Friends of Polish Art proudly awarded the 2025 FPA scholarships and grants during a well-attended ceremony held on Friday, May 30, at the APCC in Troy.
Through the largesse of Mr. Frank Filipek, the Friends of Polish Art announced five scholarships, each in the amount of $2,000. The scholarships are awarded annually for academic studies in such areas, including law, medicine, architecture, engineering, sciences, and the liberal arts, except the fine arts. These scholarships are distributed in memory of the following:
Frank and Sophia Filipek
Ted and Chester Wojdasik
Joseph and Lillian Samul
John and Pauline Filipek
Lt. Col. Matt Urban
Julia Brown
Julia Brown is a Junior at the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, studying Biology, Health, and Society and Polish Language, Literature, and Culture Studies. She is committed to pursuing a career in dentistry after completing her undergraduate studies. She is a James B. Angell Scholar Award recipient for two consecutive semesters of all
A’s, University Honors, and the LSA Dean’s List. In her free time, Julia enjoys reading, golfing, spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants in Ann Arbor, and traveling. Julia began dancing at age three with the PRCUA Halka Folk Dance Ensemble and continued dancing with the ensemble until graduation.
Sasha Gilders
Sasha Gilders is an incoming freshman at the University of Notre Dame who plans to major in chemical engineering and minor in musical theater. She recently graduated from International Academy West, where she was the class Salutation and Choral Singing Department Award winner.
Sasha is an active member of several academic honors societies and a leader of the Make a Person Smile Club and the Living in Faith Together Club for Christian students. In addition to academics, the arts play a significant role in Sasha’s life. She has received recognition in soloist and ensemble competitions and is active in the Bluebirds Honors Choir and community theatre. Sasha’s favorite extracurricular activity has been participating in her Polish Dance group, the PNA Centennial Dancers, through which she has danced for the past 16 years. Sasha’s Polish heritage is an essential part of her life, and she is honored to be recognized by the Friends of
Polish Arts through this scholarship.
Paula Kowalczyk
Paulina Kowalczyk is a returning Madonna University student pursuing a Bachelor of Health Science in Health Informatics. Deeply proud of her Polish heritage, Paulina
is an active member of the Polish National Alliance and serves as Vice President of Youth for Lodge 2525. She is a choreographer and performer with several Polish folk dance groups, including the Polanie Song and Dance Ensemble, Polish Alliance Dancers, and Centennial Dancers. She has represented Polish culture across the U.S. and internationally—traveling five times to Rzeszów, Poland, for the World Festival of Polish Folk Dance. A former Miss Polonia
USA (2012) and Miss Polonia World (2017), Paulina continues to support and participate in cultural events and numerous fundraisers. Her passion lies in keeping Polish traditions alive and
sharing them with the next generation.
Hannah Alexandra Saunders
Hannah Alexandra Saunders, 18, is the daughter of Kent and Pamela Saunders and is the sister of Andrew and Jessica. She will graduate from the PRCUA Zajaczek Dance Ensemble in 2025.
Hannah graduated from Royal Oak High School with Cum Laude distinction. She is a leader in the classroom and on the court, serving on Student Council and NHS, and was voted by her teammates as captain of the varsity basketball, volleyball, and tennis teams. She’s earned all-league honors, individual academic all-state recognition, scholar-athlete awards, and various Leadership/Coaches Awards, and she holds the school record for most tennis doubles wins in a career and season. Her basketball and tennis teams were district and league champions. As a senior, Hannah also participated in an accounting co-op for a local company and the school’s athletic boosters, where she was recognized for her outstanding leadership and service. The Royal Oak PTA recognized her achievements with a Donald M. Currie Memorial Scholarship for academics, character, and extracurricular activities. Hannah will attend Michigan State University Eli Broad School of Business to pursue a degree in Accounting. And she thanks FPA for this incredible honor!
Ella Sidoworicz
Ella Sidorowicz is a senior at Athens High School in Troy, MI. She will be an incoming freshman at the University of Michigan majoring in Biology at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts this fall! She has maintained a deep love for all things artistic since she was young and continues to nurture this love through her involvement in community musical theatre groups and her school’s art club. She also loves learning about and spreading her culture to her classmates, with the creation of the Eastern European Cultures Club and participating in the Ethnic Fair at Athens. She hopes to carry on her family’s legacy of tenacity and perseverance and pursue the education they fought tirelessly for her to have.
Karolina Spiewak
Karolina is a rising sophomore at Harvard University, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in the History of Art & Architecture. During her first year, she found a vibrant community of Polish-speaking peers through Harvard’s Polish Society. She was also recognized by the Life Sciences faculty, who nominated her for a selective Undergraduate Research Program this summer. Alongside her pre-medical studies, Karolina is passionate about the intersection of sciences and the arts. She greatly enjoyed exploring the role of women in 20th-century medical illustrations this past year and hopes to continue this interest through Art Studio courses in the upcoming fall term.
Ian Zelek
Ian Zelek, the eighteen-year-old son of Michelle Zelek and brother of Lillia, danced with Wieliczka for eleven years. He engages in and appreciates sports, including soccer, tennis, and table tennis, as well as tactile hobbies such as drawing, animating, and video gaming. During his time at Plymouth High School, he participated in the STEM and National Honors Society programs.
A recent graduate, he plans to attend Eastern Michigan University. At Eastern Michigan, Ian will pursue an artistic career in video game design, enrolling in animation, psychology, and sketching courses to enhance his design and creative abilities.
At the same ceremony, FPA presented the Donald Samull Folk Dance Group Grants. The grants went to PRCUA Malbork Dance – Grand Rapids, Wawel Folk Ensemble, Dunajec Polish Song & Dance Ensemble, and PRCUA Gwiazda Dancers. Gratulacje!
