In recognition of the long-time support of Wichita businessman Charles G. Koch, the Institute for Humane Studies makes an annual award, named in his honor, for outstanding achievement by an alumnus of IHS programs.
Since 1961, IHS has supported the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and who demonstrate the potential to help change the current climate of opinion to one more congenial to the principles and practice of freedom.
We can now celebrate over 1,400 alumni of IHS programs working in the world of ideas as professors, policy experts, journalists, filmmakers, and more. These alumni in the world of ideas are joined by thousands more alumni who are speaking out, and living the values of liberty, in their families and communities and as professionals and citizens.
The Charles G. Koch Outstanding IHS Alum Award of $5,000 is given each year to an alumnus of IHS programs for significant contributions to the advancement of liberty through singular or combined accomplishments in any of the many areas that contribute to knowledge, understanding, and problem-solving:
- academic research
- teaching
- public policy
- journalism, writing, or publishing
- film, fiction, or other creative contributions
- political or community leadership
- organizational entrepreneurship or leadership
- financial contributions
Eligibility
Alumni of IHS since its inception in 1961 are eligible for consideration. Alumni include anyone who was awarded a scholarship, fellowship, prize, or grant from IHS; or who participated in an IHS seminar or conference (except as faculty for the program); or who was awarded an internship in an IHS-sponsored program, including the Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program from its inception in 1992.
Current employees, officers, or directors of the Institute for Humane Studies are not eligible.
Nominations
The Institute for Humane Studies welcomes the nomination of candidates for the annual Charles G. Koch Outstanding IHS Alum Award. Nominees will be IHS program alumni and will have made significant contributions to the advancement of liberty in one or more areas as outlined above. (IHS will be able to resolve any uncertainty about whether a potential candidate is an alum of IHS programs.)