Committed to Education

The education of Polish youth has been a consistent priority for the Legion of Young Polish Women throughout its 75 year history. This commitment to education has taken two main forms: Polish schools and college scholarships.

Like many immigrant groups, Chicago’s Polish community sought to teach its young people their language and culture through forming Polish cultural and bilingual schools. The Legion has long understood the importance of this work and has regularly made donations to the Polish schools in the area.

Not to discount the importance of formal education, the Legion encourages Polish-American youth to succeed by offering scholarship to students pursuing a degree. Scholarships named for and financed by the Legion of Young Polish Women are awarded by a number of Polish-American organizations while other scholarship funds receive regular contributions from the Legion.

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The Reilly Polish Bilingual Program is just one of the many Polish cultural and bilingual schools supported by the Legion over the years.

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Students from the Casimir Pulaski Polish School in traditional Polish attire, 1989.

Program for an event presented by the students of the Emilli Pater Polish School, 1981

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A thank you certificate given to the Legion of Young Polish Women by the Pulaski Polish School for their continued support, 1990.

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Since 1975, the Legion of Young Polish Women has donated to the Knights of Dabrowski Crusade for Education.

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Beatrice Klamerus, recipient of a Legion sponsored scholarship writes “It makes me very happy to know that there are groups and legions like yours that […] give a helping hand to me and others like me, struggling to obtain a good career.” Click to read her full letter.

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Anna Krecisz and Agnieszka Kielian, recipients of Legion of Young Polish Women scholarships from the Knights of Dabrowski, with Legion member Teresa Skawski, 2011.

Listen as Richard Oswiany, former President of the Chicago Intercollegiate Council, discusses the Legion's support for education.