Congratulations, Camilla Bartoszuk!
We are proud to award our En Guarde Merit Scholarship to Camilla Bartoszuk.
Camilla has learned that hunger for growth, even when it stings, can be turned into fuel rather than frustration. Setbacks on the strip taught her that resilience isn’t about avoiding failure, but growing from it—a lesson that shows up in everything she does, both in fencing and in life. It’s that same grit and determination that made her stand out as this year’s recipient.
Camilla is a senior at Maine South High School with a 4.02 weighted GPA, five AP courses, and a deep focus on business, competing with her school’s DECA team and earning Top 3 in Roleplay at Area Competition. She led her Pitch Night team to a Top 4 finish out of 30 competitors and has been named an AP Scholar three years running.
As Varsity Epee Team Captain and Coach at Maine West High School, and a six-year club fencer at the Fencing Center of Chicago, Camilla was named to the 2025 USA Fencing All-Academic Team, a recognition that captures exactly the balance we hope to celebrate. She also gives back generously, volunteering with the Polish National Alliance, Feed My Starving Children, and Camp Vista, while staying deeply connected to her Polish heritage as a graduate of Holy Trinity Polish School.
Her school counselor described her as “an impressively mature, poised, determined young woman who has already demonstrated the ability to thrive in demanding academic and extracurricular environments.” We couldn’t agree more.
Congratulations, Camilla. We are so proud to support you as you continue to turn hunger into growth, and challenges into strength.
About the En Guarde Merit Scholarship
The En Guarde Merit Scholarship is awarded by Fencing Forward to young fencers who demonstrate exceptional character, resilience, and commitment both in competition and in life. We are honored to invest in the next generation of athletes who lead with heart.We are proud to award our 2026 En Guarde Merit Scholarship to Camilla Bartoszuk.