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