Tag Archives: Dee Sarelas Service Award

New date: Springtime! A night of Fulbright fellowship, awards and recognition

Posted on April 25, 2025 by | Leave a comment

THE CHICAGO CHAPTER of the Fulbright Association invite you, your family, colleagues, and friends to our Springtime Celebration! We’re excited to gather our vibrant Fulbright community for an evening of connection, recognition, and inspiration. (This event has been rescheduled to a new location and new date.)

We will proudly present the prestigious 2024 Dee Sarelas Service Award to an individual who embodies the spirit of selfless dedication and impactful contribution that Dee Sarelas* so brilliantly exemplified. Come and celebrate their remarkable contributions!

In collaboration with the Fulbright Chicago Mentoring Committee, the chapter will also recognize Fulbright Alumni mentors who have generously provided their time this past year to mentor visiting students and scholars. We will also recognize the international students and scholars studying in the Chicagoland area during this academic year.

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages as we celebrate service, mentorship, and global exchange.

DATE Wednesday, May 14, 2025
TIME 6:30pm-9pm
WHERE Alliance Française, 540 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60610
RSVPs by May 10, 2025
COST Please RSVP via the following links:
Fulbright Alumni and Guests $20
Fulbright Students and Scholars $10

If you will be using public transportation, you can plan your trip with the CTA Trip Planner: www.transitchicago.com/

We look forward to seeing everyone at the event!  

* Aphrodite Floros Sarelas, an early Fulbrighter to Greece. A Chicagoan dedicated to interacting with and nurturing Fulbrighters in the Chicagoland community, Dee was a person remembered for her wit, empathy, and vivacity in bringing people across cultures together. Her educational background and professional experiences in the field of Social Work prepared her well for contributions to our chapter and beyond—as an administrator for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army Training College, as a liaison at White House conferences, as a special consultant to Voice of America, and as editor of Social Welfare in Underdeveloped Countries (United Nations publication). For the foregoing reasons, the Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award was established in 2010 to honor her memory.

*Please note that photos and video will be taken at the event.

Photo illustration by Eleftheria Lialios

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A year in review 4: Holiday Reception and 2022 Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony

Posted on September 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment
Fulbright Chicago Chapter President Edel Jose welcoming Fulbrighters and guests to the Holiday Annual event.

ON FEB. 2, 2023 the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association celebrated the Annual Winter Reception which included the 2022 Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony.

This award was established in 2010 to recognize the contributions of an individual or organization to the development of internationalism and its impact within the Fulbright mission.

Consul General of Sweden Anna E Engstrom Patel, Dr. Edel Jose, board member Dr. Ana Gil García, Fulbright Chicago past president Don Garner, and Deputy Consul Gen France Berangere Travard.

This year’s awardee was Eleftheria Lialios, an educator and photographer who was awarded a Fulbright award to Greece in 1986.

Eleftheria Lialios (center) poses with Fulbright Chicago Chapter board members: Tatiana Orlova, Kate Vergara, Edel Jose, Marilyn Susman, Ana Gil-García and Suzanne McBride.

A retired Professor of Arts, photographer, filmmaker and writer, Eleftheria Lialios, is the President and Founder of 1st Community Darkroom in Chicago. She believes that true internationalism results from the common base and belief that all humans desire knowledge, a way to live peacefully, in safe and decent living conditions.

Fulbright students and scholars enjoyed the camaraderie that brings the Fulbright program in a beautiful setting overlooking Chicago’s skyline.

Before retiring from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lialios provided international opportunities to students and faculty by bringing them along to see her exhibits, lectures and film presentations in Paris, and Berlin.

Eleftheria Lialios is the recipient of the 2020 Dee Sarelas Service Award which was created in 2009 to recognize a Fulbrighter for their service. Here, with Dr. Edel Jose, president of the Chicago Chapter.

In her words, “at 70, experience has taught me that our potential does not have time frames, age frames, or monetary frames. I am able to give to my students the experience and knowledge of a lifetime, giving them a much-needed clarity and effort to create art out of their own experience, and willing to give it in a constantly changing and what may seem confusing world.”

Dr. Edel Jose, Czech Republic Consul of Economics and Trade Monika Boksova, Attache to Lithuania Lina Akelyte, Vice Consul of Colombia Jonnathan Gamboa and Vice Consul of Colombia Mónica Peña.

In this opportunity, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association recognized Gary Auerbach for his sustained support to our organization over the years. Mr. Auerbach is married to our long-time board member Dr. Marilyn Susman who was part of the team who initiated the Chicago Chapter over 25 years ago.

Gary Auerbach thanking the Chicago Chapter for his recognition as an honorary Fulbrighter for his continuous support to our association.

This holiday event took place at the Sky Lounge of the 727 West Madison Street building in downtown Chicago, overlooking the magnificent downtown skyline.

Fulbright students and scholars, Fulbright alumni, members of the Consular Corps attended the holiday event and 2022 Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony.
Live music animated the Fulbright Chicago Holiday event.
… and our alumni enjoy some dancing!
Fulbright students and scholars enjoyed a well-deserved break at the Fulbright Chicago Holiday event.
The Fulbright Chicago Holiday event presented another opportunity for Fulbrighters from all over the world to meet and exchange life experiences .

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RSVP for the Fulbright Winter Reception and the 2022 Dee Sarelas Service Award Ceremony!

Posted on January 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

THE CHICAGO CHAPTER of the Fulbright Association invite you, your family, colleagues, and friends to attend the 2023 Winter Reception. Reconnect in the New Year with fellow Fulbrights and alumni!

We will also present the recipient of the 2022 Dee Sarelas* Fulbright Service Award.

