The Jan Karski Educational Foundation and Fundacja Edukacyjna Jana Karskiego have selected the recipients of the scholarship funded by the Foundations to participate in the Georgetown Leadership Seminar, organized by Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. This prestigious program will take place from October 22-27, 2023, in Washington, DC.
Michał Kolanko is a Polish journalist and a chief political reporter for Rzeczpospolita, Poland’s leading daily newspaper. He focuses on political campaigns in Poland and the U.S., the intersection of politics and technology, and new media. He holds an M.A. degree from the Law Department at the Jagiellonian University (Kraków, Poland) but decided to devote his professional life to journalism. His book, Gamechanger: Behind the Curtain of Polish Politics (Rebis, 2022), about the complexities of the inner workings of politics, sparked widespread discussion.
“In a world grappling with deep-rooted polarization and rampant misinformation, Jan Karski’s unwavering commitment to truth serves as an indispensable guiding light for the democratic societies of today,” wrote Mr. Kolanko in his essay about Karski, which was part of the application. “[His] actions show the moral responsibility of individuals to confront injustice and oppression even in the face of overwhelming challenges… Karski’s legacy encourages the promotion of dialogue and understanding among diverse groups.”
Sebastian Kęciek is a Polish public servant and diplomat, currently serving as the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Hungary. Prior to that, he worked for the Ministry of National Education as the Head of the International Cooperation Department. He also served as Director of the International Projects Coordination Department at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, focusing on foreign policy, public and cultural diplomacy, and providing services to foreign journalists and stakeholders. He was a member of the Polish Diaspora Education Council, the Holocaust Education Council, and the Polish-Ukrainian Youth Exchange Council. Mr. Kęciek holds an M.S. in International Relations from the Jagiellonian University. He also studied Administration at the Jagiellonian University and Political Science at the Jesuit University of Philosophy and Education Ignatianum in Kraków.
Mr. Kęciek holds Jan Karski in high esteem as a role model for public servants, who, like Karski, should serve with humility, empathy, and responsibility for the fate of others.
Please read about the JKEF/FEJK-sponsored GLS scholarship recipients in previous years here.
Founded in 1982, the Georgetown Leadership Seminar is the premier executive education program at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, where Jan Karski served as a distinguished professor for 40 years. It brings rising leaders from around the world to the campus for a week of intensive discussion on major international issues. The GLS vision is to promote dialogue on global affairs and interdisciplinary cooperation among individuals who will help shape the future of their organizations and countries. Participants will have an opportunity to study major issues that influence U.S. foreign policy by meeting with top-level American policymakers and establishing contacts imperative for strengthening international understanding and cooperation. More information at: https://gls.georgetown.edu/.
Photos: Courtesy of Michał Kolanko and Creative Commons
