Chicago Chapter board members Kari Burnett, Cristina Sisson, Jenni Schneiderman and Meredith McNeil celebrate with Ron Harvey, recipient of the 2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award
By Mary Mares-Awe—MORE THAN 80 GUESTS attended the annual, end-of-the-year, Winter Holiday reception sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association and the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Professor Norma Green, Ahmed Affan from Pakistan and Gigi Posejpal, Director of International Student Affairs at Columbia College Chicago
Mr. Ilker Pak, Honorable Consul of Turkey in Chicago
The event took place on Friday, December 12th at Columbia College, downtown Chicago. Among those in attendance were Fulbright Association members, board members, friends of Fulbright, alumni, Fulbright scholars from more than 35 countries, as well as consular representatives including the Consul General of France, Vincent Floreani, Consul of Turkey, Ilker Pak, and the Consul of Costa Rica, Javier Rojas.
Mr. Javier Rojas, Honorable Consul of Costa Rica, Fulbright Chicago Chapter President Ron Harvey and Mr. Vincent Floreani, Honorable Consul General of France
Guests enjoyed several types of wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages and a variety of foods including Vietnamese Spring Rolls, South of the Border specialties, cheeses and charcuterie, salads, and wonderful deserts with beautifully decorated Christmas cookies.
A Columbia College Chicago jazz trio entertaining the audience
A trio made up of Columbia College Chicago music students certainly did justice to the great American music genre—jazz, adding a festive atmosphere to the event and entertaining guests throughout the evening.
RON HARVEY GETS THE 2014 DEE SARELAS SERVICE AWARD
2014 Dee Sarelas Service Award
The annual celebrations present a great opportunity to see old friends and make new connections within our Fulbright community. It’s also a time when the Chapter presents the prestigious Dee Sarelas Service Award.
This year Dr. Ron Harvey, a psychology researcher at DePaul University and current president of the Chicago Chapter, was the recipient of the award. The other nominees were Cristina Sisson (Argentina 2007,) treasurer of the Chapter, and Don Garner (European Union 2001,) Consular Corps Liaison and past-president 2006.
Last year Dee Sarelas Service Award recipient Elio Leturia from Columbia College Chicago, presenting Ron Harvey with the 2014 award.
The service award was created to honor the memory of one of the founding members of the Fulbright Association’s Chicago Chapter—Dee Sarelas. Dee is remembered for her unique ability for bringing people across cultures together. In addition to her many contributions, Dee also worked for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army Training College, and as a liaison at White House conferences.
Dr. Richard Farkas of DePaul University, Fulbright Specialist to Ukraine, Taras Tzlupko and Ron Harvey
“It’s a real honor to be in the company of such high caliber people who have won the award previously,” said Ron after receiving the award. Some of the past recipients are Marilyn Susman, Thomas Ahleman, Ana Gil-García and Elio Leturia.
Fulbrighter Aziz Pulatov from Uzbekistan and his daughter, Shakina
“It’s great that we can do our part to fulfill the Fulbright mission here in Chicago. The honor is a great accomplishment of that. It’s a reminder that you can fulfill the Fulbright mission no matter where you are”, he added.
Ron, who did his Fulbright in Bulgaria in 2009-2010, will be leaving for Bulgaria again next year to work on a pioneering project in the field of community psychology. He, no doubt, and true to form, will continue to work in the Fulbright spirit— making the world a better place.
Fulbright alumna Virginia Miller (Guatemala 1993, Mexico 1996-97) and Adam Gehr
Chicago Chapter Treasurer Cristina Sisson and her husband Michael Tamm
Fulbright alumna Maureen Warren (Poland 1980-81,) Fulbright scholar Almir Pestek from Bosnia, and Mary Mares-Awe, Chicago Chapter Board member
Uruguayan Fulbright alumna Andrea Catarivas and her husband Andre Frieden
Photos by Mary Mares-Awe, Jenni Schneiderman, Ron Harvey, Elio Leturia
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 