreographer of the popular dance performances “From One Lump of Clay,” “Metanoia” and “ojDaDana.” Her students win awards and distinctions at regional and national competitions. In May 2014, at the 15th National STONOGA Dance Group Tournament in Chojnów, the MODUS group took first place in the freestyle category for over-15s, while the NOCTURN group took third place in freestyle for 12–15-year-olds. At the 5th Children’s and Youth Dance Review “Lubin Dance,” NOCTURN won the main prize in the Mini Dance Performance category, while MODUS received two distinctions.
- the Municipal Brass Band “Bolesławiec”. The band takes part in major ceremonies and events in the city and region. Every municipal celebration in Bolesławiec is held with its participation. Jan Chojnacki has been the bandmaster since 1997. During state holidays, the musicians play the generals’ march and patriotic songs, while at city events they perform popular music. In 2014, the band accompanied many events organized by the Association of Re-emigrants from Bosnia, Their Descendants and Friends. These included a ceremonial roll call and service in Rakovac attended by the Ambassador of Poland to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Mass and concert in Sarajevo, and a concert in Prnjavor marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the cooperation agreement with Bolesławiec.
Photos by Grzegorz Matoryn from the awards ceremony can be viewed in the gallery posted on the Dropbox account.
In the social activity category, awards were presented to
- Halina Maria Waniak. Halina Waniak is president of the Association of Re-emigrants from Bosnia, Their Descendants and Friends. She organizes many initiatives whose goals include active cooperation with Poles and their descendants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia, material assistance for the Polish communities there, preserving cultural heritage, and caring for memorial sites connected with the history of re-emigrants. In the previous year, the Association’s members organized a collection of donations for flood victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina in June, co-organized a ceremony to erect a memorial plaque commemorating Poles at the cemetery in Rakovac, prepared a screening of films about Bosnia, “Bosnia in a Frame,” and, together with students of the 2nd Bolesławiec General Secondary School, co-organized the finale of the “A Memory from Polish Bosnia” project.
- the Bolesławiec Center for Local Initiatives Via Sudetica. The Association is one of the most active non-governmental organizations in the Bolesławiec region. It organized Gliniada from 2007 to 2013 and the finals of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. In 2014, the Association promoted our region and its ceramics by organizing, among other events, the “Ceramic Bike Marathon MTB Bolesławiec,” in which 120 competitors took part. The Association’s cooperation with the Polish Institute in Prague resulted in VIA SUDETICA’s participation in the “Days of Polish Culture and Cuisine,” during which the Bolesławiec region’s tourism and ceramics achievements were presented. The Association offers “Ceramic Land,” an opportunity for tourists to have direct contact with clay, firing and ceramic products. The Association co-organized the “Cycling Lap” as part of “A Week with Bolesławiec County.”
- the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Commando Company. The Association is the heir to the military traditions of the Special Company once stationed in Bolesławiec. Its members follow the principles inscribed on military banners—God, Honor, Homeland—which they put into practice in social life. Residents know the Association’s members for their involvement in charitable, educational, sporting and tourism activities. Sports clubs, schools, the Polish Red Cross and local parishes can also count on their assistance. In educational and sports activities, it also cooperates with the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment. The Association co-organizes competitions for students of schools with a military profile, training and recreation camps for military-profile classes, a sports and defense picnic on Children’s Day, charity balls, Family Festivals of the Bolesławiec Basilica of the Virgin Mary, meetings with children and young people with special needs, and meetings with participants of occupational therapy workshops.
In the sports category, awards were received by
- Stanisław Zapiór. Coach of the youth group of the Bolesławiec Sports Club “Bobrzanie.” He is known in the Lower Silesian Football Association as a very good youth coach. He is particularly valued in the District Football Association of the Jelenia Góra district. Among Stanisław Zapiór’s team’s successes last year were the Jelenia Góra District Youth Championship and the Jelenia Góra District Indoor Youth Vice-Championship.
- Jakub Lisiewski.Founder and initiator of the HUSAR Rugby Club. A multiple-time representative of Poland in Rugby Sevens, multiple-time Polish champion, Rugby Sevens Ekstraliga champion and Academic Polish champion. He is president of the Lower Silesian District Rugby Association, a delegate of the Lower Silesian Sports Federation and a delegate of the Polish Rugby Association. In 2014, he was appointed assistant coach of the Poland Under-19 Rugby Sevens team. He is involved in social, cultural and sports initiatives. Thanks to his efforts, TAG Rugby appeared in Bolesławiec as a school sport. He organized two international Rugby Sevens tournaments and the National Youth Olympics in this sport.
- Krzysztof Śliwiński. For 18 years, he has organized neighborhood and family football tournaments for children, young people and veterans. Three generations of Bolesławiec residents connected with Staszic Estate, also known as the “Colony,” now take part in them. It is the Dolne Młyny football tournament, known throughout the city, during which many well-known Bolesławiec residents—and not only those connected with the estate—appear on the pitch. Each tournament has guests who are famous footballers from top-flight teams, including Bolesławiec residents Janusz Kubot, Zbigniew Mandziejewicz and Zbigniew Szewczyk.
