Through its longstanding relationship with Jagiellonian University of Kraków, Poland, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law), in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, sponsored a jazz concert and photography exhibit the evening of Tuesday, February 20. Hosted at the residence of the Polish ambassador, “That’s Jazz” featured a performance by Gosia Julia Maj, a Polish singer-songwriter working internationally. Maj’s performance was accompanied by a reception built around a jazz photography exhibit displaying the work of award-winning Polish photographer Kasia Idzkowska.
Tuesday’s event opened with introductory remarks by Monika Kaniewska, the Embassy’s Chief of Protocol. After welcoming guests to the ambassador’s residence, Kaniewska turned the podium over to Marek Magierwoski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the United States, who initiated the presentation of the 2024 Amicus Poloniae awards. These awards, which take their name from the Latin phrase for “Friend of Poland,” are bestowed by the Polish ambassador in recognition of its recipients’ efforts to foster stronger cooperation between Poland and the United States. This year’s recipients were Catholic Law professors emeriti Leah Wortham and Rett R. Ludwikowski, who have been integral in developing the Law School’s three joint programs with Jagiellonian University Faculty of Law and Administration. Professor Ludwikoski’s award was accepted on his behalf by his son, Mark Ludwikowski '96, accepted the award for him.
Megan La Belle, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and co-director of the Law & Technology Institute, then presented Catholic Law’s International Alumni Award to Tomasz Chmal, a 1997 alumnus of the international Business and Trade Summer Law Program. Chmal’s award recognized his distinguished professional career as well as his efforts, since a student, to create a an alumni community among the US and international alumni of the three Catholic Law-Jagiellonian programs.
The welcome and awards were followed by the concert by Maj’s jazz quintet. The evening closed with a reception that highlighted the connected and supportive community at Catholic Law. Students, alumni, faculty, and guests were able to catch-up with each other, talk with the Ambassador, meet Gosia and the members of her band, as well as talk with Kasia and view her photographs.
The law school's summer abroad program will feature another Catholic Law-JU event, "United States and Central & Eastern Europe Connection Weekend: US and EU Perspectives on ESG: Toward a sustainable world or a dangerous utopia?" The event will be held from June 28-29, 2024, at the Jagiellonian University, Collegium Novum, Kraków, Poland. Contact Leah Wortham, wortham@cua.edu, for more information and to be on the early alert for registration.
