Polish American Art Association Awards 2025 Scholarships
The Polish American Arts Association of Washington, DC has awarded a total of $7,000 to four deserving students as part of its 2025 Scholarship Program. The scholars, ranging from a rising sophomore to a master’s student, displayed a pursuit of academic excellence, pride in their heritage, and commitment to volunteerism and supporting the Polish-American community that greatly impressed the scholarship committee.
The 2025 PAAA scholars are Urszula Cieslak of Kensington, MD, a rising senior dual degree student in Finance and Accounting at the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business; Agata Dolinska of Gathersburg, MD, a rising sophomore majoring in Psychology at Penn State University; Wictoria Kasperkiewicz of Stoughton, MA, a rising senior at Loyola University in Baltimore pursuing a degree in Speech – Language – Hearing Sciences as well as Spanish; and Jakub Wozniak, a master’s degree student at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, majoring in International Relations, with a focus on diplomacy and Security.
“This year’s cohort of PAAA scholars once again exemplifies the best of our community. While dedicated to their academics and achieving high scholastic results, they each in their own way volunteer their time to causes that are of great significance to them, such as raising funds for Ukrainian refugees and cancer patients, to mentoring younger students and serving as an instructor at a Polish supplementary school” shared Matthew Stefanski, Polish American Arts Association President and a 2011 recipient of the PAAA scholarship. “We applaud all their efforts and wish them continued success on their academic and professional paths.”
The scholarship presentation took place during PAAA’s annual membership meeting held on June 26 at the ornate Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC. The PAAA Scholarship Program accepts applications every year from January-March, and over the course of the past 25 years, PAAA has awarded over 75 scholarships to outstanding Polish-American students to support their academic and artistic pursuits. To qualify, students must be currently studying at an accredited college or university in the United States. All applicants must be either from, or studying in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia. For full criteria and eligibility, or to make a donation to support the PAAA scholarship fund, please visit https://www.paaa.us/scholarship
The Polish American Arts Association of Washington, DC was established in 1966 and is committed to promoting Polish culture in our nation’s capital. PAAA is open to all who seek to advance greater understanding between Poland and the United States, maintain Polish customs and traditions, and promote the Polish-American community.
2025 PAAA Scholars Agata Dolinska and Jakub Wozniak (center) with Scholarship Committee Chair Mary Beth Sowa and President Matthew Stefanski