Awards are granted for outstanding achievements in artistic work, the dissemination and protection of culture, the development of science, social activity, and outstanding results in sport.
Awards in the fields of science, culture, social activity and sport are granted by the Mayor of Bolesławiec, at the request of authorized entities and after consulting the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Bolesławiec City Council. The awards are commemorated with a statuette. Award laureates also receive financial remuneration.
For particularly valuable social initiatives that contribute to promoting the city, the Mayor of Bolesławiec grants honorary awards. An honorary award is commemorated with a statuette. The first awards were presented in 1997 for promoting the city in 1996. Honorary awards were presented for the first time in 2004.
This year marked the 27th award ceremony. Over all these years, many outstanding athletes, figures from culture and science, and social activists have been honored. A total of 561 financial awards have been granted. During this year’s gala, another group of people and organizations joined them—people and organizations whose efforts promote Bolesławiec not only in Poland but also beyond the country’s borders. In recognition of special merits in promoting the city in 2022, Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman presented 20 awards in the categories of science, culture, social activity and sport, as well as 5 honorary awards.
Paweł Zwierz
Paweł Zwierz is a co-owner of Fabryka Naczyń Kamionkowych Manufaktura Sp. J. Smoleński & Zwierz, a company established in 1992 and the third-largest ceramics producer in Bolesławiec. The company managed by Mr. Paweł is open to new decorative trends and successfully combines classic patterns with modern design. In this area, it cooperates with renowned ceramic artists. The company’s products are exported to European and Asian countries, as well as North America, and have repeatedly received prestigious awards and distinctions. The factory created the Living Museum of Ceramics, which offers ceramic workshops and tours of the production line. Mr. Paweł Zwierz is also active in various ways locally and regionally, cooperating with the Museum of Ceramics in Bolesławiec and BOK-MCC, and becoming involved in the activities of the Bolesławiec Ceramic Brotherhood.
Powiatowy Zespół Szkół i Placówek Specjalnych w Bolesławcu
Powiatowy Zespół Szkół i Placówek Specjalnych in Bolesławiec is an institution with a history spanning more than 60 years. Its most important objective is to provide individualized forms of care and support for students and pupils in their development.The latest technological solutions in education are used in the management of the institution and in the teaching process. Teachers are building the image of a 21st-century school by implementing creative methods that engage students with various disabilities, based on computer applications, work with tablets and interactive whiteboards, educational robots and virtual reality. The tremendous effort invested in building the institution’s strong brand has been recognized in nationwide competitions such as “New Technologies Day in Education,” “VR (Virtual Reality) in Education” and “Active School,” whose laureates included the school’s teachers. Thanks to these activities, the school—and consequently the city of Bolesławiec—has established a lasting presence on the map of Poland’s innovative special-education institutions.
Miejskie Przedszkole Publiczne no. 4 in Bolesławiec
Miejskie Przedszkole Publiczne no. 4 in Bolesławiec is an educational institution that participates in numerous projects for the local community, undertaking activities at the municipal, national and international levels. The preschool has carried out many initiatives promoting Bolesławiec in Poland and abroad. Projects in which the preschool participated in 2022 included the annual Swimming Olympics under the patronage of the Mayor of Bolesławiec; the “Children for Children—Running Also Helps” race; participation in the “Mountain of Pennies” charity campaign supporting children from orphanages; participation in the “Safe Little One” Optimism Olympics and the Preschool Sports Games; and organizing Sports Day under the slogan “I Am a Fit Preschooler” as part of the nationwide “Be active” project. The institution runs a campaign on children’s rights among the families and relatives of its pupils through observances of “UNICEF International Children’s Rights Day” and participation in the “Gifts for Ukraine” campaign. The preschool won the main “Golden Tulip” award in the third edition of the Nationwide Educational and Charity Campaign “Tulips of Power”.
