Olanrewaju Emmanuel Ogunniyi was awarded the UWM Victor Podlaski scholarship, which recognizes Ogunniyi’s demonstrated interest in advancing Polish culture by the late Podlaski, a lifelong Milwaukee resident and World War II veteran.
Although he didn’t attend UWM, Podlaski established the endowment fund that has provided scholarships to UWM students for almost 40 years. Since its origins, the program has awarded over $70,000 to students of Polish descent or who are engaged in studying the Polish language and culture.
Ogunniyi is a second-year Ph.D. candidate, studying civil & environmental engineering with an emphasis on transportation. His advisor is Professor Xiao Qin.
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Ogunniyi earned his master’s degree in Poland, where he also completed a six-month Polish language and cultural program. During his time there, he developed a strong connection to the country through academic study and cultural engagement, including visits to cities such as Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, and Zakopane.
Since Podlaski passed away in 2020, the Polish Women’s Cultural Club of Milwaukee, Polanki, reviews the scholarship applications.