Damian Bednarz ’04 (right) was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland in July. The honor was presented by then-Polish Ambassador to the United States Robert Kupiecki (left) at the ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.

Damian Bednarz ’04 has received the Gold Cross of Merit from the Republic of Poland. Bednarz received the honor from then-ambassador of Poland to the United States Robert Kupiecki at the ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC, in July. Bednarz was decorated for his work on building a stronger relationship between the United States and Poland on energy cooperation, in his capacity as a political appointee in the Obama administration at the Department of Energy. Bednarz, 30, is the youngest ever to receive the medal, the ambassador said.  

“It's a great honor for me and my family, especially because of our close Polish roots and culture,” says Bednarz. “It's great to see that my Fulbright to Warsaw played such an important role in getting me here.”

While a Marist student, Bednarz interned in New York City for the British Consulate and in London for the British House of Commons through the Hansard Scholars Programme.

A political science major fluent in Polish, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to carry out research in Warsaw in 2004-05.