The Vilcek Foundation has launched an online celebration to honor the recipients of the 2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes. This online celebration is set up as a microsite, featuring introductory statements from Vilcek Foundation Cofounders Jan and Marica Vilcek, and from Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel.

Awarded annually, the Vilcek Foundation Prizes celebrate the value and importance of immigration by recognizing the outstanding achievements of foreign-born individuals in the United States. In 2021, the Vilcek Foundation Prizes are awarded in Biomedical Science, in Filmmaking, and for Excellence in Public Service.

The microsite serves to share and celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s prizewinners with the Vilcek Foundation’s supporters, with the families and friends of our prizewinners, and with the general public in lieu of the Vilcek Foundation’s annual gala.

“The events of the past year have illustrated how much work must be done to build equity and support equality for immigrants, people of color, and other marginalized groups in the United States,” says Jan Vilcek, CEO and chairman of the Vilcek Foundation. “Through our foundation’s prizes, we recognize the value of immigration by creating a platform to celebrate and recognize the outstanding scientific, artistic, and cultural contributions of foreign-born individuals.”

“The work of this year’s prizewinners helps us to better understand our world and empowers us to imagine a better future,” says Rick Kinsel, president of the Vilcek Foundation. “In honoring immigrants whose scientific, artistic, and humanitarian contributions have a positive impact on our society, we amplify the importance of diversity and cultural exchange.”

The 2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes

• Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science
  Ruth Lehmann (b. Germany)
• Vilcek Prize in Filmmaking
  Rodrigo Prieto (b. Mexico)
• Vilcek Prize for Excellence in Public Service
  Andrew Yang (b. United States)

The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science

• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science
  Mohamed Abou Donia (b. Egypt)
• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science
  Ibrahim Cissé (b. Niger)
• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science
  Silvi Rouskin (b. Bulgaria)

The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Filmmaking

• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Filmmaking
  Juan Pablo González (b. Mexico)
• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Filmmaking
  Miko Revereza (b. Philippines)
• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Filmmaking
  Nanfu Wang (b. China)

We encourage our friends and supporters to explore the videos, photos, and remarks from our foundation’s leadership, our prizewinners, and our jurors. We are inspired by the work of all of this year’s prizewinners, and hope that this site may serve as a reminder of the resilience, ingenuity, and creativity that diversity brings.

The site highlighting and honoring the recipients of the 2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes may be found here: https://gala.vilcek.org/