School Awards Mary Lefkowitz with Athens Prize at Eighth Annual Gala

► Browse the Gala 2024 Photo Gallery

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens hosted its eight annual Gala. Over 350 guests enjoyed an evening replete with culture, education, and inspiration at the majestic Gotham Hall in New York City.

The Gala serves as a pivotal fundraiser, with proceeds allocated to fortifying the School’s academic programming, archaeological research, outreach endeavors, publications, and scholarly research initiatives. These funds help the School strengthen its position as a premier center for the comprehensive study of the Greek world. Moreover, they sustain its overarching mission of safeguarding, promoting, and preserving Greece’s historical legacy, spanning from antiquity to contemporary times. A recording of the Gala proceedings is available for viewing below.

This year, the Trustees of the American School honored Mary R. Lefkowitz with the Athens Prize for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge of ancient Greece. The Athens Prize is an emblem of excellence in ancient Greek scholarship. Previous recipients have been archaeologist John Camp, Aegean prehistorian Malcolm Wiener, epigrapher Ronald Stroud, and economic historian Edward Cohen.

Mary R. Lefkowitz, Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities Emerita at Wellesley College, is renowned for her work in ancient Greek literature and culture. Notable for her book, "Not Out of Africa" (1996), she has authored numerous books and articles, including the recent "Euripides and the Gods." Lefkowitz is also the co-editor of influential works such as "The Greek Plays," "The Greek Histories," and "Women’s Life in Greece and Rome" (4th edition). She holds a B.A. from Wellesley and a Ph.D. from Radcliffe, in addition to receiving honorary degrees from Trinity College, Grinnell College, and the University of Patras. Furthermore, she is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal. As an alumna of the School (Summer Session 1955) and a Trustee since 2004, Lefkowitz's commitment to the American School has been unwavering. In 2022, the Greek government recognized her outstanding contributions by granting her the title of Honorary Citizen of Greece.

We extend our gratitude to all our friends of the American School for their steadfast support and for their participation in our array of events, including the annual gala.

Please have a look at the Photo Gallery to see gala guests enjoying the festivities and enjoy our new films:

• Women in ancient Greece
• In the Name of Humanity

Watch Replay

Save the Date

Please save the date for next year’s Gala on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Gotham Hall in New York City.

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