The strength of ATAA comes from individuals and organizations that embody the values, mission and goals of the Assembly. Each year during its annual convention, the Assembly honors such individuals and organizations that have been nominated by the Turkish American community and stand out in community service, their respective professions and serve as role models for us all.
2024
Meritorious Service Award
Vega Sankur
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Refik Anadol (Art)
Young Leaders Award
Mehmet Efe Taşcıoğlu
ATAA Special Award
(Given to Eight Component Associations for their contributions to CATE Project)
American Turkish Association of North Carolina – ATA-NC
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC
Indiana – American Turkish Association – IN-ATATURK
Oregon Turkish American Association – ORTA
Turkish American Association of California – TAAC
Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan – TACAM
Turkish American Society of Northeastern Ohio – TASNO
Utah Turkish American Association – UTAA
ATAA Service Award
Empowering the Turkish American Community – ETAC-USA
ATAA UN Youth Award
Yasemin Amanda Knot,
Ece Yenigün
2023
President Special Award
Amb. Murat Sungar
Distinguished Service Award
Gökhan Özalp
ATAA Service Award
Turkish Women’s League of America – TWLA
ATAA UN Youth Award
Sean Özalpaşan,
Emre Muharremoğlu,
Ela Gӧkçiğdem
2019
President Special Award
Dr. Ülkü Ülgür,
Prof. Dr. Emre Kongar
Distinguished Service Award
Sevgin Oktay
Outstanding Scholarly Work Award
Prof. Justin McCarthy,
Prof. George W. Gawrych
ATAA Special Award
Dr. Yalçın Ayaslı,
Hon. Ed Whitfield
Excellence in Service to the Turkish American Community Award
Dr. Halil Ersoy,
Lale Iskarpatyoti,
Hülya Koç,
Kayhan Yılmaz
Excellence in Media
Yılmaz Polat
2016
Turkish American of the Year Award
Prof. Aziz Sancar
President Special Award
Başkent University, Faculty of Education
ATAA Special Award
Ata Erim
Appreciation Award
Rıdvan Sezer – Turkish NY
2015
Turkish American of the Year Award
Erden Eruç
President Special Award
Ergün Kırlıkovalı,
Günay Evinch
Component Association Award
Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California – ATASC,
American Turkish Association of North Carolina – ATA-NC
2014
President Special Award
Theodore Grisworld,
Maxime Gauin,
Sinan Cingilli,
Sırma Oran
Distinguished Service Award
Nurten Ural
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Latife Warshawsky
Component Association Award
Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington – TACAWA
ATAA Special Award
Amb. (Ret) Şükrü Elekdağ
Human Rights Award
Dr. Doğu Perinçek,
Mehmet Perinçek
Lifetime Distinguished Service Award
Oya Bain,
Bonnie Kaslan
2013
Distinguished Service Award
William Alli,
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC.
Turkish Society of Rochester – TSOR,
Florida Turkish American Association – FTAA,
Bridge to Türkiye Fund,
Hidayet Türkoğlu
2012
Excellence in Peace at Home Peace in the Word
Dr. Yalçın Ayaşlı,
Fatih Özmen
Excellence in Humanity
Late TRNC President Rauf Denktaş
Excellence in Charity
Haldun Taşman,
Çiğdem Acar
Excellence in Grassroots Leadership
Orin Ford,
Sermin Özçilingir,
Dr. Javid Huseynov
Excellence in Service to the Turkish American Community Award
Hakan Dakın
Excellence in Private Sector
Ekmel Anda
Excellence on Public Service
Zeliha Selimoğlu
Excellence in Business
Vocelli Pizza,
Taşkın Bakery
Excellence in Media
Hürriyet USA,
Turk of North America,
Turkish American TV Hour
2008
President Special Award
Naimi & Naila Amiraliyev,
Feriha İştar
Distinguished Service Award
David Saltzman,
Bruce Fein
Meritorious Service Award
Ali & Fevziye Manizade
Component Association Award
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC
Young Leaders Award
Esra Alemdar,
Yurter Özcan,
Deniz Özkan
Sonay Kanber
2006
Turkish American of the Year Award
Dr. Brent Kennedy
President Special Award
Güler Köknar
Distinguished Service Award
Marcus Mann
Meritorious Service Award
Orhan Gürbüz
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Fahir Atakoğlu (Art)
Component Association Award
Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan – TACAM,
