2002 ATAA Awards
The strength of ATAA comes from individuals and organizations that embody the values, mission and goals of the Assembly. Each year during its annual convention, the Assembly honors such individuals and organizations that have been nominated by the Turkish American community and stand out in community service, their respective professions and serve as role models for us all. We are honored to announce the recipients of the 2002 ATAA Awards.

ATAA Turkish American of the Year Award
Osman (Oz) Bengur from Maryland became the first Turkish American to make a credible run for a seat in the US House of Representatives. Campaigning openly as a Turkish American, he embodied our motto "Proud to be Turkish, proud to be American" and his bold challenge in an important election, as well his personal sacrifice to serve the American people, is an inspiration to all Turkish Americans.

ATAA American Friend of Turkey Award
Cheryl Wyly from Texas receives this award for her outstanding dedication to help Turkish children, promote Turkish culture in the United States and for her outstanding support of local and national community activities. Her love for the people of Turkey and generosity in support of Turkish American causes give new meaning to this award.

ATAA Sukru Elekdag Award
A distinguished diplomat and former Ambassador to Turkey, Mark Parris made visionary contributions to strengthening US-Turkey relations and is recognized as a true friend of Turkey. This award recognizes his commitment to strengthening relations between the American and Turkish people, his efforts to create a better understanding about Turkey in the United States, and his commitment to the Turkish American community.

President's Special Award
The Textile Museum in Washington DC has made major contributions to enhancing US-Turkish ties by bringing Turkish art, history and culture to Americans through its high quality exhibitions and other educational activities. The latest exhibit organized and currently on display at the Museum, The Classical Tradition in Anatolian Carpets, has created wonderful publicity for this centuries old art form of Turkey.

ATAA Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Sevinc Balimtas from Maryland is a community leader who has served the Turkish American community and women in Maryland for a long number of years, and has made outstanding contributions to building schools in needy villages and small towns in Turkey while serving as president of the Washington Turkish Women's Association.

John and Peggy Blake from California are the flag bearers of the Pleasant Hill, CA - Merzifon Sister City program. They shouldered prejudice and propaganda from those who wanted to prevent this cultural exchange between the US and Turkey. Now, they are working on establishing an endowment for these kinds of programs.

Barbara Sher from New York is a best-selling author who is also running a very successful team workshop. She picked a small town in Urgup, Turkey, to implement her "Kilim Women" project. As part of this endeavor she has been motivating the local village women to regain their weaving skills and to learn how to use computers in order to be able to direct market their products worldwide through the Internet.

Ahmet Toprak from California is a community service veteran. He is the founder of Turkish radio broadcasts in the Bay Area, and started them in 1982 collaboration with two other Turkish Americans. Since then, the Turkish radio program has been on the air every weekend. He also hosts the Orient Express, another weekly program on the culture of the Turkish world on KKUP.

Mine Tuncak from Washington is a Rotary Club member who was able to initiate a major fund raising campaign during the earthquake relief efforts that turned into a big project of equipping a rehabilitation center in Istanbul.

Nurten Ural from Michigan is a long time community activist and the current Vice-President of ATAA's Midcentral Region. She is a community leader par excellence and has worked diligently to promote the profile of the Turkish American community in her area and has stood up against defamatory actions against Turks.

ATAA Outstanding Achievement in Arts & Humanities Award
Ahmet Luleci from Massac-husetts has dedicated most of his life to research, perform and promote various areas of Turkish folk arts, especially Turkish folk dances. Over the years, he has worked with numerous international groups, teaching and performing Turkish folk dances in the United States and all over the world. He is recognized for his accomplishments for bringing Turkish culture and folk art to international and American audiences and artists and for his long time community service.

Armagan Selcik is an architect and Vice President of R. Bratti & Associates of Virginia and spearheaded his company to be part of the Pentagon Phoenix Project after 9/11, to help the healing process of the whole nation. He inspired his workers to finish replacing the damaged limestone wall five months ahead of schedule by spending countless hours at the crash site.

ATAA Outstanding Achievement in Science Award
Dr. Orhan Nalcioglu has made many outstanding contributions to the field of Medicine. He is currently the Director of Health Sciences Research Imaging Center at University of California, Irvine's College of Medicine. Since 1975 his research has been in the development of medical imaging systems and image based measurement techniques for medical research and patient healthcare. He has published a large number of papers in addition to co-authoring/editing several books on medical imaging. He has trained a great number of students and postgraduate researchers many of whom are now established researchers in the field of medical imaging in their own right.

ATAA Meritorious Service Award
Basak Brown from Washington is a hard working community volunteer and always ready to bring ideas to community activism. She has a history of introducing the Turkish culture to diverse groups of people, widening the circle of American friends of Turkey.

Ismail Hakki Ercan from Florida has been a long time community volunteer, serving as president of the Florida Turkish American Association. His has made valuable contributions to the promotion of Turkish culture and image in his region.

Feriha Istar from Washington DC has been leading member of the Turkish American community for a great many years. She has not only lead local Associations but has supported the many Turkish American groups in Washington DC. Her enthusiasm for her community and her deep involvement in Washington area activities has made her an irreplaceable force, a force of experience, practical knowledge and know-how.

Marcus Mann from Michigan has been a long time member of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan and has supported numerous local and ATAA activities. Most recently he was involved in the Turkish Festival in Indianapolis that coincided with the World Basketball championships.

Erol Palantekin from Florida has for many years given outstanding contributions to the Turkish American Cultural Association of Florida. His dedication to the community and fairness are qualities that have made him a leader in both the Association and among Turkish Americans.

Sermin Unsal from Florida organized the 1st Turkish Festival in South Florida, an event that brought Turkish culture and art to American audiences in the region. This event has now become a staple of the year's cultural calendar.

Sel Yackley from Illinois has been a long time community volunteer and an effective advocate for Turkish Americans issues. She has made outstanding contributions to the promotion of Turkish culture, art and archeology through her leadership role in many projects, including the endowment of the Kanuni Suleyman Professor of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies at the University of Chicago and her efforts to promote the Amuq Valley excavation in southeastern Turkey as part of the Friends of the Amuq Valley Regional Project.

ATAA Component Association of the Year Award
Azerbaijan Society of America: ASA has become a solid voice for the Azerbaijani in the United States. ASA has assumed leadership in increasing awareness on issues of importance to US-Azerbaijan relations and the Azerbaijani people, and in promoting the history and culture of Azerbaijan. Some of their activities included testimonies and briefings at the US Congress, organizing rallies, as well as other grassroots advocacy efforts.

Turkish American Cultural Alliance of Chicago: TACA of Chicago is one of leading Turkish American community organizations in the United States and has made outstanding contributions to including the Turkish American community in the cultural landscape of the Chicago area. The organization has a solid track record in the representation of the local Turkish American community and its interest and an exemplary component association relationship with ATAA, the last example of which was their hosting of the highly successful ATAA Regional Conference in Chicago.