About

The Stratton Prize was founded by Dr. Freddy Homburger, who served as Honorary Consul for Switzerland in Boston for two decades from 1966-1986, to honor significant career achievement in the intercultural landscape between Switzerland and America. The Prize was first awarded to Julius Adams Stratton, former President of MIT and later Chair of the Ford Foundation in 1966. Dr. Stratton was honored for inspiring the integration of the humanities at MIT, this following his earlier advanced education at ETH Zürich and exposure to Swiss humanistic thinking. 

Friends of Switzerland (FOSI) was the custodian of the Stratton Prize for nearly sixty years. Recently, FOSI’s Board has concluded that the best chance for the Stratton Prize and Fellowships to flourish is to transfer its management to the American Swiss Foundation (ASF). ASF will perpetuate the Stratton Prize and through the Stratton Prize Committee. 

Upcoming Award Dinner

The 2025 Stratton Prize Dinner will be held in Boston, at the Samberg Conference Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology on October 9th at 6 p.m. EDT. Please contact info@americanswiss.org for more information.

Stratton Laureates

The Stratton Laureate Prize has been awarded to a distinguished list of Swiss or Americans across a wide range of disciplines in the fields of diplomacy, business, science and medicine, the visual arts, music, academics, and more. Five Stratton Laureates were at one time, or still are, Board members of the ASF. The Stratton Prize was awarded to the late Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, who founded the American Swiss Foundation’s flagship Young Leaders Conference and served as Chair Emeritus. Former ASF Board Members Doug Sears, Ambassador Suzi LeVine, and Eric LeVine; and current ASF Chair Emeritus Steven G. Hoch (YL 1990). A list of awardees can be found below.