Unique in the Swiss-American tradition...the Stratton Prize

It is said that Julius Stratton, a young MIT grad student, returned from his studies at the University of Zürich in 1927 with two things…a Doctor of Science degree and a life-changing exposure to Swiss humanistic thought… both of which shaped the man and informed his work when he became President of MIT, a position he held from 1959 to 1966. And in that capacity, Stratton did indeed lead the establishment of a place for the Humanities at this Science & Technology Institute…and it was this commitment of Julius Stratton that captured the attention of Friends of Switzerland founder Dr. Freddy Homburger.

In Dr. Stratton he saw the bridge between those cultures…an intercultural achiever who could wear the mantle of the first Julius Adams Stratton Prize and give life to an award “intended to stress cultural, humanistic, and humanitarian values in this age of scientific and technological progress.” In his remarks at the inaugural award ceremony, Freddy spoke of a dichotomy of cultures in the U.S. at the time...science, one the one hand, worryingly defense driven in his view, and the humanities, and the need to weave the strands of ethical teachings into science and technology in order to achieve a “harmonious and peaceful world.” Thus was born the Stratton Prize. And since 1966, it has been awarded to a list of Laureates that reads like a who's who in intercultural achievement, with winners hailing from diverse fields that include the arts & humanities, academics, science and medicine, diplomacy, government, and business. Below is a representative sampling, and the full list of Stratton Laureates appears to the right:

• 1970, Bradford Washburn/ explorer, mountaineer, photographer, founder of Boston's Museum of Science

• 1977, Charles Draper/ scientist founder of Charles Stark Draper labs

• 1980, Randall Thompson/ eminent American composer

• 1984, Victor Weisskopf/ physicist and promoter of peaceful uses of atomic energy

• 1985, John Kenneth Galbraith/ economist and diplomat

• 1998, Mary Davenport/ internationally acclaimed opera star

• 1992, Roman Totenberg/ master violinist, teacher

• 2016, Armin Hofmann/ a father of the highly impactful Swiss Style of graphic design, along with two American graphic designers/educators, Chris Pullman and Philip Burton

A Stratton Prize winner is selected annually from a list researched and compiled by the FOSI Board of Directors and submitted to the organization's distinguished Stratton Laureates for their vote of approval. Each year, our Stratton Prize honoree is invited to nominate a candidate to receive FOSI's Stratton Fellowship Grant. With support of a stipend and travel grant from FOSI, a young Stratton Fellow can study and explore their field of endeavor, either in Switzerland or in the U.S..  For more on the Stratton Fellowship, click here.

The annual Stratton Prize and stratton fellowship grant are  supported by an endowment and by the contributions of FOSI members and friends. Contributions are welcomed, and are tax-deductible. Learn more about donating to the Stratton Fund.