Essay Contest

Silesian-Polish Texans Essay Contest

Each year the Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation sponsors an essay contest for Texas high school seniors and awards a $1000 college scholarship to each winner. The purpose of the essay contest is to encourage Texas high school seniors to look deeper into the Silesian Texan culture and to record the stories they uncover. Silesia is a region in Europe that includes the southwest area of what is now Poland, from which many of the early Texas settlers immigrated. Contestants must conduct research and submit original biographical essays, which require oral interviews and detailed bibliographies. The judges include authors, historians, and Polish professionals who evaluate the entries. The foundation has awarded $35,000 in scholarships over the last ten years and published many winning entries.

Download the 2024 FLMF Scholarship Flyer

2024 Winners

  • Lucas Campbell of La Vernia High School
  • Halleigh Kopecki of Poth High School
  • Eric Wayne Moczygemba of Floresville High School
  • Owen Wiatrek of Poth High School


L-R, Campbell, Kopecki, Moczygemba, Wiatrek

 

2023 Winners

  • Braden Bennett of La Vernia High School
  • Jeffrey Oltjendiers Jr of Floresville High School
  • Tully Scott of La Vernia High School
  • Trent Wiatrek of Poth High School

 

2022 Winners

  • Anthony Haiduk of White Deer High School
  • Erin Moczygemba of Floresville High School

 

2021 Winners

  • Lauryn Bilicek of La Vernia High School
  • Brandon Daniel Dworaczyk of Floresville High School
  • Emma Rose Lloyd of Woodrow Wilson High School
  • Kendell Lyssy of Falls City High School
  • Jeralyn Wiatrek of Poth High School

 

2020 Winners:  The Scholarship program was suspended temporarily in 2020 due to illnesses on the scholarship committee.

 

2019 Winners:
• Kyle A. Kosub of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy
• Hayden Kotara of  Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio
• Chelsea Kruse of Poth High School
• Matilda Smolij of Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston

 

2018 Winners:
• Cory Matthew Dworaczyk of Floresville High School
• Annica M. Lyssy of Falls City High School
• Camryn Nicole Wiatrek of Karnes City High School
• Henry Lloyd of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas
• Claire Mariah Robinson of Woodville High School

 

2017 Winners:
• McKenzie Kotara of Tom Clark High School.
• Madison Dziuk of Falls City High School.


2016 Winners:
• Travis R. Hamilton from East Central High School, San Antonio, Texas
• Kortney Mary Klepac from La Vernia High School
• Jason Anthony Kolodziej from Poth High School
• Ashley Marie Kosub from Cinco Ranch High School, Katy, Texas
• William Glenn Voigt from Pflugerville High School

2015 Winners:
• Aaron James Cole from The Woodlands High School
• Kayla Ann Gorzell from La Vernia High School
• Morgan Michelle Kelley from Karnes City High School
• Kolton John Pollok from Falls City High School

2014 Winners:
• Monica Nicole Delgado from Forney High School
• Taylor Kathryn Dziuk from Falls City High School
• Krystal Moczygemba from John Paul II Catholic High School in New Braunfels
• Breanna Jo Takacs from Victoria West High School

2013 Winners:
• Madison Pollok, Floresville High School
• Lauren Voigt, Pflugerville High School

2012 Winners: 
• Zachary Gonzalez, La Vernia High School, La Vernia, Texas
• Alexandria Michelle Mitchell, Our Lady of the Hills Catholic High School, Kerrville, Texas

2011 Winners:
• Katherine Stepke, Floresville High School, Floresville, Texas
• Kathryn Moczygemba, La Vernia High School, La Vernia, Texas
• Sarah Pruski, Richardson High School, Dallas, Texas
• Jordan Haley Sheppard, La Vernia High School, La Vernia, Texas

2010 Winners:
• Lauren Ashley Flieller, Poth High School
• Meagan Hester, La Vernia High School
• Kathryn Moczygemba, La Vernia High School
• Blaise Christopher Yanta, Runge High School

Privacy Statement:
Upon submission of an entry, the submission (including any and all intellectual property rights therein) becomes the property of the Father Leopold Moczygemba Foundation (FLMF). By entering the Contest, entrants grant FLMF an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide and royalty-free right, unless prohibited by law, to use their respective names, cities, and states of residence, pictures, and likenesses without compensation and without any requirement of notification or permission, for the express purpose of advertising and publicity of FLMF and the Contest in any and all media, now or after. Entrants also grant FLMF permission to use their name and entry to further its educational mission to promote Polish language, history, and culture in Texas.  Winning essays and associated personal identifying information will be publicly posted on our website.  Entrants acknowledge they have informed any persons identified in their essay of the publication requirements of this Contest, and that they have obtained the necessary consent to publication from any third parties identified in their essay.  Contact information will be used to notify winners and award prizes. Contact information may also be used to contact you with further information about FLMF, as well as the information about third parties whose activities relate to the mission of FLMF, which is unlikely. Entries will be judged by a committee of FLMF officials, including professional authors. Award checks will be made payable to universities only.  By submitting an entry, entrants, and their parents or legal guardians, if a minor, acknowledge their agreement to these terms and conditions.