Szkoła Podstawowa no. 1 im. Janusza Kusocińskiego in Bolesławiec
Szkoła Podstawowa no. 1 im. Janusza Kusocińskiego in Bolesławiec promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle through its work. It creates conditions conducive to physical development, health protection and achieving many successes, not only in sport. The joint efforts of teachers, parents and students contribute to many initiatives for the school community and the local community of Bolesławiec. For 30 years, Szkoła Podstawowa no. 1 has regularly hosted an athletics event called the Janusz Kusociński Memorial, bringing together young athletes who follow the principles of Olympic competition. Students from municipal and county schools take part. The school is guided by the words, “Educate the soul with virtues, the mind with words, and the body with sport,” hence its efforts toward comprehensive development, including cooperation within the Lower Silesian Network of Health-Promoting Schools and the Lower Silesian Network of Schools Supporting Talent.Zespół Opieki Zdrowotnej w Bolesławcu – Szpital św. Łukasza w Bolesławcu
St. Luke’s Hospital is a pioneer in many solutions in healthcare management and medical services. It has repeatedly become a model for other hospitals throughout Poland. The hospital attracts creative and ambitious people by providing favorable conditions for work and professional development, which leads specialist doctors from all over Poland to settle in Bolesławiec. The hospital won first place in the “Safe Hospital of the Future – Inspirations 2020” competition and in the “Safe Hospital of the Future – Inspirations 2021” competition, which promotes modern solutions and technologies that increase patient and staff safety. In November 2022, the head of the General Surgery Department, Dr. Wojciech Hap, became a laureate of the Lower Silesian Hipokrates 2022 plebiscite in the Surgeon of the Year category. The activities of St. Luke’s Hospital were noticed and appreciated nationwide through numerous live broadcasts from Bolesławiec and interviews with director Kamil Barczyk on national television and radio stations, as well as publications in the national press and on internet portals.
SOCIAL CATEGORY
Kinga Gęsicka-Biały
Ms. Kinga Gęsicka-Biały became involved in relief efforts immediately after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. She organized a solidarity rally for Ukraine and created the “Bolesławiec and Surrounding Areas for Ukraine” group on a social networking site, which has 5,000 members. She organized and sent more than 30 shipments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. She launched the “Helping Hand” community aid center for refugees. In March and April 2022, more than 3,000 Ukrainian citizens received assistance there. Material aid arrived at the “Helping Hand” center from France, Germany and Norway. In addition to helping Ukraine, she undertook many volunteer activities concerning, among other things, promoting civic attitudes, environmental initiatives and involvement in local events promoting ceramics.Barbara Smoleńska
In 2022, Barbara Smoleńska initiated and participated in many social, charitable, cultural and educational initiatives. In cooperation with the Municipal Public Library – Knowledge Center, she organized meetings for young people entitled “Genealogical Research,” and also conducted free Polish lessons there for Ukrainian citizens. She carried out the youth exchange project “Can You Save a Life?”, which integrated young people from schools in Bolesławiec and Zbarazh. She became involved in maintaining direct, friendly contacts with the residents of Zbarazh by organizing many joint initiatives. She cooperated with municipal and county institutions, organizing shipments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and in 2022 traveled three times with donations to Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Romania’s Bukovina as part of an aid campaign for Poles in the East. She organized numerous concerts, exhibitions and meetings devoted to the Eastern Borderlands.
Fundacja “Wspierajmy Zdrowie”
The main objective of Fundacja “Wspierajmy Zdrowie” is to carry out activities related to health protection and promotion. The foundation fulfills its mission, among other ways, by purchasing medical equipment, providing financial support, and organizing and initiating meetings and training related to prevention and health. The foundation participates in events held in the city and Bolesławiec County, providing all participants with, among other things, medical, dietary and physiotherapy consultations, a station for measuring basic vital signs, first-aid workshops and many other attractions for the youngest patients. Cooperation with kind-hearted people from the United States made it possible to support refugees from Ukraine and equip the pediatric ward with additional resources. Fundacja “Wspierajmy Zdrowie” carries out the “Together We Can Do More – First Aid Without Secrets” project, which offers students from Bolesławiec schools free lectures and workshops on first aid.Stefan Marian Olejnik
For many years, Stefan Marian Olejnik has been active in the structures of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society. He practices caravanning tourism, participating in national, European and world rallies. During these events, he promotes Bolesławiec by presenting the city’s tourist attractions. Mr. Stefan conducts sightseeing activities involving lectures, training and the organization of rallies and sightseeing trips. He has demonstrated extensive knowledge and skills that enable him to popularize sightseeing knowledge, including knowledge about Bolesławiec and its surroundings. He has received numerous distinctions for his tourism and sightseeing activities.
Culture Category
Iwona Banach
Iwona Banach is a resident of Bolesławiec, a translator of French and Italian, and above all a writer. She has translated many books by French and Italian authors into Polish. She is a laureate of numerous literary competitions. In her novels, the author refers to the history of our city. In 2021, her novel for children and young people, “Gnomon and the Mystery of the Old House,” premiered. It tells the story of three teenagers spending their vacation in Bolesławiec. In connection with the book’s publication, an author meeting was held at the Municipal Public Library – Knowledge Center in Bolesławiec, attended by primary-school students. The children heard stories about the history of our city, Rozalia von Bonin’s treasure and the bas-relief on the Town Hall, which was one of the novel’s main plot points. In 2022, the second part of the Bolesławiec teenagers’ adventures, entitled “The Agate Chamber,” premiered under the patronage of the Bolesławiec library.Dorota Elwira Straburzyńska and Anna Cecylia Dąbrowska
Dorota Straburzyńska is a certified cello teacher at the Witold Lutosławski State Music School of First Degree in Bolesławiec, while Anna Cecylia Dąbrowska is a second-year student at that school and Ms. Dorota’s pupil. Ms. Straburzyńska’s students have performed at concerts for the local community, at concerts by the “EUROPERA” International Youth Orchestra and at concerts by the Bolesławiec–Siegburg–Česká Lípa Partner Cities Orchestra. They have also achieved success in regional auditions organized by the Center for Artistic Education and in nationwide competitions. Ms. Dorota received a second-degree Individual Award from the Director of the Center for Artistic Education for her special contribution to the development of arts education in Poland. Under Dorota Straburzyńska’s guidance, Anna Dąbrowska achieved high placements in national and international competitions in 2022: she was a laureate of the sixth National Competition held as part of the PRESTO Festival, took third place in the eighth National Meetings of Young Cellists “wiolonCZELKA,” received a distinction at the first National Music Competition for first- and second-degree music-school students—the Young Virtuoso Festival in Bydgoszcz—and received a special distinction at the Amadeus International Music Awards in Salzburg.
Wojciech Stefańczyk
Wojciech Stefańczyk is a student at Szkoła Podstawowa no. 5 in Bolesławiec and a talented guitarist. He participated three times in the Guinness Guitar Record in Wrocław, where he received the main award in the costume category, as well as an award for makeup inspired by the traditional color of Bolesławiec ceramics. In 2022, Wojciech Stefańczyk qualified for the Wielkie Granie concert, held at the National Stadium in Warsaw with the participation of many stars of the Polish music scene. During his performances, he highlights elements connected with Bolesławiec’s ceramic tradition.SCIENCE CATEGORY
Urszula Pawlak
Ms. Urszula Pawlak is the director of Miejskie Przedszkole Publiczne no. 6 in Bolesławiec. Under her direction, the preschool participated in numerous international cooperation projects, national and international art competitions, and nationwide educational programs. It earned many significant certificates, including “Good Because It’s Polish – A Child-Friendly Preschool,” “Optimistic Preschool” and “Safe Preschool – Safety, Healthy Habits and Environmental Awareness among the Youngest.” Ms. Urszula is the press spokesperson for the international “Happy Kindergarten” program, which aims to improve the skills of and activate directors and teachers in support of happy education for children.
