PHOTOGALLERY: The 17th Year of the Scholarship Program Concludes with a Gala at the Hartig Palace

The final interviews for this year's Scholarship program applicants culminated on Wednesday, June 3rd, with a gala evening in the historic rooms and gardens of the Hartig Palace. More than 280 guests experienced the exceptional atmosphere of the celebration—ranging from this year’s finalists and their families, to current and past scholars, program supporters, and the founders of the foundation, Michaela and Zdeněk Bakala.

This year’s edition was milestone-setting in many respects. For the seventeenth year, the Scholarship program has been opening the doors to the world’s most prestigious universities for talented young people. Starting this September, the #bakalascholars community will grow by 9 new faces who succeeded in a highly competitive field of 172 applicants.

The festive program seamlessly blended the elegance of the palace’s indoor halls with the informal atmosphere of a garden party in full bloom. In her speech, Michaela Bakala, Chair of the Board of Trustees, thanked the entire team and the expert jury for their dedication, while emphasizing the critical role of high-quality education in today's complex world.