UNIVERSITY CELEBRATION: ANNIVERSARY, MEMORIES, MEDALS & CONGRATULATIONS

For the third time, the academic community of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa celebrated the University Day, held on 1 June 2026. It is worth emphasising that this year’s ceremonial session of the JDU Senate was particularly significant in the history of the University for several reasons.

Foremost among them was the third anniversary of the establishment of Jan Deugosz University in Częstochowa as a classical university, officially marked on 1 June 2023. Two other important milestones were the anniversaries celebrated throughout the 2025/2026 academic year: the 55th anniversary of the University’s foundation and the 200th anniversary of the unification of Old and New Czestochowa into one municipal entity. To further honour this year’s celebration, the event coincided with a meeting of the highly prestigious Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities, of which JDU has been the youngest member since 25 January 2024.

The participants gathered in the Auditorium Maximum (Waszyngtona 4/8) were warmly welcomed by prof. Bogusław Przywora, Acting Rector of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa.

“The University Day celebrations form an integral part of the 55th anniversary of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa. This is a moment when we gratefully acknowledge the achievements of many generations. I would like to thank everyone who laid the foundations of our Alma Mater and contributed to its dynamic development. Thank you for co-creating and continuing to shape our University - our second home. Many people present here today studied within the walls of our University and matured academically here. This is where friendships were formed and, not infrequently, deeper and lasting relationships developed. Thank you for your scientific, teaching, organisational and administrative activity, as well as your loyalty to our academic community,” said the Acting Rector.

As befits a jubilee celebration, the participants were then invited on an emotional and nostalgic cinematic journey through the history of the University, from its establishment to the present day. The film was based on archival materials and memories shared by staff members: prof. Marian Grzybowski (Faculty of Law and Economics), prof. Violetta Jaros (Faculty of Humanities), and dr Mateusz Pawełczyk (Faculty of Art). The recording also included remarks by prof. Bogusław Przywora, Acting Rector. Notably, the film featured previously unpublished materials discovered during extensive archival research conducted within the University archives.

In recognition of the belief that every university builds its history through people, former rectors were honoured during the University Day celebrations with the Distinction for Merits to the Silesian Voivodeship. The recipients included prof. Janusz Berdowski, prof. Zygmunt Bąk, and prof. Anna Wypych-Gawrońska.

Following approval by the JDU Senate, the Rector’s Committee decided to award the Pro Gloria Universitatis Medal to distinguished University staff members. Recipients represented all six faculties of JDU:
- prof. Jarosław Jagieła – Faculty of Social Sciences
- prof. Marian Grzybowski – Faculty of Law and Economics
- prof. Józef Drabowicz – Faculty of Science and Technology 
- prof. Jarosław Kweclich – Faculty of Art
- prof. Jerzy Swoboda – Faculty of Art
- prof. Elżbieta Hurnik – Faculty of Humanities
- prof. Leon Rak – Dr Wladyslaw Bieganski Collegium Medicum

It was repeatedly emphasised that the distinctions were awarded to individuals whose scientific, educational, organisational, and social activities significantly contributed to the development and strengthening of the University.

Another important moment of the celebrations was recognising doctoral candidates and students who achieved outstanding academic results and demonstrated exceptional involvement in university life. The Acting Rector announced the award for the Best Doctoral Student of 2026, with the title Primus Schola Doctorali granted to Anna Warston, MA, representing the discipline of legal sciences.

Among students honoured with the title Primus in Facultate by their respective faculties were:
- Ida Szataniak – Dr Wladyslaw Bieganski Collegium Medicum
- Jan Kolmas – Faculty of Humanities
- Karolina Kuchta – Faculty of Social Sciences
- Wiktor Mucha – Faculty of Science and Technology 
- Kinga Płaczek – Faculty of Law and Economics
- Filip Michalski – Faculty of Art

Following deliberations among the nominated candidates, the title of Best Student of JDU - Primus in Universitate for exceptional achievements and contribution to the development of the University in 2026 was awarded to Ida Szataniak, a student of the Dr Wladyslaw Bieganski Collegium Medicum.

The celebrations also recognised distinguished graduates of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa. In the “Sport” category, the Graduate Award (Laur Absolwenta) was presented to Dominika Kisztelińska, a graduate of Bachelor’s studies in Dietetics and Master’s studies in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, who currently applies the knowledge gained at the University in her professional career.

The Graduate Award in the “Art” category was presented to Tomasz Lubaszka, a visual artist and internationally recognised painter. He graduated from the Institute of Artistic Education of the former Higher School of Pedagogy in Czestochowa.

The Graduate Award 2026 in the “Special” category was posthumously awarded to Jacek Magiera, a recently deceased athlete, coach, and mentor of young football players. He was a graduate of History at the Faculty of Philology and History of Jan Dlugosz Academy in Czestochowa. The award was received on his behalf by his brother, Marek Magiera, a well-known journalist from Czestochowa. It was emphasised that the JDU Graduate Award was created to strengthen ties between alumni and the University and to underline that relationships with one’s alma mater continue long after graduation.

Thanking everyone for their participation in the celebration, prof. Bogusław Przywora, Acting Rector, invited the University’s vice-rectors, Rector prof. Janusz Kapuśniak, and former rectors to the stage. Joining them were prof. Janusz Berdowski, prof. Zygmunt Bąk, and prof. Anna Wypych-Gawrońska. The symbolic cutting of the 55th anniversary cake marked the conclusion of the official ceremony in the university auditorium, after which the participants continued celebrating in a less formal atmosphere.

During the University Day celebrations, the winners of the Art Competition “Traces of Memory – 55 Years of Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa” were also announced. The competition had been organised by the Acting Rector to commemorate the anniversary. Following extensive deliberations, the jury awarded the main prize to Katarzyna Kołach, a third-year undergraduate student of Painting. Two honourable mentions were granted to Ewa Sękowska, a third-year undergraduate student of Painting, and Maciej Czarczyński, a third-year undergraduate student of Photography and Visual Communication Design. During the celebration, the winners received congratulations and awards. The event concluded with an invitation from prof. Przywora to visit the Rector’s Hall, where the final exhibition was on display.