The Vilcek Foundation Annual Awards Event

The Vilcek Prizes, designed to honor the labor of foreign-born pioneers in various industries within the United States celebrated their annual awards presentation. Organizers chose the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in NYC to present this year’s awards to Russian-born chemist, Dr. Alexander Varshavsky and culinary craftsman, Jose Andres.

Dr. Alexander Varshavsky was honored for his contribution to the “ubiquitin system” and his research has made a significant impact on the study of birth defects, cancer, and immune disorders such as HIV. Jose Andres was recognized for his perseverance and prowess in introducing Spanish culture to American cuisine.

Guests were treated to an elegant and exquisite evening that applauded the groundbreaking work of these incredible individuals. The Vilcek Foundation strives to increase awareness of the contributions of immigrants to the sciences, arts, and culture in the United States. It was founded in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia.

Check the Haute Living events page for more scenes for this evening.