“Engineer of the Year 2015” competition concluded

The Association of Polish Engineers and Technicians in Lithuania (STIP) organised the “Engineer of the Year” competition for the eighth time. Its conclusion took place on 22nd April in the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius (DKP).

The jury decided that the “Engineer of the Year 2015” would be Prof. Leonas Ustinovičius. The winner of the category “The Best Engineering Project” was Bernard Niewiadomski, and the one who was honoured with the prize for “The Best Engineering Idea” was Zygmunt Klonowski, Chairman of the “Klion” company and the “Kurier Wileński” daily.

Members of the Association of Polish Engineers and Technicians in Lithuania submit their works over the course of the year. Out of them all, ten which are the best ones are selected to be granted distinctions. Then, from among the nominees the laureate is chosen, so the Engineer of the Year. This year, among the nominated for the STIP prize were: Renata Karpicz, Marian Żurowicz, Tadeusz Ławrynowicz, Eryk Michniewicz, Jerzy Zaranka, Antoni Sankowski, Stanisław Sankowski, Zygmunt Klonowski, Bernard Niewiadomski, Leonas Ustinovičius. “All this year’s nominees demonstrated a high level of their works and maturity of engineering ideas,” the competition organisers pointed out.

The winner of the main prize Prof. Leonas Ustinovičius, a lecturer at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Białystok University of Technology, was not present at the Award Gala in DKP.

Bernard Niewiadomski was granted the award for his involvement in building the Leisure and Recreation Centre in Birštonas. The engineer finished the legendary Vilnius “number five school” (currently the Joachim Lelewel Secondary School). Having graduated from the Szczecin University of Technology, he started attending the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.

“This project is the mutual work of the whole team of engineers; admittedly, I was the head of that team. The aim of the project was to build in Birštonas one of the biggest leisure and recreation centres in Lithuania. The resort has been famous for its curative mineral waters for a long time. The creation of a modern centre here is a large step forward so as to fight for the palm with Druskininkai, which is well-known thanks to its underground waters. It was a big and complicated project, which was completed after three years. The work was made difficult by the fact that it was necessary to reconstruct completely the Soviet building, which had entered the register of monuments. The work programme was very tight. Our engineers were in charge of installation networks. We’re infinitely glad that the centre will be open soon and that everybody will be able to enjoy its attractions,” Bernard Niewiadomski told “Kurier.”

Zygmunt Klonowski’s engineering idea consisted in modernisation of a car. “It’s very pleasant to be given such a distinction, though I must admit that the prize was a kind of surprise to me. I hadn’t expected that the third nomination would be announced for the best engineering idea. My project consisted in modernisation of a “Pontiac” car produced in 1984. I adapted it to the modern road conditions, thus enhancing its sports characteristics. The process of carrying the project out lasted several years. I’m glad that it has been noticed and appreciated. Undoubtedly, it encourages further initiatives relating to engineering,” said Zygmunt Klonowski.

A lot of guests attended the competition conclusion ceremony, including Henryk Szymański, Head of the Trade and Investment Promotion Section of the Polish Embassy in Lithuania; Michał Mackiewicz, Chairman of the Association of Poles in Lithuania and AWPL Member of Parliament; Mariusz Wawro, Secretary of the Polish Ambassador in Lithuania.

“Congratulations to everybody who took part in the competition on your engagement in development of engineering. I would also like to thank for cooperation, as, after four years, the time of my work in Lithuania is coming to an end,” Henryk Szymański said to the people gathered at the gala.

Guests from Poland were decorated with occasional STIP medals. General Secretary of the NOT (Polish Federation of Engineering Associations) Jacek Kubielski read a congratulatory letter from Ewa Mańkiewicz-Cudny, the chairman of this association, and gave the prize to the Vilnius engineer Jan Andrzejewski.

“The NOT board of directors has reached a decision that Jan Andrzejewski would be awarded the Diamond Badge of Honour to appreciate his merits not only as an engineer, but also as a patriot and activist for the benefit of Poles in Lithuania after the rebirth of the Lithuanian state,” Jacek Kubielski pointed out. Jan Andrzejewski was a cofounder and long-standing chairman of the Association of Engineers and Technicians. He has won the title of the Engineer of the Year several times, as well as organised the “Polacy razem” [Poles Together] symposiums, international scientific conferences and meetings. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Construction-Sanitary Engineers Association functioning as part of the STIP.
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The Association of Polish Engineers and Technicians in Lithuania started its activity in 1996. The idea of founding an organization which would unite the Polish engineering intelligentsia originated in the Fuel Equipment Factory in Vilnius, where Poles constituted one-third of all the employees. The first chairman was Eng. Jan Andrzejewski, the deputy chairman – Eng. Jan Hermanowicz. Within the STIP achievements there are numerous scientific conferences, domestic and international projects, as well as cooperation agreements. The Association enjoys respect from similar organisations in Europe and worldwide. The “Engineer of the Year” competition has been organised since 2006 in collaboration with the “Kurier Wileński.” Among other things it aims at promotion of young scientists, constructors, and engineers.