Meet This Year's Debutantes
Karolina Bielaczyc
Karolina Bielaczyc is a student in her junior year at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, IL. Her favorite subjects are business and Spanish, and she plans on studying entrepreneurship in the future. Karolina has also played for her school's tennis team in addition to practicing one of her greatest passions: dance. She has been dancing at Studio Jump in Chicago, Illinois for the past four years, and has also recently joined her school's competitive dance team. She was formerly a part of a business club (DECA) and Student Council at her previous high school, and she plans on joining Student Council and the American Sign Language club at her current school. Karolina is very interested in traveling, hoping to one day be able to see and learn about as many cultures as she can. Additionally, she is very proud of her Polish heritage, and is so grateful for all the wonderful connections and friendships she has made within the Polish community. She is thrilled to be a part of the White and Red Ball this year, where she will gather knowledge and experience that will help her achieve all her goals in the future.
Megan Carlson
Megan is a dedicated junior at Huntley High School, where she excels in math and business classes and consistently earns a place on the honor roll. Her strong academic performance reflects her commitment to education and her passion for learning. With seven years of cheerleading experience under her belt, she enjoys giving back to her community by volunteering as a junior cheer coach for kindergarten through 3rd grade. This role allows her to inspire young athletes while developing her leadership skills. In addition to her school activities, Megan balances her studies with a part-time job, showcasing her exceptional time management abilities and dedication to both her academic and personal responsibilities. As a proud member of the Poczatek family, she represents the third generation of debutantes. She follows in the footsteps of her great-grandparents, who presented her grandmother, great-aunt, aunt, seven second cousins, and two older sisters. Excited to follow this cherished family tradition, Megan looks forward to participating in the upcoming White and Red Ball. She eagerly anticipates experiencing her own magical night, celebrating her Polish heritage, and creating lasting memories with her family and friends. For Megan, this event signifies not just a personal milestone, but also a continuation of a beloved family legacy.
Emilia Faber
Emilia Faber is a senior at Loyola Academy where she is a dedicated honor roll student, taking both honors and AP classes. At Loyola Academy, she participates in various activities including the Polish Club, in which she is the Vice President, Women Leaders of LA, soccer, and Arrupe, a service program. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career in medicine and health. Emilia has attended St. Maksimilian Marii Kolbe Polish School from preschool and received her diploma with high honors in 2024, with “The Best of the Best Award”. There, she furthered her education on her culture by learning history, geography, reading, and grammar. Additionally, she is a research assistant at the Chicago Children’s Museum. She observes the cognitive and emotional development of children through their play and behavior. In her spare time she enjoys reading books, playing the piano, and baking. Emilia and her family keep their Polish culture close to their hearts and honor their roots by speaking Polish daily at home and celebrating traditional Polish holidays. Emilia is her family's first debutante, and hopes to make an impact by encouraging other Polish girls to celebrate their beautiful culture too!
Olivia Gebarowski
Olivia Gebarowski is a 15-year-old first generation Polish American attending Hinsdale Central High School in her sophomore year. She is a hardworking and dedicated dean's list student, taking several honors and Advanced Placement classes. She’s passionate about her physical health and is part of the cross country and track teams at her high school. An animal lover, she partakes in Care Club, where she participates in various activities that help animals. Additionally, she’s in the Ski and Snowboard Club, where she snowboards with her friends. Olivia possesses a talent for sewing, and sewed her dress she wore at the White & Red Ball last year as a guest. After high school, Olivia dreams of attending fashion school and opening up her very own dress boutique. She attended three different Polish religious academic systems, where she took part in the Polish community by learning about her religion and befriending many of the peers in her classes. Olivia enjoys cooking Polish cuisine and proudly celebrates many Polish traditions with her family. Olivia had the pleasure of attending the White & Red Ball for the first time last year, and instantly fell in love with the organization. She is very excited to be a debutante this year!
Olympia Pindiur Harris
Olympia Pindiur Harris was born and raised in Chicago in a family where Polish culture and tradition were dominant. A high school graduate, she is pursuing studies at Loyola University in Chicago. She is currently a sophomore majoring in Bioinformatics and Instrumental Music, with a focus on playing the violin. Olympia is a member of the string orchestra at Loyola and also organizes open mic nights. Her passion is sports; she has her own boxing gloves to practice martial arts with friends at the university gym. Recently, Olympia enthusiastically became a debutante with the Legion of Young Polish Women, where she learns about Polish history, culture, and wonderful traditions. She is truly inspired and excited to be part of this community. Her dream is to support and actively participate in the Polish diaspora. Being a part of the Legion of Young Polish Women is a true honor, and it is a great privilege to present herself as a debutante. Olympia is proud of her Polish roots and is extremely touched and excited about the opportunity to be part of a Polish organization.
