Andrzej Sapkowski z medalem „Universitatis Lodziensis Amico – Przyjaciel UŁ”

The author of the Witcher saga and the Hussite Trilogy, author of many short stories and the world's most famous Polish writer – Andrzej Sapkowski – has received the "Friend of the University of Lodz" medal. The distinction was presented by the Rector of the University of Lodz, Elżbieta Żądzińska during an intimate ceremony in the Biedermann’s Palace. Andrzej Sapkowski is a graduate of the University of Lodz, and sine 2019 a VIP Alumni of our university.

dr hab. Artur Gałkowski, prof. UL; prof. Elżbieta Żądzińska; Andrzej Sapkowski; Maria Sapkowska; dr hab. Natalia Lemann, prof. UL

The ceremony of presenting the Universitatis Lodziensis Amico medal was also attended by: Maria Sapkowska (the writer's wife), dr hab. Natalia Lemann, prof. UL (expert in Andrzej Sapkowski's prose) and dr hab. Artur Gałkowski, prof. UL (Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Philology and the author of several scientific articles on linguistics connected with Andrzej Sapkowski's works).  

You are, with no doubt, the most famous graduate of the University of Lodz in the world. You inspire millions of people and make them happy with your work. Not to mention the whole entertainment industry, which draws on your ideas to the fullest. At the same time, you openly say that you are our graduate and promote the university on many occasions. It is hard for us to overestimate such promotion of the university. In addition, you have graduated from a difficult study programme (foreign trade, Faculty of Economics and Sociology), you are an erudite person and a paragon to look up to for all writers, not only from the field of fantasy. We are extremely proud that you are our graduate and we thank you for your friendship.

– said the UL Rector, prof. Elżbieta Żądzińska during the awarding ceremony. 

Andrzej Sapkowski warmly thanked for the distinction and joked that now at home they would have to call him 'amicus'.  

University of Lodz is my Alma Mater. It is thanks to the University of Lodz that I got my first job.

– said the writer after receiving the medal. 

 During the meeting the writer also saw his graduation diploma, which is one of the exhibits of the Museum of the University of Lodz.

The "Universitatis Lodziensis Amico" medal has been awarded by the University of Lodz since 2005. It is awarded in recognition of merits for our university to a person who can be called a Friend of the University of Lodz. So far 111 such medals have been awarded.

Author: Paweł Śpiechowicz, Promotion Centre of the University of Lodz