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HISTORY
In 2003 the Polish Studies
Program at the University of Washington in Seattle celebrated its 50th anniversary
by organizing a lecture series featuring internationally renowned
speakers of Polish
 origin.
Following the success of the lectures, a group of UW alumni, staff,
students, and members of Seattle’s
Polish-American community formed the Polish Studies Endowment
Committee (PSEC), dedicated to raising funds and serving
as a resource for ideas and strategies to ensure the excellence of
Polish Studies for future generations.
ACHIEVEMENTS
To date PSEC has concentrated on
fundraising efforts and on continuing the Distinguished Lecturers
Series, which has brought to the University of Washington campus
experts on topics ranging from astronomy, cinema, finances, history,
literature, and art to poetry. Guest speakers have included
Agnieszka Holland, Eva Hoffman, Edward Hirsch, Witold Rybczynski,
Rafal Olbinski, Stanley Cloud and Lynne Olson, Bożena
Shallcross, Adam Zagajewski, and Aleksander Wolszczan.
 These
visits added prestige and visibility to the Polish Studies program
and increased knowledge and understanding of historical and
contemporary Poland in our community.
SUCCESS
In 2004 the
continuation of this successful series was made possible by generous
gifts from Andrzej and Izabella Turski. In June 2005, through
support of the community, we officially established the Polish
Studies Endowment Fund at the University of Washington,
a first step toward an Endowed Chair of the Polish Studies.
The successful fundraising efforts also made possible the opening of
a separate account to support a visiting Fulbright Scholar.
As a result, the Polish community, the Polish-US. Fulbright
Commission, and the Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian
Studies Center are about to sign a three-year agreement to bring a
scholar of Polish Studies to the UW.
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| EFFORTS |
| The Committee
is dedicated to: |
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continuing fundraising
efforts
to augment the Endowment
Fund;
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maintaining the
Distinguished
Lecturers Series;
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raising funds to support a
Fulbright scholar for the next three years, beginning in
2006/07. |
| SUPPORT |
The Committee
is supporting other activities to:
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ensure the availability of
the Polish Studies Program for future generations; |
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offer scholarships and
fellowships; |
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provide
interdisciplinary
support for Polish Studies in the Department of Slavic
Languages and Literatures; |
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support courses, lectures,
studies, publications, and research focused
on Polish language, heritage, literature, history, or
art, and on the social, political and economic aspects of
modern Poland. |
GOALS
Achievement of
our goals is only possible through the generosity and participation
of the community. We strongly believe that you and others share our
vision of promoting Polish language and culture at the University of
Washington, including the establishment of an Endowed Chair of
Polish Studies.
The establishment of an Endowed Chair may be accomplished in
phases. Now that the Endowment Fund has reached $120,000, our next, far-reaching
fundraising goal is to raise the sum of $250,000, which
would provide funds for an Endowed Professorship. This amount
would provide support for faculty, research, equipment,
publication costs, and other professional activities.
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