American Council for Polish Culture

ACPC Convention - Award Recipients 2026

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Lifetime Achievement Award
Deborah M. Majka
Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Language School at the Polish Home in Philadelphia; retired executive assistant at Rhom and Haas Corporation Candidate is a local Philadelphia activist in the Polonia community with an MA degree from Villanova University. Over the years she has served as president for the Heritage Society of Philadelphia, the American Council for Polish Culture, and Vice president for Culture with the Polish American Congress in which offices she showed great dedication and endurance. Currently she is serving as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Poland for SE Pennsylvania, an office which which she has held since 2011.

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Distinguished Service Award
Janusz Romanski
Engineer, Professor at University - Retired Janusz Romanski had a long career in aviation engineering making significant contributions in the field of Aviation Science. He headed several Engineering Societies - including those in Polonia. He never forgot his Polish roots. In Philadelphia he was deeply involved in running the Polish Peoples' University (a Polish language lecture group) and in the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia. He made significant contributions to honoring several local individuals of Polish background who have made prominent contributions to science and engineering in the state of Pennsylvania: Rudolf Modrzejewski, (bridge builder) ; Frank N. Piasecki, (helicopter pioneer); Dr. Waler Golaski, (bio-engineer); and Edward Piszek (a prominent Polonian philanthropist and entrepreneur). These individuals now have their own Pennsylvania Historical Commission Markers.

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Cutural Achievement Award
Paul Krzywicki
Retired tuba player for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Paul grew up in Philadelphia's Mayfair section, he first studied advanced tuba at the Aspen Music Festival, then played a variety of ensembles before joining the Philadelphia Orchestra. He went on tour to China with the Orchestra in 1973. Paul was also of great assistance when it came to placing a historical marker for Leopold Stokowski in front of the Academy of Music, on Broad St. in Philadelphia. He authored a book about Polish musicians in Philadelphia From Paderewski to Penderecki: The Polish Musician in Philadelphia. Longtime member of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia and of the Annual Chopin Concert Committee, giving invaluable assistance in organizing the concert. His stellar career as a musician and his dedication to promoting Polonia musician artists is outstanding.

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Founders Award
Donna Chmara
Retired - Teacher, Donna has been a long time motivator at the Polish Arts Club in Trenton, NJ serving in various functions including president of the group. She is an able organizer and promoter of the American Council for Polish Culture mission in creating an understanding of Poland and its people in America.Organized many interesting lectures and presentations including a conference titled WWII Behind Closed Doors. Stalin, the Nazis and the West inspired by the book by British historian Laurence Rees. Donna has been working as an educator and promoter of Poland in the background for many years. Her hard work and dedication have made a difference in advancing Polish-American understanding. She is the author of a book Surviving Genocide. Personal Recollections based on family experiences and interviews.

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Founders Award
Richard Porembski
Has been involved with Polish Societies in the Baltimore area. He headed the Commitee for the Katyn Monument in Baltimore which led to the erection of a beautiful monument created by Andrzej Pitynski. He is currently an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Maryland since 2021.

	---	Lifetime Achievement Award Deborah M. Majka Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Language School at the Polish Home in Philadelphia; retired executive assistant at Rhom and Haas Corporation Candidate is a local Philadelphia activist in the Polonia community with an MA degree from Villanova University. Over the years she has served as president for the Heritage Society of Philadelphia, the American Council for Polish Culture, and Vice president for Culture with the Polish American Congress in which offices she showed great dedication and endurance. Currently she is serving as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Poland for SE Pennsylvania, an office which which she has held since 2011.
	---	Distinguished Service Award Janusz Romanski Engineer, Professor at University - Retired Janusz Romanski had a long career in aviation engineering making significant contributions in the field of Aviation Science. He headed several Engineering Societies - including those in Polonia. He never forgot his Polish roots. In Philadelphia he was deeply involved in running the Polish Peoples' University (a Polish language lecture group) and in the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia. He made significant contributions to honoring several local individuals of Polish background who have made prominent contributions to science and engineering in the state of Pennsylvania: Rudolf Modrzejewski, (bridge builder) ; Frank N. Piasecki, (helicopter pioneer); Dr. Waler Golaski, (bio-engineer); and Edward Piszek (a prominent Polonian philanthropist and entrepreneur). These individuals now have their own Pennsylvania Historical Commission Markers.
	---	Cutural Achievement Award Paul Krzywicki Retired tuba player for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Paul grew up in Philadelphia's Mayfair section, he first studied advanced tuba at the Aspen Music Festival, then played a variety of ensembles before joining the Philadelphia Orchestra. He went on tour to China with the Orchestra in 1973. Paul was also of great assistance when it came to placing a historical marker for Leopold Stokowski in front of the Academy of Music, on Broad St. in Philadelphia. He authored a book about Polish musicians in Philadelphia From Paderewski to Penderecki: The Polish Musician in Philadelphia. Longtime member of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia and of the Annual Chopin Concert Committee, giving invaluable assistance in organizing the concert. His stellar career as a musician and his dedication to promoting Polonia musician artists is outstanding.
	---	Founders Award Donna Chmara Retired - Teacher, Donna has been a long time motivator at the Polish Arts Club in Trenton, NJ serving in various functions including president of the group. She is an able organizer and promoter of the American Council for Polish Culture mission in creating an understanding of Poland and its people in America.Organized many interesting lectures and presentations including a conference titled WWII Behind Closed Doors. Stalin, the Nazis and the West inspired by the book by British historian Laurence Rees. Donna has been working as an educator and promoter of Poland in the background for many years. Her hard work and dedication have made a difference in advancing Polish-American understanding. She is the author of a book Surviving Genocide. Personal Recollections based on family experiences and interviews.
	---	Founders Award Richard Porembski Has been involved with Polish Societies in the Baltimore area. He headed the Commitee for the Katyn Monument in Baltimore which led to the erection of a beautiful monument created by Andrzej Pitynski. He is currently an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Maryland since 2021.