Kaia Karkut
Kaia Karkut, a 16-year-old sophomore at Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago, IL, is an academically committed student who excels in honors and Advanced Placement classes. She has expanded her knowledge of the Polish language, geography, and history by attending St. Ferdinand Polish School for the past 10 years. She plans to pursue a career in the field of medicine. Alongside her academic pursuits, Kaia's deepest passion is dance, a discipline she has dedicated herself to for 12 years at “Wici” Song and Dance Theater. “Wici” has opened doors for her to perform all over the world in places such as Italy and Spain, and has only deepened her love of travel. Her involvement in “Wici” has inspired her to give back to the Polish community by joining the Polish Scouting Organization and the Lane Tech Polish Club. Kaia is very close to her Polish roots. For her, being raised with a strong emphasis on Polish culture has been a privilege she hopes to pass on to her children. She is grateful for her parents’ continuous support throughout her involvement in the Polish Chicago community and now, as she joins the Legion of Young Polish Women as a 2025 debutante.
Pola Kozikowski
Pola Kozikowski is a student at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. She is constantly curious about the world and passionate about learning new things. She is an active member of many clubs and organizations, such as the National Honor Society, La Société Honoraire de Français, Walter Payton Polish Club, Future Problem Solver, and Girls Who Code. Cheerleading and golf are a large part of her everyday life. She was a dancer in Lajkonik for seven years, and danced in the Polonia Ensemble for three years. Pola is a former student of Trojcowo. Her passion for the Polish language resulted in her winning two awards in the "Byc Polakiem". Her goal is to encourage and engage the Polish community in politics. She has served as an election judge in several elections, and she is also an active member of the Polish American Congress and the Polish American Police Association. She has a passion for construction and interior design, and is a member of the Polish American Construction and Builders Association. In the future, Pola hopes to take part in solving homelessness problems in the western part of Chicago, where she lives and often volunteers with organizations that help people in need. She is also the supervisor of 20 members in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Explorer Program. Her dream is to work for the FBI. Pola is proud that she is a debutante this year and has the opportunity to use her strengths and discover new talents!
Olivia Strozak
Olivia Strozak is a 17-year-old student at Saint Viator High School. Science classes are her favorite and she is very interested in psychology. In the future, she wants to pursue a career as a psychologist for adults and teens or children to improve their speech and developmental skills. Helping others and making a positive impact on the world is extremely important to her. She has many hobbies, including babysitting, being the Captain of her school’s Varsity Field Hockey Team, partaking in community service, and spending time with family and friends. She was raised in a Polish household and has grown up speaking, reading, and writing in Polish and embracing all elements of her culture. She loves going to Poland and visiting her extended family. She grew up going to Polish mass every Sunday and attending Polish religion school. She was introduced to the White and Red Ball by close family friends, and she attended the Ball last year for the first time where she fell in love with everything about it. She is excited to have this opportunity and will work towards making this a family tradition for years and generations to come!
Daria Szymelfenig
Daria Szymelfenig, a 17-year-old Niles West High School student, exhibits a strong academic aptitude, particularly in English and science courses. Throughout high school, she has actively participated in volleyball as a varsity player, and engaged in various extracurricular activities, including the Polish club, volunteering, and club volleyball. She aspires to pursue a career as a physician's assistant, majoring in psychology and specializing in pediatrics. She is driven by her passion for children and her desire to impact others positively. Raised in a Polish household, she attended Polish school during childhood, fostering a deep appreciation for her cultural heritage. Daria's fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Polish reflects her commitment to embracing her cultural roots. Introduced to the Legion of Young Polish Women by her mother, Daria has been captivated by the organization since her first encounter. She expresses immense excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to become a debutante in 2025, viewing it as a significant milestone in her personal and cultural journey.
Jasmine Smith-Vincent
Jasmine Smith-Vincent is a junior attending Glenbrook South High School. She has a deep passion for computer science, which she plans to pursue as a career, specifically in software development. Viewing technology as the future, she is enthusiastic about its positive potential as global technology expands. To begin her journey in the field, she is currently taking courses in digital graphic design and programming. Outside of academics, Jasmine enjoys roller skating and is an aspiring member of the junior varsity softball team at her school. She joined her school’s drama club, where she participated in the school play. She takes pride in her culinary skills and recently participated in a baking event, preparing pastries for the school’s faculty members. Although she did not attend Polish school, she is proud of her Polish heritage. Her grandmother was a former debutante, and despite her absence, she is honored to follow in her footsteps. Joining the Legion of Young Polish Women is not only a way for her to connect with her Polish roots, but also an opportunity to gain confidence and become an active member of the community. She sees this as another step in pushing her personality forward and embracing her confidence.