Polanki College Achievement Awards

POLANKI’S annual College Achievement Awards recognize students who have demonstrated high achievement and who are committed

to understanding, preserving, or disseminating Polish culture and/ or language.

Criteria:

1. U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident

2. Junior, senior or graduate status during the 2025-2026 academic year in an accredited degree program

3. Current or past Wisconsin resident OR attending a Wisconsin college or university

4. Of Polish ancestry OR have studied Polish language, history, society, or culture OR significantly engaged in Polish culture

5. Minimum 3.0 GPA on a four-point scale preferred

6. Applicants are limited to no more than two awards in their academic career. Past recipients may reapply:

• as a graduate student if they previously received an award as an undergraduate
• if they completed the course of study for which they previously received an award and are pursuing a new degree in another accredited degree program

Award amounts range from $1000 to $5000, based on applicants’ qualifications.

Application Instructions:

1. Complete Part 1 (see next page) by printing legibly using a black ink pen or typing on the application form.

2. Complete Parts 2-4, typed, and submitted on separate pages attached to the form. Please include your name on each page.

3. Complete Part 5, sign and date.

4. Attach one college-issued transcript for EACH college attended (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). Alverno College applicants: please request a class rank or some standard of your academic performance relative to that of other students. Send your materials to: Polanki College Achievement Award, PO Box 341458, Milwaukee, WI 53234 OR email to info@polanki.org UWM applicants: In addition to this application, UWM students who wish to be considered for the Victor Podlaski/UWM Polish Studies Award must also complete UWM’s application at uwm.academicworks.com

5. Applications must be postmarked or emailed no later than January 10, 2026. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

6. Awards will be presented at the annual Polanki College Achievement Awards Tea on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2 pm at the Polish Center of Wisconsin, 6941 South 68th Street, Franklin, WI 53132. Awardees are expected to attend the Awards Tea to receive their award and, as part of the acceptance, to make a brief (1-2 minute) presentation about their academic background and their interest in Polish culture. A group photo may be posted on Polanki’s social media and in our newsletter.