During the Ceremonial Gala of the 11th European Local Government Congress in Mikołajki, the Local Government Official of the Year 2025 Awards were presented. The event became an opportunity to honor individuals particularly distinguished for their contributions to the development of local communities. The patron was Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister and former President of the European Parliament.

The Local Government Official of the Year award in the “wójt” (commune head) category was received from Marcin Kuchciński, Marshal of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, by Stanisław Jastrzębski, Head of the Długosiodło Commune. Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak presented the award in the “starosta” (county head) category, which was received by Henryk Karwan, Starosta of Tomaszów. The second Local Government Official of the Year in the “starosta” category was Sławomir Jerzy Snarski, Starosta of Bielsk. The award was presented to him by Jerzy Buzek and Witold Janiszewski, General Counsel of McDonald’s Polska.

Local Government Official of the Year 2025 was also awarded to Patryk Jędrowiak, Mayor of the Town and Commune of Ostrzeszów—the award was presented by Piotr Wachowiak, Rector of the Warsaw School of Economics. Robert Raczyński, Mayor of Lubin, received his award from Andrzej Szarata, Rector of the Cracow University of Technology, which is the Main Substantive Partner of the European Local Government Congress.

Stanisław Jastrzębski, Head of the Długosiodło Commune, also received an award from the Local Government Movement “Yes! For Poland.” The award was presented by Janina Ewa Orzełowska, from the board of the Mazovian structures of the Local Government Movement “Yes! For Poland,” and Dorota Zmarzlak—local government official and Secretary General of the Local Government Movement “Yes! For Poland,” the largest association of local government officials in Poland.

The Economic Forum Award was presented to Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, by Zygmunt Berdychowski, Chairman of the Program Council of the Economic Forum.

Bożena Żelazowska, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, presented the “For the Care of Monuments” badges, which were awarded to:

Iwona Stefaniak – Director of the Kazimierz Pułaski Museum in Warka;
Monika Patrowicz – Director of the Fryderyk Chopin European Art Center in Sanniki;
Agnieszka Kubiak-Falęcka – Director of the Nowy Dwór Cultural Center (05.2023-02.2026);
Violetta Jarząbkowska – Director of the Piaseczno Museum;
Fr. Leszek Galica – Parish Priest of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Braniewo;
Aneta Majak – Director of the Milanówek Cultural Center;
and Michał Słowiński – Deputy Director of the Milanówek Cultural Center.

The Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications Award “Residents Within Reach,” presented by the Chamber’s President Andrzej Dulka, was received by: Janusz Szczepański, Deputy Head of the Chojnice Commune; Edward Żuralski, Starosta of the Nowe Miasto Lubawskie County; and Paweł Popłoński, Mayor of Szklarska Poręba.

The gala was enhanced by performances by the bands Górale Łąccy and Przyszowianie, and was hosted by Joanna Kwiatkowska from Radio Leliwa and Bogusław Chrabota, Editor-in-Chief of the Gremi Media Group.