Poland’s Hanna Irzyk and Jakub Dobosiewicz achieved remarkable success on the occasion of the prestigious Rise Global Winners competition. The young Poles were shortlisted as two of the world’s 100 most promising students worldwide. 

The Rise Global Winners is largely viewed as one of the most renowned prizes for students around the globe. The concept of the initiative is to look for young talents (from 15 to 17) and offer them support for their development. Close to 400,000 students from nearly 50 countries participated in this year’s edition.

The winners receive a grant allowing them to study at the university of their choice, virtually anywhere in the world. In addition to that, the laureates receive tailored mentoring and special career development opportunities. The most promising students were selected by the jury among others on the basis of problem-solving skills, the ability to work as a team, and overall motivation.

Hanna is passionate about biochemistry. She created a cookbook for people with fructose intolerance and strives to develop cures for various metabolic disorders. Jakub, in turn, is a politically engaged youngster, editor-in-chief of the WSCHÓD editorial. He also occasionally publishes opinions in the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita.

“I have always dreamed of studying at the University of Oxford. They have excellent courses related to my interests: international relations, history, and geopolitics. When I started high school, I chose the International Baccalaureate class with the intention of leaving Poland” – he told Polish journalist Maciej Kawecki in an interview for “This is IT”.

“Thanks to the Rise scholarship, I will take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad, but I will strongly consider how to use my knowledge also here in Poland” – he added. 

Image: X @kawecki_maciej / @risefortheworld

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen