The scholarships of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding achievements in the academic year 2016/2017 were officially presented at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów. This distinction was awarded to two UITM students.

The University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów was among a dozen or so non-public universities in the country, whose students received a prestigious scholarship from the Minister of Science and Higher Education.
 
-Such scholarships are awarded in certain fields of study. In the case of the UITM, the scholarship was awarded to two students from journalism and social communication, namely Przemysław Niepokój-Hepnar and Marcin Walko – informs Dominik Łazarz from the UITM Press Office.
 
The scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for outstanding achievements can be granted to a student with very good academic results or outstanding scientific, artistic or sport achievements.
 
In the academic year 2017/2018, the minister’s scholarship amounts to PLN 15,000 and is paid as a single payment through a HEI where the scholarship holder is studying.
 
– Receiving a minister’s scholarship for the third year in a row is certainly a great thing. However, I do not treat this distinction as a success of an individual person, but as a success of the whole academic community(…) Support which I receive from the UITM staff and the entire academic community is extremely important to me. Without it, I would not be able to achieve so much – says Przemysław Niepokój-Hepnar, a ministerial scholarship receiver from UITM.
 
– The scholarship gives us more confidence, motivates and ensures us that everything that we have done so far is really important. Such glorification is a reward for all our effort and hard work. It also lets you think in wider perspective. Photography stimulates creative way of thinking and encourages to think what else we can show or tell others by using this medium. It forces you to look for unique places, to present traditions, rituals and customs, which a society has no idea of – says Marcin Walko, ministerial scholarship at the UITM.
 
Przemysław Niepokój-Hepnar and Marcin Walko received prizes in the Monochrome Photography Awards – one of the most important black and white photo contests in the world.
 
Monochrome Photography Awards is a contest which takes place in London under the patronage of leading photography magazines and websites. The jury of the contest consists of the world-class photographers, i.a. Allison Barnes, Andre Brito, Anna Filipova, Ben Nixon, Claire A. Warden and laureate of World Press Photo Tomasz Lazar from Poland. A few thousand participants from many countries took part in the 2017 edition. The final results were published in January 2018.
 
 – This is one of the most prestigious photography contests in the world;  the number of prizes and distinctions is limited, the number of applications countless, and members of jury impressive. This success is very important to me, as I received this prize for the third time; at first, as an amateur and now as a professional. I am happy too, that one of the awarded photos entitled “Head Shepherd at Work” will be published in a prestigious catalogue with best contest photos – said Przemysław Niepokój-Hepnar
 
It is worth mentioning, that Przemysław Niepokój-Hepnar has won more than 100 awards in the most prestigious worldwide and national photo contests, i.e. PX3 Prix de la Photographie in Paris, Neutral Density Photography Awards and 6. Bardaf International Exhibition in Bardejow, Slovakia. This talented photographer has some other significant distinctions, such as the award from the President of Krosno, Poland, the award from the Board of Podkaprackie province (Zarząd Województwa Podkarpackiego) for special  achievements in the field of artistic creation, dissemination and protection of culture. He also became the ambassador of Fujifilm Poland.
 
The prize in the Monochrome Photography Awards was also given to Marcin Walko, who has a few successes in the most important international and national contests, such as Monovisions Photography Awards, Monochrome Awards, Neutral Destiny Awards, Discover Europe and Carpathian Faces. His photos were published in photography magazines in Poland and abroad and also in “Krajobrazy Świata 2016” – the post-competition catalogue prepared by FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique). In June 2016 he was hailed “The Inspiration” in the Nikon’s magazine “Szeroki kadr.”