Polanki College Achievement Awards
Scholarship Sponsored by Polanki
Polanki’s annual College Achievement Awards honor students who have achieved academic excellence and shown a strong commitment to learning about, preserving, or sharing Polish language and culture.
Eligibility (Criteria)
- U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- Enrolled as a junior, senior, or graduate student during the 2025–2026 academic year in an accredited degree program.
- Current or former resident of Wisconsin, or currently attending a Wisconsin college or university.
- Of Polish descent, or someone who has studied Polish language, history, society, or culture, or who has been actively involved in Polish cultural activities.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred.
- Applicants may receive no more than two Polanki awards over their academic career. Previous awardees may reapply only if:
- they received an award as an undergraduate and are now a graduate student; or
- they have completed the degree for which they were originally funded and are pursuing a new degree in a different accredited program.
Award size
Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are awarded according to the strength of each applicant’s qualifications.
How to apply
1. Fill out Part 1 of the application form. Print legibly in black ink or complete it electronically.
2. Prepare Parts 2–4 on separate pages, typed. Attach these pages to the application form and put your name on every page.
3. Complete Part 5, then sign and date it.
4. Include one college-issued transcript for each college you have attended (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). Alverno College applicants should provide a class rank or another indication of how their academic performance compares with peers. UWM students who also wish to be considered for the Victor Podlaski/UWM Polish Studies Award must complete UWM’s application at uwm.academicworks.com in addition to this Polanki application.
5. Mail materials to: Polanki College Achievement Award, PO Box 341458, Milwaukee, WI 53234 — OR — email application materials to info@polanki.org.
Deadlines and important notes
- Applications must be postmarked or emailed by January 10, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Awards will be presented at the Polanki College Achievement Awards Tea on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., held at the Polish Center of Wisconsin, 6941 South 68th Street, Franklin, WI 53132. Recipients are expected to attend, accept their award in person, and give a short (about 1–2 minute) statement about their academic background and interest in Polish culture. A group photo of awardees may be shared on Polanki’s social media and in the organization’s newsletter.