Tributes to Polish American Pioneers in Engineering and Sciences

    To enlighten the public about the achievements of Polish-American Pioneers in Engineering and Science, the American Polish Engineering Association publishes a booklet detailing the highlights of these great people, and their contributions to America and the world.

    These booklets are distributed at the "Gold Award" banquet held during National Engineers Week in February. The banquet is sponsored by the Affiliate Council of ESD - The Engineering Society of Detroit; it represents over 50 engineering groups of various disciplines. APEA is one of the affiliate members. These biographies were researched, edited and produced by members of the association. One Tribute is published each year.
Year of Award Tribute Recipient Lifetime Specialty
1979 Ralph Modjeski 1861-1940 Bridge Designer & Builder
1980 Matthew Nowicki 1910-1950 Poet & Philosopher of Form & Architecture
1981 Erazm J. Jerzmanoski 1844-1901 Pioneer & Inventor of the Gas Burner, Chemist & Philanthropist
1982 Albert Abraham Michelson 1852-1931 Pioneer in Light Measurement, 1907 Nobel Prize Winner
1983 Professor Felix Pawlowski 1852-1931 Pioneer in Aeronautical Education
1984 Korczak Ziolkowski 1908-1982 Sculptor, Engineer, Designer, Builder & Humanitarian
1985 Stanley M. Ulam 1909-1984 Famous Mathematician & Engineer; Developed Formula for "H-Bomb"
1986 Brigadier General Thaddeus Kosciuszko 1746-1847 Father of American Artillery; Designer of West Point
1987 Joseph Tykocinski-Tykociner 1877-1969 Pioneer in Electronics and Zetetics; Inventor of Sound on Film
1988 Dr. Tadeusz Sendzimer 1894-1991 An Engineer and Inventor who Mastered Steel
1989 Frank N. Piasecki 1919-2008 Pioneer in Vertical Lift Aircraft
1990 Mieczyslaw G. Bekker 1905-1989 Developer of a Lunar Vehicle used in three Apollo moon missions
1991 Fabian C. Polcyn 1932-1988 Pioneer in Multispectral Remote Sensing
1992 Walter M. Golaski, Sc.D. 1913-1996 Mechanical-Bio-Medical Engineer; Developed Dense Knit Dacron Vascular Prostheses
1993 Edward J. Rosinski 1921-1999 Chemical Engineer; Significant Developments in the field of Zeolite Catalytic Technology
1994 Colonel Karol J. Bobko 1937- Astronaut; NASA Aerospace Engineer
1995 Dr. Isabella Lugoski Karle 1922- Physical Chemist; Pioneer in  Crystallography
1996 Stephanie L. Kwolek 1923- Research Chemist, Pioneer in Polymers & Fibers Research; Inventor of Kevlar (registered name)
1997 Richard Switlik 1918-2004 Developer of Safety/Survival Technology
1998 Richard C. Prusinski 1923- Developer and Authority in Polymer Concrete
1999 Alina Szczesniak, Sc.D. 1925- Developer of food texture as a science
2000 Clarence J. Paderewski, F.A.I.A., O.P.R. 1908-2007 Innovative Architect; Renovated Certification Program
2001 Edward P. Czapor 1926- Outstanding Engineer, Motivator and Quality Leader
2002 Kazimir J. Patelski, Jr. 1928-2003 Aeronautical Engineer and Manager
2003 Paul Baran 1926- Inventor of Packet Switching and Internet Pioneer
2004 Edward Kuczynski 1926- Master of Structural Engineering
2005 Aleksander Wolszczan 1946- Radio Astronomer; Discovered 1st planetary system outside ours
2006 James A. Pawelczyk 1960- Research Scientist; Astronaut; Dynamic regulation of blood pressure
2007 Ann O. Fletcher 1911- Patent Illustrator; Organizational Leader
2008 Wieslaw K. Binienda, Ph.D. 1956- Authority in Fracture Mechanics of Advanced Composite Materials
2009 Marie Sklodowska Curie 1867-1934 Physicist, Research Scientist, Isolated Polonium & Radium, Developed Therapeutic Uses of Radioactivity