Jagiellonian University Honors and Strengthens Cooperation with the Kosciuszko Foundation
On Monday, October 27, at the Libraria Collegium Maius, the Jagiellonian University (UJ) held a ceremony to present the Silver Medal “Plus ratio quam vis” to the Kosciuszko Foundation — the oldest and most active Polish-American organization in the United States, which for a century has worked to strengthen social, cultural, and scientific relations between the U.S. and Poland. This moment marked another milestone in the Jagiellonian University Kosciuszko Foundation Partnership.
Milestones of the Jagiellonian University Kosciuszko Foundation Partnership
Prior to the ceremony, UJ Rector Prof. Piotr Jedynak and the Kosciuszko Foundation’s President and Executive Director, Marek Skulimowski, signed an agreement to further develop cooperation between the two institutions. The document provides a framework for joint research, educational, and outreach projects aimed at expanding knowledge, inspiring communities, and promoting the missions of both organizations under the Jagiellonian University Kosciuszko Foundation Partnership.
The Silver Medal “Plus ratio quam vis” was awarded to the Foundation in recognition of its century-long, successful mission of supporting academic, educational, and cultural exchange between Poland and the United States, deepening Polish-American relations on intellectual, scientific, and social levels. The Foundation has had a significant impact on the advancement of research, education, and the professional development of both Polish and American scholars, including those from the Jagiellonian University. The award also acknowledges the Foundation’s institutional cooperation and financial support for academic programs and research initiatives at UJ, as well as its role as an ambassador of Polish science and culture in the U.S., further strengthening the Jagiellonian University Kosciuszko Foundation Partnership.
During his laudation, UJ Vice-Rector for Education Prof. Paweł Laidler recalled that the cooperation between UJ and the Kosciuszko Foundation dates back to 1923, when Polish immigrant Stefan Mierzwa — the Foundation’s founder — reached out to Polish rectors for help in selecting the first scholarship recipients. Even in the challenging years of World War II and communism, the Foundation continued to support UJ scholars and maintain cultural and academic ties.
Notable milestones include the establishment of the UJ School of Polish Language and Culture in 1972, which to this day hosts dozens of American students annually through Kosciuszko Foundation scholarships, and the creation of the Frank Wilczek Award Fund in 2019 — honoring young scientists who have made significant discoveries in physics, astronomy, or related fields.
As Prof. Laidler emphasized, “Building bridges between Poland and the United States has always been the work of visionaries, engineers, patriots, and champions of freedom — from Tadeusz Kościuszko to those shaping the mission of the Kosciuszko Foundation and the Jagiellonian University today.”
