Dr. Charles Simonyi and Dr. Katalin Karikó honored at Library of Congress
Washington D.C. – On April 27, 2026, the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) hosted the USA250 Gala at the Library of Congress, bringing together more than 400 distinguished leaders and supporters to celebrate the enduring contributions of Hungarian Americans in the United States. The two guests of honor and awardees were Nobel Prize winner Dr. Katalin Karikó and pioneering software architect Dr. Charles Simonyi.
The Gala was co-chaired by Governor George Pataki and Katrina Lantos Swett. The Coalition organized the Gala together with partner organizations, the Tulipan Foundation and the American Hungarian Foundation.
During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed a variety of exhibitions:
- An exclusive preview of “The Martians” Exhibit, brought from Hungary by the Hungarian Brand Cultural Association, about émigré Hungarian scientists whose innovations transformed the modern world.
- Premiere of Bridges of Greatness, a video by Réka Pigniczky and Andrea Lauer Rice, introducing great Hungarian Americans from the past 250 years.
- Legacy of Hungarians in the U.S.: People, Places, Pathways – an exhibition exploring the multifaceted ties between Hungary and America through personal and family stories.
- The interactive Rubik’s Cube mosaic created by Dylan Sadiq, in which guests were invited to place individual Rubik’s Cubes into an evolving collaborative artwork, revealing Time Magazine’s 1956 “Man of the Year:” the Hungarian Freedom Fighter.
- The Hungarian American Artifacts Exhibit, presented by the American Hungarian Foundation, showcasing rare and historically significant objects collected and conserved over decades.
Susan Hutchison, Master of Ceremonies and former TV News Anchor, greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests. Hutchison served as the Executive Director for the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences.
The invocation, delivered by Dr. Eric Patterson, President of the Victims of Communism Foundation, referenced Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty’s prayer for the future of Hungary.
Coalition President Andrea Lauer Rice
Following a video summarizing the many accomplishments of Hungarian Americans to the U.S. over the past 250 years, Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Coalition, greeted the 420 guests. “In 2026, we have a trifecta of celebrations: starting with the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the greatest country on Earth! We commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Revolution of 1956, when Hungarians rose up against Soviet communist occupation and for 13 days tasted freedom once more…And we celebrate 35 years of the Hungarian American Coalition, founded as the Iron Curtain fell in Central and Eastern Europe and Hungarian Americans rushed to lend a helping hand.”
In his remarks, Governor E. Pataki, former Governor of New York, touched on the importance of his Hungarian heritage and stressed the American values of freedom and democracy, while urging all to come together during this 250th anniversary year. Reflecting on the gala’s two honorees, Pataki posed the question: “How many people do we know who have impacted the lives of every person in the world? Charles Simonyi and Katalin Karikó have done it!”
Gala Co-Chair Governor George E. Pataki
After an outstanding meal served with Hungarians wines from the Nimrod Kovacs, Buena Vista, and Sauska Wineries, guests were treated to a Hungarian-themed musical performance by Daniel Sender and the Ragged Mountain String Quartet. This cultural program was presented with support from the New York-based Tulipán Foundation, and introduced by Foundation leaders Monika Krausz and Ildikó Nagy. The ensemble brought together internationally recognized musicians: violinist Daniel Sender, concertmaster of the Charlottesville Symphony and Charlottesville Opera; violinist and conductor Benjamin Rous; violist Danielle Wiebe Burke; and cellist Clara Lee Rous.
Daniel Sender & the Ragged Mountain String Quartet
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Director of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, noted the importance of her rich Hungarian heritage and lessons learned from her father, the late Congressman Tom Lantos. Lantos Swett was joined at the Gala by her 94-year-old mother, Annette Lantos, who enjoys the friendship and respect of many Coalition members.
Gala Co-Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards. Dr. Charles Simonyi received the Spirit of America 250 Award, presented by Edith K. Lauer, Chair Emerita of the Hungarian American Coalition. The Award recognized his pioneering achievements in information technology, commitment to space exploration, and generous support of Coalition projects in Hungarian education and research. In his remarks, Dr. Simonyi pointed out that “the future will belong to societies that treat knowledge as a strategic resource. Hungary has a remarkable scientific tradition, and the Hungarian American community continues to show how talent and perseverance can shape the world.”
Edith K. Lauer and Dr. Charles Simonyi
Dr. Katalin Karikó received the George Washington Award, presented by Melissa Katko Pepin and Zsolt Harsanyi of the American Hungarian Foundation, honoring her groundbreaking development of mRNA technology and her contributions to advancing scientific discovery in service of humanity.
