ATAA’s Prestigious Award was established in 1998 in Dr. Elekdağ’s name in recognition of his outstanding support to the Assembly during its formative years and beyond. It is given annually to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions in the form of a life career, a body of work, publication or project to promote a better understanding about Türkiye, past and present, and forge closer relations between the American and Turkish people.

Awardees

2024

Bülent Başol, Ph.D.
ATAA Former President (1992-94) and Board of Trustees Member

2023

Ergün Kırlıkovalı
ATAA Former President (2011-13) and Board of Trustees Member

2019

Haldun Tashman
Turkish-American philanthropist and founder of Turkish Philanthropy Funds

2017

Atatürk Society of America – ASA

2016

Engin Inel Holmstrom, Ph.D.
ATAA BOT Former Member (2017-21) and Honorary BOT Member

2015

Turkish Coalition of America – TCA
Washington, DC

2014

Prof. Mehmet Haberal, M.D.
Founder of Başkent University 

2006

Richard N. Haass. Ph.D.
President, Council on Foreign Relations

2005

Amb. Marc Grossman
United States Ambassador to Türkiye (1995-1997)

2004

Fran Ropp
American Friends of Turkey – AFOT

2003

Ahmet Ertegün
Turkish-American Philanthropist, Co-Founder of Atlantic Records

2002

Amb. Mark Parris
United States Ambassador to Türkiye (1997-2000)

2001

Amb. Kamuran Gürün
Turkish Diplomat and Author

2000

Jak Kamhi
Founder of the Quincentennial Foundation

1999

Prof. Justin McCarthy
Professor of History and Demographer