The evening will entail a night of live music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and networking. Come meet Fellow Fulbrighters and members of the Chicago Chapter board, while enjoying a backdrop of the beautiful city of Chicago.

We hope you can join us! 

DATE Thursday, February 2, 2023
TIME 6:30pm – 8:30pm
LOCATION Sky Lounge 727 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661 
RSVPs by January 31, 2023
COST Purchase tickets below:

> Fulbright Alumni, Friends of Fulbright, and Guests of Fulbrighters – $25

> Fulbright Students Only- $15

> Consular Corps and Consular Guests – $0

* All guests must click the appropriate link and complete all sections of the RSVP form
* Space is Limited
* All guests must check in with the concierge desk for entry to the Sky Lounge elevator
* Dress Code: Business Casual 

If you will be using public transportation, you can plan your trip with the CTA Trip Planner: www.transitchicago.com

If you have questions about the event, please email fulbrightchicago@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

*Aphrodite Floros Sarelas, an early Fulbrighter to Greece. A Chicagoan dedicated to interacting with and nurturing Fulbrighters in the Chicagoland community, Dee was a person remembered for her wit, empathy, and vivacity in bringing people across cultures together. Her educational background and professional experiences in the field of Social Work prepared her well for contributions to our chapter and beyond—as an administrator for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army Training College, as a liaison at White House conferences, as a special consultant to Voice of America, and as editor of Social Welfare in Underdeveloped Countries (United Nations publication). For the foregoing reasons, the Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award was established in 2010 to honor her memory.

*Please note that photos and video will be taken at the event.

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Nominate a candidate for the 2022 Fulbright Chicago Dee Sarelas Service Award

Posted on January 2, 2023 by | Leave a comment

YOU ARE INVITED to nominate a person for consideration for the 2022 Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award.

The award is in honor of one of the Chicago Chapter’s early presidents, Aphrodite (“Dee”) Edith Floros Sarelas*.  Dee passed away at the age of 90 in June of 2007. Dee earned her B.S. in education and was a member of the honor societies Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi, and in 1954 she received her M.A. degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She was awarded a Fulbright Teaching Grant in 1958 to attend the School of Social Work in Athens, Greece.

The nominee does NOT need to be a Fulbright Association member and may be a citizen or resident of any country.

The selection criteria for the nominee:

  • must be a living individual or a 501c3 organization;
  • must have had a significant impact (short- or long-term) on the development of internationalism for the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association and/or for the Chicago area community (e.g., program design or delivery, membership recruitment, communication production, international understanding outreach, international education, leadership in an organization that promote international understanding)
  • must exemplify the values of the Fulbright Association;
  • the individual or president of the organization must agree to serve as an honorary member of the board of the Chicago Chapter

Nominations will be closed on at 11:59 p.m. Central time on January 6, 2023. To submit a nomination click HERE. The information will then be presented to the Chicago Chapter Membership for voting starting January 10, 2023. The award shall be given at the Winter Reception held in Chicago.

Follow the link below for nominator instructions and to complete the nomination form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VH8CS2V

*A Chicagoan dedicated to interacting with and nurturing Fulbrighters in the Chicago area community, Dee was a person remembered for her wit, empathy, and vivacity in bringing people across cultures together. In 2009, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association established the Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award in her memory to honor those who follow Dee’s example for service. Please join us in honoring Dee and the Fulbright legacy by submitting a nomination for 2022.

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Nominate a candidate for the 2014 Fulbright Chicago Dee Sarelas Service Award!

Posted on November 6, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Past award recipient, Dr. Ana Gil García announces this year's winner.

Past award recipient, Dr. Ana Gil García announces last year’s winner.

Dear Member of the Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter: YOU ARE INVITED to nominate a person for consideration for the 2014 Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award.

The award is in honor of one of the Chicago Chapter’s early presidents, Aphrodite (“Dee”) Edith Floros Sarelas*.  Dee passed away at the age of 90 in June of 2007. Dee earned her B.S. in education and was a member of the honor societies Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi, and in 1954 she received her M.A. degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She was awarded a Fulbright Teaching Grant in 1958 to attend the School of Social Work in Athens, Greece.

The nominee does NOT need to be a Fulbright Association member and may be a citizen or resident of any country.

The selection criteria for the nominee:

– must be a living individual
  – must exemplify the values of the Fulbright Association (see http://fulbright.org/our-story/about-us)
  – must have had a significant short, or long-term impact on the development of internationalism for the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association, and/or for the Chicago area community e.g., program design or delivery, membership recruitment, communication production, international understanding outreach.

Nominations will be closed on at 11:59 Central time on November 9th, 2014. To submit a nomination click HERE. The information will then be presented to the Chicago Chapter Membership for voting starting November 12th, 2014. The award shall be given at the Winter Reception held in Chicago on December 12, 2014.

We ask the Dee Sarelas Service Award recipient to serve as an ad hoc board member for the Chicago Chapter during 2015. The awardee must also serve as Chair of next year’s Dee Sarelas Service Award Selection Committee.

Follow the link below for nominator instructions and to complete the nomination form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LRw09r3X8jVUqTdqbkb4lhviPg6O8WIK0sM0vD36R4g/viewform

*A Chicagoan dedicated to interacting with and nurturing Fulbrighters in the Chicago area community, Dee was a person remembered for her wit, empathy, and vivacity in bringing people across cultures together. The Chicago Chapter has established the Dee Sarelas Fulbright Service Award in her memory to honor those who follow Dee’s example for service.  Please join us in honoring Dee and the Fulbright legacy by submitting a nomination for 2014.

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