Melissa Katko Pepin, Zsolt Harsanyi and Dr. Katalin Karikó
“The George Washington Award is one of the American Hungarian Foundation’s most distinguished honors. It is reserved for individuals whose lives and accomplishments embody the very ideals associated with our nation’s first president: vision, courage, integrity, service, and a commitment to advancing the common good. It recognizes those whose achievements transcend borders and whose work uplifts humanity. There could be no more fitting recipient than Dr. Katalin Karikó,” said Melissa Katko Pepin.
Finally, toasts were delivered by Szabolcs Takács, Hungarian Ambassador to the U.S., and by Robert Palladino, former Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Hungary.
Andrea Lauer Rice, Edith K. Lauer, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Susan Hutchison, Dr. Katalin Karikó, Dr. Charles Simonyi, Governor George E. Pataki, Robert Palladino, Ambassador Szabolcs Takács
To commemorate the historic evening, each guest received a book: Pioneers of Liberty and Legacy: The Hungarian American Story, 1776-2026, as well as a USA250 Challenge Coin and a hand-etched Hungarian egg.
A special thank you to our partner organizations, the Tulipán Foundation and the American Hungarian Foundation, for making the evening’s program possible. Proceeds of the gala will support scholarship programs for young Hungarians and three community projects focused on Hungarian American history:
- Permanent signage to honor arrival of 1956 Hungarian refugees (Camp Kilmer, NJ)
- Albert Szent-Györgyi Gravesite renewal (Woods Hole, MA)
- Statue of Revolutionary war hero Michael Kováts de Fabriczy (Charleston, SC)
Gala guests included:
- The Honorable James Rosebush, former Chief of Staff of Nancy Reagan and Deputy Assistant to President Reagan
- The Honorable Ed Royce, former United States Representative and former Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
- The Honorable Dennis Ross, former U.S. Representative for Florida
- The Honorable Richard Swett, former U.S. Representative for New Hampshire
- The Honorable Mary Mochary, former Mayor of Montclair NJ
- The Honorable Marie Royce, former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
- Robert Palladino, Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and former Chargé d’Affaires in Hungary
- William Beach, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Treasury Department
- Wesam Hassanein, Vice President of Continental Strategy and former Senior Adviser to Vice President Vance
- Ambassador Szabolcs Takács, Embassy of Hungary
- Balázs Mártonffy, Consul General of Hungary (Chicago)
- Ruth Bajada, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the European Union
- Rodney Mims Cook Jr, Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
- Renata Kilroy and William Kilroy, The Kilroy Foundation
- Balázs Gulyás, President of HUN-REN
- Tibor Kapu, Hungarian astronaut
- Károly Jókay, Executive Director, Fulbright Hungary
- The Honorable Sunil Sabharwal de Bessenyey, former U.S. Board Member to the International Monetary Fund
- David F. Heyman, former Assistant Secretary for Policy at DHS
- Katalin Kádár Lynn, Helena History Press
- Matt Boyse, former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
- Réka Szemerkényi, former Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S.
- Mary Kirk, Director of the Office of Academic Exchange Programs at the U.S. Department of State
- Sándor Köles, Chairman of the Board of the Carpathian Foundation
- Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, daughter of the 11th Duke of Marlborough
- Aniko Gaal Schott and Nash Whitney Schott
- Imre Pákh, art collector and philanthropist
Distinguished community members included Hungarian Honorary Consuls: Dr. Peter Forgach (Buffalo, NY), Csilla Grauzer (Minneapolis, MN), Rev. Csaba Krasznai (Cleveland, OH), John Parkerson (Atlanta, GA), Piros Pazaurek (Daytona Beach, FL), Szilvia Rich (Indiannapolis, IN), and Eva Voisin (San Francisco, CA). Coalition leaders included: Erika Bokor, Peter de Gajary, Gabriella Sinka Heath, Emese Latkóczy, Joseph Megyeri, Leslie L. Megyeri, Gabe Mózsi, George Pogan, János Szekeres, Zsolt Szekeres, Endre Szentkirályi, Max Teleki, Emese Varga, Sándor Végh, Ágnes Virga, and others.
Many HYPE (Hungarian Young Professional Engagement) representatives were also in attendance: Ádám Béres, Éva Lukonits, Luca Mórocz, Attila Nás, Botond Nás, Hunor Nás, Salah Czapáry, Erzsébet Ábrám, Réka Veres Lenox, Noé Toroczkai, Ádám Turi, Elek Krizsán, Klára Schmidt, Nicholas Rice, and others.
The Coalition wishes to thank all our guests and supporters, as well as the many organizers and volunteers whose tireless work came to fruition in this historic celebration. In her concluding remarks, Lauer Rice encouraged the guests to keep the energy alive: “Unite the community. Create a record. Build momentum. Those are the goals for tonight, and for this incredible year of anniversaries…Thank you for celebrating with us this evening. Here’s to the next 250 years…”