CHICAGO: The 47th Polish American Heritage Awards Banquet was organized by the Polish American Congress on October 30th, 2016.
Charlie Wojciechowski, NBC TV, Chicago was the Master of Ceremony with Ulani and Hussars.
Charlie Wojciechowski
Presentations of Awards was given by Romuald Poplawski, President of the Polish American Congress, Illinois Division, Michael Niedzinski, Vice Presidnet of PACIL; Charlie Wojciechowski and Members of PACIL Board.
Heritage Award for Prof. Maria Siemionow
Dr. Maria Siemionow, M.D.; Medical Pioneer, Polish American Heritage Award
Professor Andrzej Nowak, Academic/Professional Award
Fr. Waclaw Lech OCD, Humanitarian Award
Tadeusz Terlikowski (99 years old), Military Valor Award
Zbigniew Karas, Philanthropic Award
Olivia Smoliga, Gold Olympian Sports Award
Aurelia Pucinski, President’s Award
Wiktor Wegrzyn, Special Recognition-Lifetime Patriot Award
Wici Song and Dance Ansemble provided entertainment during the Heritage Banquet.
Over 300 guests attended the 47th Heritage Banquet.
Senator Richard Durbin, Bruce Rauner, Illinois Governor, Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, Andrzej Wypych, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago; Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Board of Cook County Commissioners; Frank Spula, Polish American Congress President; Robert J. Dold and Michael Quigley, United States House of Representatives sent congratulatory letters to organizers and awardees of the Heritage Banquet wishing them continuing success.
Among the past Recipients of the Polish American Heritage Awards are many well known people in the United States who distinguished themselves in different areas of life and made significant contributions to the American society. Some of them: Coach Michael Krzyzewski (1999); Bob Kustra (1992); Hon. U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (1988)- the longest serving woman in US Senate; Hon. William Lipinski (1988); Hon. Dan Rostenkowski (1985); Stephanie Powers and Lt. General Edward L. Rowny (1980); Lidia Pucinski (1979) and John C. Marcin (1979); Edmund Muskie (1977); His Eminence John Cardinal Krol.
These awardees have inspired several generations of Polish-Americans for greater public service for the Polish American Community and for the American society.
@ Andrew (Andrzej) Mikolajczyk
Photo: Anna Zalinska and Andrew Mikolajczyk
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