- October 26, 2017
On October 26, 2017, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted its third Aspen Annual Gala, where the 2017 Shepard Stone Award was presented to two extraordinary individuals: Dr. Guido Goldman, founder of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Wolf Biermann, poet, composer, and singer. The award recognizes outstanding transatlantic leadership and accomplishments in the realm of politics, culture, society, and science that reflect and promote the shared values of the United States and Germany. The tradition was initiated in 2014 on the occasion of Aspen Germany’s 40th anniversary in memory of the extraordinary achievements of Shepard Stone, the founder and first executive director of the Aspen Institute Germany. The evening included, among others, remarks by Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute (USA), Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of Aspen Germany, Sawsan Chebli, Secretary of State for Civil Engagement and International Affairs in Berlin, and a written welcome note by Chancellor Angela Merkel, read by Eckart von Klaeden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Institute Germany.
