Kacper Malinowski

04/07/2026

On the 250th anniversary of the United States founding, I wish to celebrate a person who, for me, exemplifies the best of the nation - Greg. 🇺🇸

I was born a year before Poland joined the European Union. Back then, “America” was truly perceived as “the land of the free” - a place where equality, democracy, and opportunity met. I still remember, 10 years old, watching a broadcast of President Obama’s colonnade rushing through Warsaw. Back then, I did not understand how prophetic his remarks about my homeland “serving as an example for new democracies” would become. Ten years later, I had the honour to, as a member of the event’s staff, listen to President Biden’s invocation of John Paul II’s famous “do not be afraid.” This time, I understood the weight of these words. 🇵🇱

The U.S. is now seen differently to when I was a child.

There is, however, one American who will always remind me that openness, kindness, and unconditional support are still a fundamental part of the nation’s fabric. At the age of 18, I packed my life into a 23kg suitcase and attended an exchange year (FLEX Poland) in Iowa, where I lived with a retired geologist, Greg, and his four cats. After each day at Herbert Hoover High School in Des Moines, I knew Greg would be there waiting to ask about my day and watch a science fiction series together. From recording my first-ever solo harp recital to helping with fundraisers for Ukrainian war refugees and local youth experiencing homelessness, from our Sunday runs to Costco and salads eaten while watching Star Wars to wonderful excursions to Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and New York I experienced thanks to him, Greg has been exactly what little Kacper imagined “America” to be. 🗽

Since I came back from Iowa in 2021, I have lived in six countries, graduated from music school, and next year, I will finish my undergraduate journey at Minerva University, with plans to pursue a U.S. law degree and a career in Polish diplomacy. Each of those steps can be traced back to a person who showed me that national identity is a reason for both pride and responsibility; who gave a teenager from Łódź a second home filled with warmth and example, in the middle of the Midwest’s corn belt. 🌽

Thus, on today’s semiquincentennial of the United States, I wish to thank one of her citizens, who changed my life. 🫂

08/06/2026

🇺🇳 Through September-November 2025, I was honored to serve as Minerva University’s Campus Director for the United Nations’ Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship program.

🌐 I oversaw 15 fellows (sophomores to seniors), who created 12 projects - each anchored in a selected SDG target and displaying its local application in Taipei, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires.

🤝 Co-operating with Gaja Đukanović Babič, we redesigned the Fellowship experience according to Minerva University’s educational model. We turned the six pre-structured, biweekly online presentations into: an advising session with Dean Dossman, Ph.D. & Professor Odera, Ph.D., outcome analysis training with Professor Powers, Ph.D., 1v1 check-ins with Fellows, method and practice-oriented project management workshops led by us, and idea-exchange-based co-working meetings - both remotely and in-person.

📈 It worked - the projects have reached ~7,000 people. Below, I proudly share the Global Impact Tour Video, with each fellow briefly explaining their idea, deliverable, and selected SDG target.

🌱 Having dedicated ~60 hours of volunteer work to the role, I extend my gratitude to Millennium Campus Network for their impactful leadership, to Rafał Brzoska Foundation for their unmatched support and motivation, and to Professors for sharing your expertise to support our efforts.

👏 Congratulations to all the fellows!

🎬: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzflQp2zC6w.

Created by: Kacper Malinowski (Campus Director)

17/05/2026

📚 I just completed my Junior year, pursuing a double major in “ , Philosophy, & Ethics” and “Society, Government, & ”, alongside a minor in “Sustainability” at Minerva University, with a 3.88/4 . ⚖️

🟡 From day one, Rafał Brzoska Foundation has been essential to this journey. The of its Founders, Rafał Brzoska & Omenaa Mensah, has allowed me to: study in 🇺🇸 San Francisco, 🇹🇼 Taipei (National Taiwan University), 🇰🇷 Seoul (숙명여자대학교 Sookmyung Women's University), 🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, & 🇮🇳 Hyderabad (T-Hub); work as a Teaching Assistant, for four terms, in 📜 Global History & 📊 Complex System; intern at 🔴 Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Computational Cognitive Development Laboratory and ⚫️ Minerva University’s Laboratory for the Science of Music, Health, and Wellness (twice); co-work with 🇹🇼 Taipei Government’s Department for Youth, 🇰🇷 Philadelphia Peace Peace Plaza Committee, 🇺🇸 San Francisco Chronicle, & 🇦🇷 Jóvenes por el Clima. 🎓

📈 Applying for the scholarship three years ago, I joined the interview during a 15-minute break from a shift at a fish restaurant, where I was saving for my first year of college. As I now approach law school applications and the final year of my undergraduate studies, I look back at the experiences made possible through the ’s support immensely proud and grateful to be part of a community of young Poles empowering one another and shaping the future of their fields. 👏🏻

🫱🏻‍🫲🏾 I extend my gratitude to Marynia Moś, Paweł Janicki, Monika Przybylska-Zawisza, Teresa Pendyruk & other members of the Philantrophic Consortium, and the Scholars.

🌐 As “ ’s Growth Champion”, continues to strengthen. And I hope that, one day, we all will bring our ideas, expertise, and experiences back to the homeland. 🇵🇱

19/03/2026

🎄 On December 22, 2025, I attended the annual Scholars' Meeting of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation in King Jan III Sobieski's Palace in .

🎓 For three years now, the Foundation has been the cornerstone of my at Minerva University.

🇵🇱 Being among the 99 scholars supported by Founders Rafał and Omenaa Mensah, has been an honour, catalyzing each of my achievements since 2023.

🤝 Thank you, to the Staff, Founders, and Mentors; congratulations to the new !

📈 The Foundation supports high-achieving
students, providing , , workshops, and professional access.

📢 The call for applications for the 5 th
annual contest is open now - until April 5, 2026.

ℹ️ To learn more: https://rafalbrzoskafoundation.org/en/scholarship-fund/ -funduszu