Miłosz Wojtowicz
Miłosz Wojtowicz is an eighth-grade student at Szkoła Podstawowa no. 3 im. Armii Krajowej in Bolesławiec who has achieved numerous literary, scientific, artistic and sporting accomplishments since an early age. He has twice received a scholarship from the Foundation for International Education and is a scholarship holder of the Jerzy Szmajdziński Foundation. He is the only student in the school’s history to have achieved a 6.00 grade average on his promotion certificates for three consecutive years. In the 2021/2022 school year, Miłosz Wojtowicz achieved high placements in English-language, mathematics, computer science, art, literary and biology competitions, as well as karate tournaments.Barbara Jusypenko and Bogna Łasica
Barbara Jusypenko and Bogna Łasica are foreign-language teachers at the Władysław Broniewski General Secondary School in Bolesławiec. Ms. Barbara teaches Italian and French, while Ms. Bogna teaches English and Spanish. Together, they coordinate international cooperation projects under the Erasmus+ program, involving students from I Liceum and their peers from many European countries, as well as teaching staff. In 2022, they carried out the project “Past Roads and Future Ways,” under which students and teachers from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Serbia and Greece stayed in Bolesławiec, learning about the local cultural heritage and taking part with students from I Liceum in integration and cultural workshops, city games and a debate on preserving heritage for future generations.
Beata Orczyk
Ms. Beata Orczyk is a teacher at Szkoła Podstawowa no. 4 in Bolesławiec. Under her guidance, students achieve success at national and international levels. Beata Orczyk and her students have received distinctions and awards in national and international competitions concerning the preservation of the memory of the Jewish community, issues related to Polish history—particularly the history of the Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic—as well as knowledge of law, equal treatment and children’s rights. Ms. Beata is the school coordinator of the recurring “Daffodils” campaign, commemorating successive anniversaries of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. She cooperates, among others, with the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, the International Cultural Centre, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, Dom Europy in Wrocław, the Robert Schuman Foundation, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek, Forum for Dialogue and the Marek Edelman Center, under whose patronage she carries out recurring educational programs and projects.SPORT CATEGORY
Sonia Turzyniecka
Sonia Turzyniecka is an armwrestling competitor. In 2022, she achieved high placements in international competitions. Ms. Sonia was selected for the Polish national team for the European Armwrestling Championships – Poland 2022 and the World Armwrestling Championships – France 2022. The European Championships brought the athlete four European Champion titles in various categories, while the World Championships ended with her winning three World Champion titles and one World Vice-Champion title in various categories. In addition, at the International Polish Armwrestling Cup, Sonia Turzyniecka achieved four first-place finishes in various categories.
Katarzyna Pierzchalska
In 2022, Katarzyna Pierzchalska achieved high placements in national and regional high-jump competitions. At the Polish LZS Championships, she won a bronze medal at the Polish Championships with a result of 159 cm. At the Polish U18 Championships, she took fourth place with a result of 166 cm, and at the Lower Silesian Indoor Championships, she took first place in the U18 girls’ category with a result of 161 cm. The Lower Silesian Championships for Juniors and U18 Juniors brought her first place. She earned 5 points in the Youth Sports System. She is part of the training program for the national junior reserve team and holds a second-class sports classification.Stanisław Strzelecki
In 2022, Stanisław Strzelecki achieved very good results in regional and national running competitions. He won the national final of competitions held as part of the “Athletics for Everyone” program, the Lower Silesian Indoor Championships and the Lower Silesian U16 Championships in the 300-meter race. At the Intervoivodeship U16 Championships, he took third place in the 300-meter race. He earned 2 points in the Youth Sports System. He is part of the Lower Silesian U16 Team training program and holds a second-class sports classification.
