Silesian-Polish Texans Essay Contest for
2011
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Silesian-Polish Texans Essay
Contest:
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
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The contest required that each contestant submit a
400-600 word documented biographical essay about a Silesian Texan with
supporting material from a personal interview. The interview with a senior
of Silesian-Polish descent enhanced the students' portrayals with
vivid details.
Silesia is a region in Europe, now in Poland. In the 1850s many Silesian
Polish immigrants settled in South Texas. Juniors or seniors of any
ethnicity or religious faith were invited to enter the contest.
Judging was done by a panel of professional authors, historians and
genealogists. The panel of judges did not know the names of the
participating students. They evaluated the essays based on very strict
guidelines established by the essay contest committee.
Many of the stories in the winning essays included touching experiences
recalled by the Silesian-Polish person interviewed. Jordan Sheppard
wrote about her great-grandmother, Mary Moczygemba Mutz who said, "My
mother, 'Grinny,' told us that we had to behave well all year, and the
better we were, the more gifts we would get from 'Dzieciatko' (Baby
Jesus). To us," she said, "there was no Santa. Grinny and Daddy would
tell us of Dzieciatko."
Kathryn Moczygemba shared culturally rich stories from her grandfather,
Henry Moczygemba. "One
of the bigger challenges placed before him was having to learn how to
speak English. He grew up knowing only how to speak Polish because that
was the only language his family knew. When it was time for him to start
going to school, he had to go to a separate school for a year to learn how
to speak English."
Each winner will receive a $500
scholarship, an awards certificate and an invitation to attend the Father
Leopold Moczygemba Foundation Gala where they will be recognized for their
achievement.
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Congratulions!
Lauren Ashley Flieller - Poth High School |
