Washington, D.C. – Three outstanding Hungarian researchers received the Charles Simonyi Research Scholarship Award on June 1, 2004 at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.  The annual award in the amount of 2.5 million HUF was first established in 2000 by Dr. Charles Simonyi, and the continuation of the awards was assured with the cooperation of the Hungarian American Coalition in 2002 to serve the goal of encouraging outstanding scientific research by Hungarians.

The 2004 recipients were: Dr. Judit Ovádi, a doctor of biology whose extensive research on the structure of cells at the Enzyme Institute of the Biological Center of Szeged has received international recognition.  Through this research much has been learned about characteristics of neuro-degenerative disease.  Dr. Péter Dávidházi, a literary historian and prolific writer whose books published in London and New York focus on the world of Shakespeare, and the significance in Hungary of the so-called „Romantic Shakespeare-cult.”  He has also written outstanding evaluations on the life and works of János Arany, a Hungarian literary giant of the XIX century.  Dr. László Szirmay-Kalos, a widely published 41 year-old university professor, whose area of specialty includes the solving of computer graphics problems by using Monte-Carlo methods in global illumination.  He has done research for several international companies including Intel, and Hewlett-Packard.

The presentation ceremony was attended by Mrs. Károly Simonyi, mother of Charles Simonyi; Tamás Szabados, Political State Secretary from the Ministry of Education; E. Szilveszter Vizi, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Dr. Lajos Keszthelyi, President of the Charles Simonyi Research Scholarship Committee, and other members of the Academy.  After opening remarks by the dignitaries, the accomplishments of each award recipient was lauded by a member of the Scholarship Committee.  This was followed by three short lectures describing the research activity of each recipient.

Edith Lauer, Chairman Emerita, and Zsolt Szekeres, President of the Hungarian American Coalition, conveyed the congratulations of the organization to each of the three outstanding Hungarian research scientists.