The Polish-American Community of Toledo (PACT) and the Toledo Poznan Alliance (TPA) joined forces and awarded three scholarships to area students totaling more than $2,000, including the first Martin A. Blaszczyk Memorial Scholarship.
Mr. Blaszczyk was the editor of the Lagrange St. News and a strong advocate for the Toledo Polish community for more than 30 years. Mr. Blaszczyk died of cancer on April 27, 2013. He was 59.
Ms. Emily Howland, from Lourdes University, became the first recipient of the Martin A. Blaszczyk Memorial Scholarship. The other winners included Joseph A. DuPuis from St. Francis de Sales High School, and Ms. Kassidy Rejent from Notre Dame Academy. Each winner will receive a $750 check.
“The loss of Mr. Blaszczyk was devastating to the area Polish community and his loss is felt by all who knew him,” said Stan Machosky, PACT president. “His legacy is his efforts to promote the Polish heritage in our community. We hope that having a scholarship named after Mr. Blaszczyk will help carry on his legacy and serve as a reminder of Polish heritage in northwest Ohio.”
In each of the past three years PACT awarded two scholarships with each winner receiving a $500 check. This year TPA joined with PACT to increase the number of winners and the monetary value of the scholarships.
“TPA wishes to extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the winners and all of the entrants for the 2013 PACT / TPA scholarship competition,” said David Chelminski, a TPA board member. “This scholarship competition is an admirable opportunity for our young Polonia.”
Entrants had to fill out an application and compose an essay on “what having a Polish heritage means to me.” Applications were reviewed by a six-person panel — Three from PACT and three from TPA.
Ms. Howland, from Curtice, OH who scheduled to graduate from Lourdes University in the Fall 2016, wrote about her great grandparents who during the Great Depression helped those less fortunate. She also touched on her family and how they carry on Polish traditions during Easter and Christmas. Finally she explained how her Catholic faith and work ethic are rooted in her Polish heritage.
“I plan to pass on my family’s traditions and values down to my children and help them experience their Polish heritage in a similar way like I did,” Ms. Howland wr
The second scholarship was awarded Joseph A. DuPuis, from Toledo, who is a student at St. Francis de Sales High School and is scheduled to graduate in 2016. His essay was on “Nie daj sie – Never Give Up”. It was inspired by his third place finish in the 2012 PACT scholarship competition, where he came close to winning a $500 scholarship.
Mr. DuPuis’ Polish legacy is from the Zychowicz family — A well-known name in the Toledo Polish community
“[Nie daj sie – Never Give Up] has become our family motto and will be passed on to my own children one day! I entered my essay last year and did not receive an award. Therefore in keeping with our motto, I am submitting my essay again,” Mr. DuPuis wrote.
In addition to listing many of the Polish traditions his family celebrates, Mr. DuPuis also noted that his school projects have to do with the culture, history, or geography on Poland. He noted that he has shared Polish food with his classmates and proudly wears shirts displaying the Polish Eagle.
The third winner was Kassidy R. Rejent, from Bowling Green, OH, who attends Notre Dame Academy and is scheduled to graduate in May 2016.
Ms. Rejent, who plays varsity soccer and serves on student council, wrote about her Polish heritage which dates back to the 1850s in Znin, Poland.
“Within this town lies the parish of St. Florian, a church that is approximately 570 years old. This is the church where my great-great-great grandparents were married and where 14 of their 18 children were baptized,” she wrote. “Sadly there aren’t many stories associated with my relatives that far back but luckily I am able to hear stories and experience the traditions of my Polish heritage through more current generations.”
Like other essays, Ms. Rejent wrote of how her family continues to celebrate traditions of Polish heritage.
“To me, my Polish heritage means everything. I am, and will be, constantly reminded of the wonderful traditions of the Polish culture through the lovely Polish dinners and stories; the hard work of my Polish relatives; by remembering the sacrifice my great-busia made for her sister, and the reward of a close and devoted Polish family,” she wrote.
The scholarships will be offered once again in May 2014 with applications being accepted sometime after the first of January.
