Students in Hunter College’s Polish Program celebrated Polish Bilingual Day with songs, stories, and food in the West Building on October 17.
It was the second time Hunter students celebrated the 10-year-old, worldwide annual festival of Polish language, culture, and heritage.
This year’s special guest, storyteller Michał Malinowski, traveled from Poland to present folk tales and teach students the children’s song “Siała baba mak” about a young girl and a poppy.
Student Gabriela Alter played her guitar and sang in Polish. Her sister, Weronika, gave a musical presentation about the great Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin.
Two students, Alexander Wiercioch and Aleksandra Kwiecien, were awarded with a scholarship of $250 each from Dobra Szkola Nowy Jork Foundation for their exceptional achievements in the study of Polish. Kwiecien is minoring in Polish, the first to do so after a break of a few years.
Students Yael Elmatad, Grace McKenna, Kevin Mscichowski, Victoria Panek, Sebastian Poltorak, and Christopher Puch were presented with books about Poland for their essays about inspirational Poles.
Everyone enjoyed pączki (Polish donuts).
The Polish Program has about 60 students. They are taught by Dr. Małgorzata Pośpiech, Monika Zaleska, and Danuta Świątek.
