Rafał Brzoska Foundation bets on the young again! Here are this year’s winners and their achievements

The beginning of August marked the end of the second edition of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation’s National Scholarship Competition. Almost a thousand aspiring participants took part in this year’s call. The committee had a difficult task, taking into account the impressive scientific achievements of the finalists. After consultations with the Programme and Mentoring Council, 25 selected candidates had the opportunity for personal interviews with Rafał Brzoska and Omena Mensah, President and Vice President of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation. From this group, 17 people were selected whose stories and ambitions captivated the committee the most. The founder and president of the foundation, Rafał Brzoska, has donated an impressive sum of more than 6 million PLN over the two editions. His determination to support the education of young people is admirable.

Mission of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation

Created out of passion and commitment, the Rafał Brzoska Foundation has one main goal: to help young talent spread their wings. Implementing a range of programmes that are, as they say, “tailor-made for the young”. The Foundation focuses on supporting young people who excel in ambition, creativity and social responsibility. Thanks to the Scholarship Fund, many talented people get the chance to make their dreams come true.

Second edition of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation Scholarship Competition – winners 2023

Rafał Brzoska Foundation scholarship recipients stand out for their impressive achievements in the fields of science, innovation, art, entrepreneurship and social engagement. Meet this year’s winners. Here are 17 outstanding students from Poland who will be educated at the world’s most prestigious universities.Wiktor BabinskiWiktor is an expert on Eastern European history. His academic path began at the prestigious London School of Economics, where he distinguished himself in the Department of International Relations. As a PhD student in the history department at Yale University, Wiktor is exploring the history of Eastern Europe and Russia, allowing him to develop his specialisation and further his research in this field. His skills and passion for learning have not gone unnoticed. He had the privilege of working at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University under the tutelage of renowned historian Prof Niall Ferguson. There, he participated in the writing of the second volume of a biography of one of the most important politicians in US history, Henry Kissinger. His wide-ranging interests also led him to work with Prof Jeffrey Sonnenfeld at Yale. Together, they have created a ´list of shame´, documenting the activities of international business in Russia. However, Viktor is not limited to research work. His voice resonates with the world through his publications on politics and international relations in renowned journals and websites such as POLITICO, Newsweek, The National Interest and many others.Kornelia BartoszewiczKornelia has a deep understanding and passion for neuroscience, psychiatry and psychology. Her success in international Olympiads and placements at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge University confirm her commitment to these fields. Additionally, her volunteering for the visually impaired and children from orphanages shows her empathy and desire to help others. As part of her work, she develops books in a special programme and provides tutoring.Mikołaj BłaszczykMikołaj is a young space and aviation enthusiast. Controlling an aeroplane on his own at the age of 16 is just one of his many achievements. He has participated in numerous STEM and economics competitions, often winning top places. He won the title of winner in the Cosmic Challenge competition. He aspires to become an airline pilot. The dream of crossing the threshold of space drives him. He is currently a high school graduate at ZSOT in Sompolno. His work on probes and research into the atmospheres of other planets shows potential that will undoubtedly be used in future space missions.Małgorzata CzarnikWith a passion for law, Małgorzata is already taking her first steps in this field. Studying at the prestigious New York University and interning at an international law firm is just the beginning of her adventure in law. Her commitment to mentoring other young people shows her willingness to share her knowledge and experience.Katarzyna FurmanekKatarzyna is a true phenomenon in the world of STEM sciences. Her numerous achievements in Olympiads and science competitions, both in Poland and abroad, show her great potential in the fields of engineering, robotics and cyber security. She was named a finalist in the Technical Innovation and Invention Olympiad and the international Enhance Girls in STEM competition. She was awarded in the E(x)plory competition, stood in the final of the EUCYS European Union Young Scientists’ Thesis Competition and in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, considered the most prestigious pre-study research thesis competition in the world. In 2023, she won the title of laureate in Learn&Fly. She actively participates in The Junior Academy at The New York Academy of Sciences. She represents Poland at the European Space Camp as one of two selected scholarship recipients. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge by organising workshops for younger youth in STEM sciences on a volunteer basis.Zoja GizaThe musical talents of Zoja, a young cellist from Bydgoszcz, have already been recognised at many national and international music festivals. Last year, she had the pleasure of participating in the renowned ‘Concertgeboworkest Young’ programme in the Netherlands. She devoted the summer of 2023 to developing her musical skills in the United States, taking part in the “Luzerne Music Center” project. She notices the gender disparity in the world of cellists and wishes to become part of this elite group of professional cellists in the future, fighting for equality and representation of women in this field of music. Her passion for music and her constantly developing skills make Zoya’s future in the world of music very promising.Maksymilian Kedzierski Maksymilian’s activity in business competitions shows his analytical and strategic skills. After triumphing in a competition under the aegis of Concilium Civitas, Maksymilian began his education at the SWPS University in the nation’s capital, Warsaw. With a vision to start his own company in the future, he is focusing on developing his competences in the area of artificial intelligence. However, he does not limit himself only to science – he is socially engaged, sharing his knowledge and experience as a mentor through the activities of the “Zwolnieni z Teorii” foundation. His passion for innovation and ability to see the practical applications of academic knowledge make him one of the most promising young entrepreneurs in Poland.Julia LasiotaJulia is a young woman from Ozorków who is currently studying at the