Jakub Sawicki, 2018 Rowny Paderewski Scholar
Jakub is interested in pursuing a career in public service, and over the past several years he engaged in opportunities to develop his diplomatic skills. In 2017, he interned at the European Union Economic department of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw, Poland, and this summer he attended the TFAS Institute on Economics & International Affairs (IEIA). As part of his summer experience in Washington, Jakub interned at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, where he learned about the inner workings of a foreign mission, interacted with diplomats and gained a better understanding of the nature of international diplomacy. Jakub is also a member of the Polish Forum of Young Diplomats, a non-governmental organization that brings together young people who aspire to work in the international realm. He holds a bachelor’s in history from the College of Inter-Area Individual Studies at the University of Warsaw, and a master’s in late antique and Byzantine studies from Linacre College at the University of Oxford. Jakub is currently pursuing a master’s of law at the College of Inter-Area Individual Studies at the University of Warsaw, and a master’s in EU international relations and diplomacy studies at the College of Europe. According to Jakub, his Washington experience with TFAS served him well – it strengthened his commitment to public service and left him not only enthused but also “better-equipped to take on the challenges of tomorrow.”
Piotr Krajewski, 2017 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Piotr is currently attending law school at the University of Warsaw. He graduated with a philosophy undergraduate degree in 2016. He most recently interned at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, where he used what he is learning in law school to give legal advice to people contacting the Foundation. Last summer, he was awarded a Lady Blanka Rosenstiel scholarship to attend The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) program in Prague, the American Institute on Political and Economic Systems (AIPES). This summer, he is attending the TFAS Institute on Economics and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. and is interning at the International Technology & Trade Associates. Piotr speaks Polish, English and German.
Lidia Gibadlo, 2016 Rowny Paderewski Scholar
Lidia is working toward her master’s degree in international relations at the University of Warsaw. As a Rowny Paderewski Scholar, Lidia attended the Institute on Economics and International Affairs at The Fund for American Studies and interned at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C. Prior to attending the TFAS program, Lidia interned at the Centre for Eastern Studies and the National Security Bureau of Poland.
Oskar Raczycki, 2015 Rowny Paderewski Scholar
Oskar is an aspiring global policy leader. Oskar graduated in international relations, and defended a thesis on cybersecurity in U.S.-China relations. In 2013, his B.A. thesis exploring the topic of climate-induced migration won first place in the competition of the Polish Geopolitical Association. He also studies international law and economics within the individual interdisciplinary studies at the University of Warsaw and completed a one-year introductory program to American law conducted by the University of Florida Levin College of Law at his alma mater. Oskar gained experience as a legal assistant in SKS Legal (the first ranked law firm in Poland), member of AIESEC local committee as the co-organizer of the biggest job fair in the country and held the position of research assistant at the Political Department of Royal Danish Embassy in Warsaw. As a Rowny Paderewski Scholar, Oskar interned at the Institute of International Finance in Washington, D.C., contributing to the report about the activities of IIF members in the area of financial inclusion. Oskar is a laureate of Diamond Grant, the national program supporting student researchers at the beginning of their academic career. The project (2015-2018) explores new forms of international forced migration and their implications for international security and law and received funding of approx. 50,000 USD. In the foreseeable future Oskar wants to pursue the MPP program in the United States. His academic and vocational interests revolve around international law and security, global governance, human rights, foreign and public policy.
Katarzyna Bitka, 2014 Rowny Paderewski Scholar
Katarzyna is an active and ambitious young professional, currently working as a policy officer at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Research and Innovation in Brussels. Previously, she studied European economic studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and international economics at Warsaw School of Economics. As the Rowny Paderewski Scholar, Katarzyna worked at the Polish Embassy in the U.S. in Washington D.C. and in San Francisco, where she researched the European institutional and entrepreneurial presence in Silicon Valley. As a student, Katarzyna worked for a year for the Royal Danish Embassy in Warsaw, carried out consulting projects for internationalization of SMEs and cooperated on scientific projects with the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is currently leading the team working on innovation policy reform proposals within the “Młodzi Reformują Polskę;” project; previously she initiated a number of student initiatives, including the College of Europe Business Club and the flagship “Action Diplomacy” project within Students’ Foreign Affairs Association at Warsaw School of Economics.
Karol Górnowicz, 2013 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
In 2013, Karol was awarded the Rowny Paderewski Scholarship at The Fund for American Studies, allowing him to participate in the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES). While in Washington, D.C., he interned at the U.S. Small Business Administration at the Office of Capital Access. Karol graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics, where he pursued an economics and finance degree. He also completed CEMS Master in international management and studied at the Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Management. During his studies, Karol also acted as the president of the Global CEMS Student Board 2013, managing an international team of 27 people from top business schools, such as London School of Economics, National University of Singapore or Tsinghua University in Beijing. Karol is now working as associate at The Boston Consulting Group office in Warsaw. Karol is passionate about innovation and education and wants to help create and restructure universities. He believes that only a close cooperation among companies, alumni and academia can help create globally-competitive graduates and assure development of non-obsolete curricula. Karol’s goal is to advise governments, universities and companies to focus on innovation and entrepreneurial collaboration.
Kamil Pruchnik, 2012 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Kamil received the 2012 Rowny Paderewski scholarship, granting him the opportunity to participate in the Institute on Economics and International Affairs and intern at the Bankers’ Association for Finance and Trade.
Kamil is a highly determined student with a solid academic background and valuable international experience, having studied in the United States, Poland, Brazil, England, Iceland, Russia and Slovenia. He was the second best student at Warsaw School of Economics out of 1,300 students. He won several business and research competitions and was awarded the prestigious Polish Diamond Grant ($70,000 USD). His tutor was professor Leszek Balcerowicz, who is former president of the National Bank of Poland, former finance minister, and former deputy prime minister.
