Pictures: Sebastian Koccon/Dachverband-PaN

 

On October 22, 2025, the Austrian-American Society was honored with the annual PaN Prize awarded by Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. Founded in 1946, the Society has long promoted friendship and understanding between Austria and the United States through a wide range of cultural and educational activities.

The ceremony featured remarks by State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Kami A. Witmer, followed by a video message from Austrian Ambassador to the U.S. Petra Schneebauer and a laudatory speech by PaN President Prof. Hermann Mückler.

State Secretary Schellhorn and Prof. Mückler presented the award to Mag. Philipp Bodzenta, President of the Austrian-American Society, who expressed his gratitude together with Secretary General Mag. Rainer Newald. The event, held in the historic Alois Mock Hall of the Foreign Ministry, was moderated by Ambassador Dr. Stefan Pehringer, who concluded the ceremony with a reception.

Prof. Roberta Maierhofer, President of the Austro-American Society for Styria, attended the event as representative of the Styrian chapter.

For more info read the full reports by Cercle Diplomatique, Diplomatic Society and Dachverband PaN.