prestigious Stanford University. Previously, thanks to a scholarship from the Polish Scholarship Scheme, she graduated from high school in the U.K. Julia’s excellent ability to learn languages has meant that today Julia is fluent in as many as eight languages, with two more in the pipeline. In addition, with an extraordinary sense of duty, she helps refugees and asylum seekers by offering pro-bono translations. Julia is a person with versatile interests. She is fascinated by literature, history and chemistry in equal measure. She develops her academic passions by simultaneously pursuing her studies in two subjects. Her days are filled not only with studying, but also with work and research at the renowned Hoover Institution and the Nobel Centre for Civil Liberties.Tomasz ŚlusarczykTomasz is an extremely talented mathematics student who is gaining his knowledge at one of the most prestigious universities in the world – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research passions revolve around graph theory and the fascinating field of quantum optics. He has also been accepted into one of the leading student research programmes focused on discrete mathematics at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Thomas is also an active member of the Main Committee of the Mathematical Olympiad. There, he not only participates in the organisation of prestigious international competitions, but also helps organise international maths camps such as Maths Beyond Limits and its variant aimed at the Balkan region – Maths Beyond Limits Balkan. Tomasz plans to pursue doctoral studies at MIT or Stanford, with a view to eventually becoming a professor, perhaps in Poland or the US.Kacper MalinowskiKacper is (in the words of CEO Rafał Brzoska) a 19-year-old ‘renaissance man’. He is a student at the prestigious Minerva University in San Francisco and a stupendiary of the US government. As a representative of the City of Lodz, he participated in an international exchange under the FLEX programme. His social commitment is admirable. As the creator of numerous social, charitable and civic projects, he makes every effort to positively impact the community and help those in need. His passions are not limited to social activities. As a professional harpist, he has performed over 200 concerts in five different countries, a testament to his extraordinary musical talent and determination to excel in this field. As the winner of five Science Olympiads, he stands out not only for his knowledge, but also for his research skills. And the fact that he became the first Pole to be honoured with the title of laureate of the American Academic Decathlon only underlines his extraordinary potential and contributions to science.Mateusz MikołajczykMateusz is an accomplished classical pianist whose musical path led him through one of Europe’s most prestigious universities – The Reina Sofia School of Music in Madrid. He is now setting himself another challenge, aiming to study at the iconic Juilliard. His recitals on stages such as the National Philharmonic in Warsaw and the National Forum of Music in Wrocław leave no doubt as to his talent.Julia PrusJulia is a social activist and chairperson of a committee in the Youth Assembly of the Mazovian Voivodeship. She is constantly involved in gender equality and ecological activities. She is a Parliamentarian of the 6th term of the Youth Parliament of the Republic of Poland. In February 2023, she moderated a panel on gender equality entitled. Freedom, Equality, Sisterhood.” Her commitment to social issues has been recognised with the Warsaw Mayor’s Award. Her educational dreams are directed towards UWC Mahindra in India.Jan Radomiński-LasekJan is a graduate of the Algorithmics class at the 5th High School in Krakow. It is not only his results in mathematics that speak for Jan, but also his sporting passions (especially skiing) and social involvement. He won ninth place at the Mathematical Olympiad. He is now aiming to continue his education at the prestigious ‘École Polytechnique de Paris’. Jan is also a member of the “Krzysiek Pomaga Pomagać” association and the Student Council. His goal is to change the world for the better.Marek RauchfleiszGraduates from the prestigious University High School in Toruń with an impressive average of 6.0. Marek’s passion for science, his inventiveness and achievements in scientific competitions such as the European Statistics Competition or the Explory competition, as well as the title of Innovation Ambassador, testify to his extraordinary talent. His contribution to the field of science has been recognised many times both nationally and internationally. His inventions have won as many as 5 gold and 2 silver medals at international exhibitions. Marek took third place at the ISEF, the largest science competition in the world, where he was additionally recognised by the American Meteorological Society. His experience gained at the European Space Camp, where he worked on the complex technology of stratospheric rockets, testifies to his deep understanding of natural sciences and advanced technologies.Maciej SzymczykMaciej is a student at the 2nd Public High School named after Paweł Jasienica in Warsaw and follows the IB Baccalaureate programme. He is a two-time winner of the National Economic Knowledge Olympiad and a finalist in the Entrepreneurship Olympiad. Not limited to theory, Maciej gains practical experience through internships at leading companies and institutions specialising in machine learning. This is also exemplified by a research collaboration with a professor from the Sorbonne. What’s more, Maciej is already involved in working on innovative solutions in the medical field. His programme for the diagnosis of breast cancer malignancy has won recognition and was awarded in the Polish Development Fund’s School of Pioneers programme and the Explory competition.Łucja UlbrychDancing is Łucja’s passion. From the age of 5 she decided to follow the path of professional classical dance. As a young ballet artist she has already participated in international workshops and competitions. She is a member of the newly formed junior company of the Polish National Ballet in the 2023/24 season. Her dream is to dance on world stages and support young dancers in Poland.Mikołaj WolaninMikołaj is a young man with an extraordinary passion for the rights of the student. His commitment to this field, manifested, among other things, by founding the Pupil Rights Foundation and organising the Pupil Rights Knowledge Olympiad, is impressive. In addition to this, Nicolas is academically active, is the author of publications and two books (“Pupil Rights” and “Pupil Responsibilities”) and regularly attends scientific conferences. In addition, his work at the Short Stay Point for Ukrainian refugees shows his social commitment and empathy towards others.Read more about Rafal Brzoska andOmenaaMensah:Omenaa Mensah and Rafal Brzoska showed HIS HOME! It’s hard to describe in words. No one expected such an interior.Brzoska and Mensah give away their possessions and launch a Charity Lottery!Rafal Brzoskaand Omenaa Mensah break more records! Historic result of the TOP CHARITY 2023 Grand Charity Auction!