- Izabela Tkaczyk. A competitor from the Oxpress Students’ Sports Club. She represented Bolesławiec at the Polish Championships, Lower Silesian Championships and international competitions. Her 2014 results placed her among Poland’s top young junior swimmers and in the top three female swimmers in Lower Silesia. In 2014, she won 15 gold, 11 silver and 3 bronze medals. She was selected for the national younger juniors’ team and the Lower Silesian District Swimming Association’s younger juniors’ team. She received a letter of congratulations for placing among the top ten in the “TOP TEN POLAND” ranking in the 14-year-old category.
- Adam Goleński. He is a talented table tennis player from the TOP Bolesławiec club. His achievements include second place in the Voivodeship Qualifying Tournament for Youth Players and promotion to the Polish Grand Prix for Youth Players, 25th place in Poland in the Mini Olympic Games Tournament, fifth place in the Lower Silesian Youth Championships, fifth place in the Voivodeship Qualifying Tournament for Cadets and 57th place in the Polish Grand Prix for Youth Players. He was selected by the Lower Silesian District Table Tennis Association for the voivodeship youth team.
- Waldemar Krzemiński. Chairman of the “OLIMPIJCZYK” Special Olympics Club at the District Complex of Special Schools and Institutions. In 2014, he took first place at the 1st Polish Grand Prix for People with Disabilities in Table Tennis in Pleszew, third place at the 14th National Table Tennis Tournament for People with Disabilities in Węgierska Górka, and won a bronze medal at the Individual Polish Table Tennis Championships, Class IV, in Kalisz.
- Zbigniew Gaweł. A competitor in the “OLIMPIJCZYK” Special Olympics Club at the District Complex of Special Schools and Institutions. Among other achievements, he won a silver medal in football at the 12th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Football Tournament in Bolesławiec, a gold medal in the high jump and a silver medal in the 4×100 m relay at the 14th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Athletics Meeting in Kamienna Góra. He won a silver medal in football at the 10th National Summer Special Olympics in Bydgoszcz and a gold medal in the powerlifting triathlon at the 11th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Meeting in Bolesławiec.
- Maciej Goss. A competitor in the “Bolesłavia” Inter-School Sports Club. He specializes in hurdles. He is the Polish Junior Champion in the 400 m hurdles at the Polish Junior Championships in Toruń. He took first place in the 400 m hurdles at the Polish Championships of the Rural Sports Clubs in Biała Podlaska and first place in the same distance at the Lower Silesian Junior Championships in Bogatynia. He is a member of the team that competed in the First Junior League and First Senior League in 2014 and was promoted to the Ekstraklasa. Maciej Goss is part of the national team training program and holds a first-class sports ranking. His coach is Małgorzata Markowska.
- Bartosz Wróbel. A competitor in the “Bolesłavia” Inter-School Sports Club. He specializes in long-distance running. He won the Polish Cross-Country Championship at the Polish Junior Championships in Kołczewo, took third place in the 2,000 m steeplechase at the Polish Championships in Toruń, and first place in the 3,000 m at the Lower Silesian Junior Championships. He is a member of the team that competed in the First Junior League and First Senior League in 2014. He represented Poland at the European Athletics Festival in Bydgoszcz. He is part of the national team training program and holds a first-class sports ranking. Bartosz’s coach is Małgorzata Markowska.
- Norman Lippik, Jakub Patreuha and Patryk Patreuha from the competitive bridge studio of the Stanisław Wyspiański Youth Cultural Center in Bolesławiec. Polish youth players, with Jakub and Patryk Patreuha, won the first World Team Championship in the under-15 category in Istanbul. Jakub and Patryk also won gold in the pairs tournament at the Polish Youth Championships, silver in the teams tournament and bronze in the Polish School Youth Team Championships. Norman Lippik took first place in the Pairs Tournament at the National Youth Olympics in Mind Sports, playing matchpoint pairs, and sixth place in the IMP pairs tournament, as well as a gold medal in the Bolesławiec County Championships. In the previous season, the young players dominated the Lower Silesian School Youth Championships series, reaching the podium in almost every competition.
- the Special Olympics Club “Olimpijczyk” Bolesławiec. The club operates at the District Complex of Special Schools and Institutions in Bolesławiec. Its athletes won 24 gold medals in various sports at regional and national competitions. They also won 22 silver and 15 bronze medals at Lower Silesian Special Olympics Meetings in cross-country skiing in Jakuszyce, football, basketball and powerlifting in Bolesławiec, athletics in Kamienna Góra and badminton in Legnica, as well as at the National Summer Special Olympics in Bydgoszcz and the Lower Silesian Special Olympics Alpine Skiing Meeting.
The editorial team of the Istotne.pl portal and newspaper warmly congratulates all the award recipients.