The Hungarian American Coalition co-signed a Grant Agreement in Budapest today, which will extend the operation of the Charles Simonyi Research Scholarship Fund until 2005.

In 2000, Dr. Charles Simonyi donated 25 million forints to establish a research scholarship fund in Hungary. Every year, the fund awards 2.5 million forints each to three outstanding Hungarian researchers.

Dr. Charles Simonyi, a leading software developer for Microsoft Corporation, was born in Hungary. His father, Professor Károly Simonyi, was an internationally known electrical engineer and author of Physics: A Cultural History.

This year, Dr. Simonyi made a $95,000 donation to the Hungarian American Coalition’s Research Scholarship Fund. With this grant, the Coalition will enable the Foundation for Hungarian Higher Education and Research to maintain the scholarship program for an additional three years (through 2005).

The scholarships are adjudicated and awarded by a seven-member committee of the Foundation for Hungarian Higher Education and Research. Since 2000, six exceptional Hungarian scholars have received grants from the Simonyi Fund: Katalin Keserű, art historian; Lajos Pósa, mathematician; Sándor Sonkodi, doctor of medicine; Judit Demeter, doctor of medicine; Katalin É. Kiss, linguist; and Rezső Lovas, physicist.

The Hungarian American Coalition co-signed today’s Grant Agreement with the Hungarian Ministry of Education, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Foundation for Hungarian Higher Education and Research.

The Hungarian American Coalition is a nationwide non-profit organization that promotes public understanding and awareness of Hungarian American issues.