During the 28th gala, Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman announced the presentation of 21 awards: 3 awards in science, 4 awards in culture, 3 awards in social activity, and 11 awards in sport. In addition, 6 honorary awards were presented.

Awards in science, culture, social activity and sport are presented by the Mayor of Bolesławiec at the request of authorized entities, after consulting the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Bolesławiec City Council. The awards are commemorated with a statuette, and the recipients also receive financial compensation. To date, 581 financial awards have been presented—both team and individual.

Since 2004, the Mayor of Bolesławiec has also presented honorary awards. They are given for particularly valuable social initiatives that contribute to promoting the city. An honorary award is commemorated with a statuette. This year’s gala also included the presentation of an award for promoting Lower Silesia. It was received by Bolesławieckie Bractwo Ceramiczne. The prestigious distinction was presented by Marshal Cezary Przybylski. On behalf of BBC, the award was accepted by Jacek Rutyna, Senior of the Ceramic Brotherhood.

Honorary awards

1. Fundacja „Wspierajmy Zdrowie”, operating at Bolesławiec’s St. Luke’s Hospital, has for years carried out initiatives aimed at improving the health of the city’s residents. It promotes a healthy lifestyle by organizing sporting events. It funds the purchase of medical equipment and conducts educational and informational campaigns concerning health prevention and first aid.

2. Stowarzyszenie Byłych Żołnierzy 62 KS „Commando” is an organization involved in charitable, educational, sporting and tourism activities, nurturing the ethos of service to the homeland. The association conducts socially oriented activities not only in Bolesławiec, but also throughout the country and abroad.

3. Edward Spraski, a judo coach and sports and community activist. For many years, he was a member of the AZS-AWF Wrocław judo team, with which he achieved numerous successes in Poland and abroad. After ending his competitive career, he took part in veterans’ competitions around the world, winning, among other things, a silver and a bronze medal at the European Championships. In 2023, he won a bronze medal representing Poland at the World Veterans Championships in Abu Dhabi.

4. Klub MKS Bolesłavia has promoted Bolesławiec at national and international arenas for 59 years. The club’s athletes serve as ambassadors for Bolesławiec sport. Many of them have been selected for Poland’s national teams. MKS Boleslavia is a respected athletics training center.

5. Ceramika Użytkowa „GALIA” S.C. Andrzej and Agnieszka Jasiukiewicz have been actively involved in the activities of Bolesławieckie Bractwo Ceramiczne for many years. They co-organize the Bolesławiec Ceramic Festival. They successfully promote Bolesławiec stoneware at numerous fairs and exhibitions, including, in 2023, an exhibition of Bolesławiec ceramics at the Polish Institute in Vienna.

6. Bolesławiecki Sztab Wielkiej Orkiestry Świątecznej Pomocy no. 4689 is a group of volunteers led by Michał Szwed, dedicated to saving the lives of ill people, especially children, which has organized the finals of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Bolesławiec for seven years. Over these years, a total of PLN 1,310,760 was collected in Bolesławiec. The funds were used to purchase medical equipment, including for Bolesławiec hospitals.

Science

1. Miłosz Wojtowicz, a student at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec and a laureate of numerous Lower Silesian and nationwide competitions, including a three-time laureate of the zDolny Ślązak competition in Polish, mathematics and biology. Finalist in the national final of the Anti-Smog Olympiad.

2. Wojciech Raszczuk, a student at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec, exceptionally gifted in the exact sciences. He received a scholarship from the Minister of National Education, an honorable mention at the 20th International Linguistics Olympiad, and sixth place at the 21st National Olympiad in Mathematical Linguistics.

3. Franciszek Nowak and Jakub Walkowiak, young robotics enthusiasts. They represented Poland in the global final of the World Robot Olympiad, held in Panama in November 2023, placing 30th in their age category.

Culture

4. Mariusz Potyszka, a young Bolesławiec sculptor. His determination and artistic activity can inspire many and demonstrate that it is worth showing one’s talents to the “world” without complexes. Laureate of the “Anioły Rzemiosła” competition. His works have been presented at the Royal Łazienki in Warsaw.

5. Aneta Ćwieluch, Milena Uznańska and Mikołaj Mankiewicz. Aneta Ćwieluch, a theater director and educator, is the initiator of the Nationwide Youth Theater Festival Młodzieżowe Zatargi z Teatrem, held in Bolesławiec for nine years. She has created many performances that have won awards at nationwide theater festivals. Milena Uznańska and Mikołaj Mankiewicz, students at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec, are active participants in the theater workshop at the Youth Cultural Center, where, under the guidance of Aneta Ćwieluch, they have achieved many spectacular individual and group successes.

