Community Programs
World Citizen Award Ceremony

The World Citizen Award Ceremony is held each year to recognize a leader from the State of Washington who has contributed significantly to public understanding of international relations and has promoted community involvement in world affairs as well as local understanding of cultures, societies and economies from around the world. Since 1997, the World Affairs Council has also honored an outstanding teacher, with the World Educator Award. It recognizes a teacher who promotes international understanding in the classroom and contributes to the development of resources so that other educators and community members are better prepared to meet a predominant challenge of our time: educating youth about world affairs.

Past World Citizenship Award winners:

• Bill Stafford, President, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, 2009
• Karen Kodama, International Schools Administrator, Seattle Public School District, 2008
• Roy Prosterman, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Rural Development Institute, 2007
• Bill Clapp, Co-Founder, Global Partnerships and the Initiative for Global Development, 2006
• Bill Foege, Senior Fellow, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2005
• Gary Locke, Governor, State of Washington, 2004
• Paul Isaki, Washington State Governor’s Special Assistant for Business, 2003
• The University of Washington, 2002
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2000
• Patricia Davis, President of the Washington Council on International Trade, Commissioner of the Port of Seattle, 1999
• Ralph Munro, Secretary of State, State of Washington, 1998
• Booth Gardner, Former Governor, State of Washington, 1997
• Herb Ellison, Professor of Russian Studies, Henry M. Jackson School of International Affairs, University of Washington, 1996
• George Russell, Chairman, Frank Russell Company, 1996
• Frank Shrontz, Former President and CEO, Boeing Company, 1995
• Robert Kapp, Former President, Washington Council on International Trade, 1994
• George Duff, Former President, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 1993
• Virgil Fassio, Former Publisher, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1992
• Dr. George E. Taylor, Founder, World Affairs Council, Washington Council on International Trade, and Far Eastern Institute at the University of Washington, 1991
• Robert M. Walsh, Former President, Seattle Goodwill Games, Organizing Committee, 1990
• Helen Hardin Jackson, Chair, Henry M. Jackson Foundation, 1989
• Ploughshares, Seattle, Washington, 1988

Past World Educator Award winners:

• Ben Wheeler, Explorer West, Seattle, 2009
• Bob Mazelow, Lakeside School, Seattle, 2008
• Ryan Hauck, Marysville-Pilchuck High School, Marysville, 2007
• David White-Espin, Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center, Seattle, 2006
• Betty Lau, Franklin High School, Seattle, 2005
• Wendy Ewbank, Seattle Girls' School, Seattle, 2004
• Patricia Burleson, Island View Elementary School, Anacortes, 2003
• Mary Ellen Cardella, Office of Minority Affairs High School, Seattle, 2002
• Sue Pike, Foster High School, Tukwila, 2000
• Gretchen Coe & Anne Fitzpatrick, Mercer Middle School, Seattle, 1999
• Mary Hammond Bernson, Jackson School of International Studies, Seattle, 1998
• Keith Forest, Decatur High School, Federal Way, 1997

2009 World Citizen Award Winner Karen Kodama