He works as a consultant at the Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia Region, and he is currently a doctorate candidate at the Warsaw School of Economics.
In his free time, Kamil loves to travel to different places and meet new people. He is a big Star Wars and comic book fan. He also swims competitively; his aim is to swim the English Channel in summer 2014 or 2015.
Joanna Stepien, 2011 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Joanna took part in two programs at The Fund for American Studies. In 2010, she participated in the TFAS program in Prague, and in 2011, she was awarded the Rowny Paderewski Scholarship, allowing her to attend the Institute on Business and Government Affairs (IBGA) in Washington, D.C.
While in D.C., Joanna interned at the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI. In Warsaw, she worked for the Economic Council for the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Poland. She currently works as an analyst for Deutsche Bank.
She graduated from the law school at the University of Warsaw and also received a master’s degree in finance and banking from the Warsaw School of Economics. Her interests include subjects related to the stock exchange, project management and mathematical logic.
Alicja Magda, 2010 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Alicja came to Washington, D.C., in 2010 on a Rowny Paderewski Scholarship to participate in the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES). While in D.C., she completed an internship at the logistics company DHL. One summer earlier, Alicja had also participated the TFAS program in Prague.
Her educational background includes graduate studies in commerce and law in Holland and at the School Lazarskiego in Warsaw, Poland. She completed her undergraduate studies in law and business at the University of Brighton in England.
Currently, Alicja resides in Poland and works at Skarbiec Kancelaria Prawna, a law firm in Warsaw, as senior offshore advisor.
Aneta Popiel, 2009 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Aneta received the 2009 Rowny Paderewski Scholarship, giving her the opportunity to participate in the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service (IPVS) in Washington, D.C. There she interned for the Youth Service Opportunities Project, a small, local nonprofit. Aneta is also a 2008 graduate of the TFAS program in Prague.
After completing her TFAS summer in Washington, D.C., Aneta decided to pursue a master’s degree in public policy at Georgetown University with a Fulbright Graduate Award. Currently, as a graduate fellow at the Qatar Foundation International, she contributes to the Foundation’s evaluation program in D.C.
Before moving to the United States, Aneta received a master’s degree in international relations at the University of Warsaw. She speaks Polish, English, German, Spanish and Arabic. She has channeled her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for international development into working with institutions such as the European Commission and the Institute of International Education.
A strong advocate for education and democracy, Aneta is involved in expanding the Paderewski Scholarship Fund and promoting the heritage of Ignacy Jan Paderewski. She also maintains strong ties with the Polish community in the United States. She is involved in Quo Vadis – the Young Polonia Leaders Conference and the American Polish Advisory Council (APAC).
Her interests include international economic and social development, democratization, social accountability and foreign assistance. She enjoys traveling, playing sports, dancing and cooking.
Edyta Szkaluba, 2008 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Edyta is a graduate of both the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES) and the TFAS program in Prague. She was awarded two scholarships for these programs: the 2008 Rowny Paderewski Scholarship and a 2007 scholarship from the Rosenstiel Foundation.
While in Washington, D.C., she interned in the marketing department at URAC, a nonprofit healthcare organization. Today, she continues to work in the marketing field at Comarch in Cracow. She has also worked for Deloitte Poland.
Edyta completed graduate studies in economics and marketing at Vrije University Brussels and undergraduate studies at the Cracow University of Economics.
Tom Zacharski, 2007 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
After graduating in 2006 from the TFAS program in Prague, Tom Zacharski decided to participate in the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES) in Washington, D.C. There, he spent the summer of 2007 studying at Georgetown University and interning with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who was serving as a senator from Nebraska at the time. While he holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Poland, Tom is a true citizen of the world. He has studied in eight countries and has worked for Google in California, Dublin and Singapore in various roles on the business side.
He gained valuable experience by serving the company’s largest advertising clients and often acted as in-house intrapreneur. Currently Tom is pursuing an MBA at INSEAD, one of the best business schools in the world and the most internationally diverse one. Tom is very interested in entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital sphere. He is passionate about web technologies and is a self-taught coder. His future goals include founding a successful Internet start-up and in the long run he hopes to be involved in major efforts fostering dialogue and cooperation between the world’s nations. In his free time, Tom enjoys traveling having visited nearly 50 countries in the world. He also passionately follows American politics and is an avid reader.
Lukasz J. Rey, 2006 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Lukasz was introduced to TFAS in 2005, when he participated in the program in Prague with the help of a scholarship granted to him by the Rosenstiel Foundation. In 2006, he also received the Rowny Paderewski Scholarship; he traveled to Washington, D.C., that summer to participate in the Institute on Business and Government Affairs (IBGA). While in D.C., he interned in public affairs at Eastman Kodak.
Lukasz currently serves as a manager at The Boston Consulting Group. He received a master’s degree in international business from Singapore Management University, as well as a master’s in finance and banking from the Warsaw School of Economics.
He recently moved to Boston, Mass., with his wife, Inga Rey, who was his TFAS classmate in 2005. His interests include traveling, scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding and studying economic history and capital markets.
Dr. Joanna Orzechowska-Wacławska, 2005 Rowny Paderewski Scholar 
Joanna was the first recipient of the Rowny Paderewski Scholarship. She participated in the 2005 Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES), where she interned in Washington, D.C., for Senator Chuck Hagel. Joanna had also been awarded a scholarship in 2002 by the Rosenstiel Foundation, which allowed her to participate in the TFAS program in Prague.
Specializing in nationalism studies, Joanna received her doctorate from Jagiellonian University in Cracow, where she now serves as an academic teacher. She also holds a master’s degree in international affairs from the Cracow University of Economics.