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC
Pittsburgh Turkish American Association – PTAA
2005
Turkish American of the Year Award
Oya Bain
President Special Award
Amb. Faruk and Mrs. Mevhibe Loğoğlu
Distinguished Service Award
Cemal Altaylı
Meritorious Service Award
Yasemin San,
Gökçe Sezgin
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Dr. Aziz Sancar (Science)
Component Association Award
Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Chicago – TACA – Chicago
Florida Turkish American Association – FTAA,
Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California – ATASC,
Anadolu Club
ATAA Peace Award
Detroit Peace in the World Committee
American Friend of the year
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)
ATAA Special Award
Naci Koru
ATAA Benefactors Award
Tolga Çubukçu,
Mike Mustafoğlu,
Cemal Altaylı,
Bülent Başol,
Şaduman Gürbüz
2004
Distinguished Service Award
Demetra Mustafoğlu,
Donald Cofman,
Turan Tombul,
Hüsnü Akaçin
President’s Special Award
Drs. Fevziye & Ali Manizade
Component Association of the Year Award
American Turkish Association of North Carolina – ATA-NC
25th Year Special Award
Dr. Ülkü Ülgür
Meritorious Service Award
Hayati Balkanlı
American Friends of Turkey Award
Kimberly Dodge
Outstanding Achievement in Arts & Sciences Award
Erju Akman
2003
Distinguished Service Award
Erhan Üsküp,
Dr. Uğur Akıncı,
Ufuk Gökçen
Meritorious Service Award
Hülya Polat,
Lincoln McCurdy
President Special Award
Tarhan Danışman,
Dr. Jayhun Mollazade,
Mehmet Mustafoglu
American Friend of the Year
Dr. Kenji Seto,
Prof. John Grabowski,
Diana Grabowski,
Prof. Michael Williams,
Prof. Donald Summers
Notable Achievement of the Year Award
Zeyno Baran,
Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Chicago – TACA-Chicago
Notable Achievement in the Business Award
Alinur Velidedeoğlu,
Hakan Çizem
Turkish American of the Year Award
Dr. Attila Erhan
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Dr. Ilgin Aka,
Dr. Ali Erdemir,
Dr. Süleyman Gökoğlu,
Dr. Hakan Kaya
Component Association Award
American Turkish Association of Houston – ATA-Houston
Young Turkish American of the Award
Aynur Hodge,
Ömer Demircan
2002
Turkish American of the Year Award
Dr. Osman (Oz) Bengür
President Special Award
The Textile Museum
Distinguished Service Award
Sevinç Balımtaş,
John and Peggy Blake,
Barbara Sher,
Ahmet Toprak,
Mine Tuncak,
Nurten Ural
Meritorious Service Award
Başak Brown,
İsmail Ercan,
Feriha İştar,
Marcus Mann,
Erol Palantekin,
Sermin Ünsal,
Sel Yackley
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Dr. Orhan Nalcıoğlu (Science)
Outstanding Achievement in Art and Humanities Award
Ahmet Lüleci,
Armağan Selçik
Component Association Award
Azerbaijan Society of America – ASA,
Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Chicago – TACA Chicago
American Friend of the year
Cheryl Wyly
2001
American Friend of the Year
Hon. Kay Granger,
Hon. Edward Whitfield,
Hon. Robert Wexler
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Yalçın Ayaslı,
Oya Bain,
Hans Bodlander,
Bruce Fein,
Didem Muslu
Freedom and Courage Award
Peter Elliot
Component Association Award
Turkish Women’s League of America – TWLA,
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC
Outstanding Achievement in the Arts Award
Maurice Asseo
Outstanding Achievement in Science Award
Prof. Nafi Toksöz,
Dr. Aysel Sanderson,
Dr. Miral Dizdar
President’s Special Award
Dr. Sami Solu
İbrahim Korgav
2000
President Special Award
Amb. Mark Parris
Distinguished Service Award
Tamer Açıkalın
Meritorious Service Award
Güneş Karahasan,
Erden Arkan,
Coşkun Tunca,
Sema Karaoğlu
Component Association Award
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC,
Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California – ATASC,
Turkish American Cultural Society of New England – TACSNE
American Friend of the Year
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA),
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
1999
President Special Award
Dr. Engin Holmstrom
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Orhan Kaymakçalan
Meritorious Service Award
Yavuz Atilla,
Neriman Yüce,
Şaduman Gürbüz
Special Award