Michał Zazula
In 2022, Michał Zazula achieved leading places in national long-jump competitions. At the Polish Indoor Combined Events Championships, he became Polish Vice-Champion with a distance of 7.07 m, while at the Polish Junior Championships he took fourth place with a result of 6.94 m. He earned 9 points in the Youth Sports System. He is part of the national junior team training program and holds a second-class sports classification.Międzyszkolny Klub Sportowy “Bolesłavia”
In 2022, Międzyszkolny Klub Sportowy “Bolesłavia” won 5 medals at the Polish Championships, the Polish Rural Sports Clubs Championships and the national final of “Athletics for Everyone.” The club’s athletes won 57 medals at the Lower Silesian Championships in various age categories and 13 medals at the Macroregion Championships. At the International U16 Match (Poland–Germany), 20 club athletes were selected for the team, 12 of whom won medals. The club took first place at the Macroregion U16 Championships, earning the most points in this category in Lower Silesia. Two athletes are part of the national team training program, six of the national reserve team, 12 of the Lower Silesian U16 Team, while 39 male and female athletes earned sports classifications. In 2022, the club earned 105 points in the youth sports system.
“Aktywny Bolesławiec” Group
Aktywny Bolesławiec is a group of residents of Bolesławiec and the entire county that promotes active recreation and organizes rallies, hikes, expeditions, rafting trips, walking and cycling tours in Poland and abroad. The group has more than 800 members. Together with partner tourism organizations, it takes part in treks in Poland and Europe. In 2022, some group members took part in trips to Majorca, Tuscany, Madeira and the Low Beskids. The group organized multi-day cycling trips along the northeastern Green Velo cycling route, a trip along the coast from Świnoujście to Hel, and many one-day rallies on local cycling and water routes.Karol Piecha
Karol Piecha is an athlete with Klub Olimpijczyk Bolesławiec who achieved high results in national and international competitions in various sports in 2022. He won a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the 12th National Summer Games of the Special Olympics, a bronze medal in the 25-meter freestyle at the 11th European Youth Games for Athletes with Disabilities, and silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4 × 25-meter relay at the 11th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Swimming Meet. In addition, Karol Piecha won a bronze medal at the National Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, a gold medal at the 16th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, and a silver medal in singles at the 14th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Badminton Tournament.
Uczniowski Klub Sportowy Football Academy Bolesławiec
The club organized the “Bolesławiec Cup” football tournament, attended by nearly 500 young players. In the 2021/2022 season, the club’s players represented Bolesławiec in the Football Academy Polish Championship Final, advanced to the provincial final tournament “TYMBARK from the playground to the stadium,” and also advanced to the TAURON Junior Cup National Finals. The club’s graduates go on to the best football academies in the country. The club cooperates with Polish and European football teams. It also became involved in charitable work by organizing a football tournament and fundraiser for equipment for Miejskie Przedszkole Publiczne no. 7 with integration classes in Bolesławiec. In 2022, the club celebrated its 10th anniversary.Wojciech Iwan
Wojciech Iwan is an athlete with Bolesławiec’s Klub Sportowy Squashwill. Competing in the highest A category in national squash tournaments in 2022, he took third place at the Enjoy Bielsko Biała tournament, second place at the Novoferm Prosquash Junior Cup A, second place at Baltic Games Gdańsk and second place at the Legionowo Open Championships. Wojciech Iwan also achieved high results in international tournaments: second place at the SLOVENIAN JUNIOR OPEN, third place at the Latvian Junior OPEN, first place at the Croatian Junior OPEN and fourth place at the SLOVAK Junior OPEN.
We warmly congratulate all the award recipients. The gala was enhanced by artistic performances. The artists who performed on stage were members of the “Ocelot” group, the Synkopa 2 choir, Celestyna Koszak, Mateusz Boduch and Bogusław Kłak.