6. Sławomir Gortych, author of the bestselling crime novels “Schronisko, które przestało istnieć” and “Schronisko, które przetrwało” (published in 2023), which address historical aspects of Polish-German cultural dialogue. He actively promotes the region by holding numerous meetings and lectures.

7. Milena Konieczna, a student at 3. Publiczna Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec, composer and vocalist. Finalist in numerous nationwide and international song competitions and festivals, including the Grand Prix at the Nationwide English Song Festival “Face the Music.” She performs at numerous charitable events.

Social activity

8. Maria Wolańska, a student at the University of the Third Age in Bolesławiec. She works with great dedication as a volunteer, devoting her time to social activities for seniors and carrying out sports and recreational, sightseeing and cultural initiatives.

9. Bolesławiecki Klub Honorowych Dawców Krwi at the Polish Red Cross, Bolesławiec District Branch, has collected 60,000 liters of blood over 56 years while promoting the noble idea of helping ill and needy people. Last year, on the occasion of its 55th anniversary, both the Club and its individual members received numerous prestigious distinctions for outstanding achievements in promoting blood donation to save human health and life.

10. Stowarzyszenie Reemigrantów z Bośni, ich Potomków oraz Przyjaciół carried out numerous projects aimed at promoting Bolesławiec and strengthening the cultural identity of the Polish diaspora in Bosnia. In December 2023, as part of the Winter Diplomatic Bazaar—SARAJEVO 2023—the association presented the City of Bolesławiec and Lower Silesia at the Polish stand.

Sport

11. Vanessa Michaluk, a young runner who won numerous awards at the national level in 2023. Polish record holder in the 80-meter hurdles. First-place winner at the Polish U16 Championships in Słubice in the 80-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

12. Stanisław Strzelecki, an athlete with MKS Bolesłavia. Gold medalist at the Polish LZS Championships in the 400 meters and bronze medalist at the Polish U18 Championships in the 400 meters. He is part of the National Junior Team training program.

13. Oliwier Skorupiński, an athlete with MKS Bolesłavia, selected for Poland’s national team. Polish U18 vice-champion in the 1,500 meters. He placed third in the 1,500 meters at an international U18 match between Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia and Slovenia.

14. Klaudia Petters, who has repeatedly reached the podium in multidisciplinary sporting competitions in Poland and abroad. She won two gold medals in her age category at the Multisport Triathlon World Championships Ibiza 2023, recording the second-fastest time among all competitors in the duathlon.

15. Ewelina Czernek, an athlete with the “Olimpijczyk” Special Olympics Club in Bolesławiec. Gold medalist at the 17th Lower Silesian Special Olympics Basketball Tournament and in the barbell squat event. Multiple winner of silver and gold medals in the bench press and deadlift.

16. Szymon Kut, a talented air sports competitor. Winner of first place at the 16th Jurassic Airplane Competition and second place at the Polish Junior Precision Flying Championships.

17. Szczepan Paszek, a leading competitor in amateur cyclocross and cross-country cycling, and a three-time Polish cyclocross champion in the Masters category. Fourth-place finisher at the 2023 World Cyclocross Championships in Hamburg.

18. Wojciech Iwan, silver medalist at the Polish Individual Championships and bronze medalist at the European Team Championships in squash.

19. Marcin Wejk, a football coach and president of KOLONIA Sports Club. In 2023, on his initiative, the first girls’ team in the Jelenia Góra district was formed and entered in DZPN competitions, followed by youth groups in the following categories: youth players, younger youth players, orliks and skrzats.

20. Klub Olimpiad Specjalnych „Olimpijczyk” Bolesławiec achieved numerous successes in regional, national and international competitions. Club athletes competed, among other disciplines, in winter sports, triathlon and running, facing opponents from Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary.

21. Stowarzyszenie Klub Kolarski „Xtrabike Bolesławiec” brings together 35 cyclists from Bolesławiec and the surrounding area. The team achieved numerous successes in major series such as Kaczmarek Electric MTB, Bike Maraton and Via Dolny Śląsk, as well as in individual competitions throughout Poland.

Congratulations to all the award recipients.

The gala was enhanced by performances from artists from the workshops of the Bolesławiec Cultural Center—International Ceramics Center and the “Combo” ensemble operating at the State Music School of the first degree in Bolesławiec.