Captain Jerry Poussillon
1998
Turkish American of the Year
Ali Rıza Bozkurt
American Friend of the Year
Hon. Bob Livingston
President Special Award
Prof. Dr. Turan Yazgan,
Levent Yanık
Meritorious Service Award
Arzu Tunca Tarımcılar,
Günay Evinch,
David Saltzman,
Hacer Doğan
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Kamuran İnce (Art),
Dr. Ali Erdemir (Science)
Component Association Award
American Turkish Association of Washington, DC – ATA-DC,
Turkish American Association of Northern Texas – TURANT,
Turkish American Association of California – TAAC
1997
President Special Award
Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK),
Capital Market Board of Turkey
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Sevket Karaduman, (Posthumously),
Turkish Consulate General/Chicago
Meritorius Service Award
Ercüment Kılıç
Component Association Award
Turkish American Association of Northern Texas – TURANT,
Istanbul Technical University Alumni Association
Turkish American Cultural Association of Georgia – TACAGA
1996
President Special Award
Aydan Kodaloğlu,
Elizabeth W. Sheldon- American Friends of Turkey – AFOT,
Fred Haynes- American Turkish Council – ATC
Distinguished Service Award
Amb. Nüzhet Kandemir,
Amb. Marc Grossman
Meritorious Service Award
Vural Cengiz
Component Association Award
Turkish-American Cultural Association of Georgia – TACAGA
1995
Turkish American of the Year Award
Dr. Mehmet Öz
President Special Award
Didem Muslu,
Dr. Orhan Kaymakçalan
Distinguished Service Award
Nesrin Oran Mavitan,
Sadık Ahmet (posthumously),
Louis Levi (posthumously),
Bülent Başol
Meritorious Service Award
Tolga Çubukçu,
Laurel House
Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Sciences Award
Gürer Aykal,
Henry Glassie
Outstanding Achievement in Art and Humanities Award
Prof. Mehmet Fatih Uçkun
Component Association Award
Turkish American Cultural Alliance – TACA,
Turkish American Association for Cultural Exchange – TAACE
1994
President Special Award
Ergün Kırklıkovalı,
David Erbaş-White
Distinguished Service Award
Ali Ferda Sevin
Meritorius Service Award
Dr. Uğur Akıncı,
Ahmet Sandıkçıoğlu
Outstanding Achievement in Arts & Science Award
Prof. Türker Özdoğan
1993
ATAA Founders Award
Ralph Ropp (Posthumously)
Distinguished Service Award
Tunca Iskır,
Dr. Kemal Göknar
Outstanding Achievement in Arts & Sciences
Prof. Talat Halman
Turkish American of the Year Award
Dr. Miral Dizdaroğlu
Meritorius Service Award
Kaya Büyükataman,
Eren Miski,
Prof. Mahmut Esat Ozan
Component Association Award
Turkish Society of Rochester – TSOR
President Special Award
American Turkish Friendship Council – ATC,
American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey – AAJFT,
Dr. Ahmet Ali Arslan,
Vita Vendresha Donnelly
1992
Distinguished Service Award
Hon. Frank Horton (R-NY),
Leyla Kazaz,
Bonnie Joy Kaslan,
Ayten Sandıkçıoğlu,
Rachel Amado Bortnick
Meritorius Service Award
Sadi Dinlenç,
Reyan Akbay
Board of Directors’ Medal of Honor Award
Prof. Kenan Erim (Posthumously)
1991
Turkish American of the Year Award
Prof. Hasan Özbekhan
Distinguished Service Award
Ata İştar
1990
Gold Medal of Honor Award
Hon. Robert Byrd
Distinguished Service Award
Hon. Dan Burton,
Hon Jim Moody,
İlnur Çevik & Turkish Daily News
Turkish American of the Year Award
Arif Mardin
1989
Gold Medal of Honor Award
Amb. Şükrü Elekdağ,
Ayla Elekdağ,
Dr. Ülkü Ülgür
Leadership Medal of Honor Award
Murat Sungar
Medal of Honor Award
Dr. Esin Atıl,
Dr. Avigdor Levy,
Dr. Bernard Lewis,
Dr. Heath Lowry,
Dr. Justin McCarthy,
Dr. Pierrr Oberling,
Dr. Stafford Shaw
The Turk of the Year Award
Naim Süleymanoğlu
1988
Distinguished Service Award
Alp Karahasan, MD, PhD
Turkish American of the Year Award
Nuri Sabuncu
1987
Gold Medal of Honor Award
Dr. Esin Atıl
Distinguished Service Award
Bonnie Joy Kaslan,
Bekir Onursal
Turkish American of the Year Award
Erol Onaran
1986
Distinguished Service Award
Leon Picon
1985
Distinguished Service Award
Tarhan Danışman
Turkish American of the Year Award
Ayhan Hakimoğlu
1984
Gold Medal of Honor Award
Hon. Ekrem Pakdemirli
Distinguished Service Award
Ralph E. Ropp
Turkish American of the Year Award
Ahmed Kafadar