About the Global Honors Evening

Since 1984, the International Relations Council has held its Global Honors Evening to recognize individuals and organizations for contributions to foreign policy and global affairs, international commerce, or the Kansas City community. In 2026, we are pleased to be bringing this historic IRC event back to KCAI’s Epperson Auditorium, to celebrate a range of individuals and groups that make Kansas City a shining global community. The celebration will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dessert, special recognitions, and the chance to meet some of Kansas City’s most notable and beloved global citizens. This year’s Global Honors Evening will recognize efforts and achievement of a selection of distinguished guests and awardees.

About our Keynote Speaker

Ambassador Douglas Lute served six years in the White House during two administrations, first under President George W. Bush as Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan from 2007 to 2009. He was the senior-most White House official retained by President Obama, serving first as Coordinator for South Asia and then during the second Obama-Biden term as U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

Ambassador Lute’s familiarity with American foreign policy and today’s policymakers gives him unique insight into Washington’s approach to international security and America’s relationships with its allies and partners.

Sponsors

Gold

Jennifer Owen & Brad Cox
Linda Trout

Silver
Benny Lee
Holly Nielsen


Bronze
Christopher Whelan
Daniel & Hiba Assyia


Sponsorship Information

Platinum Sponsor: $3500
Gold Sponsor: $2000
Silver Sponsor: $1000
Bronze Sponsor: $500


Speaker Lodging Sponsor


Supported by

2026 Awards & Recipients

Award Recipient: Amb. Douglas Lute (Former United States Ambassador to NATO)

Ambassador Douglas Lute is the former United States Ambassador to NATO. Appointed by President Obama, he assumed the Brussels-based post in 2013 and served until 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the 28-nation Alliance responses to the most severe security challenges in Europe since the end of the Cold War.

A career Army officer, in 2010 Lute retired from active duty as a lieutenant general after 35 years of service. In 2007 President Bush named him as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor to coordinate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009 he was the senior White House official retained by President Obama and his focus on the National Security Council staff shifted to South Asia. Across these two Administrations, he served a total of six years in the White House.

Before being assigned to the White House, General Lute served as Director of Operations (J3) on the Joint Staff, overseeing U.S. military operations worldwide. From 2004 to 2006, he was Director of Operations for the United States Central Command, with responsibility for U.S. military operations in 25 countries across the Middle East, eastern Africa and Central Asia, in which over 200,000 U.S. troops operated.

Through his military-diplomatic career, he received numerous honors and awards, including three awards of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award, the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic, and the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany.

General Lute holds degrees from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and United States Military Academy at West Point, which named him a Distinguished Graduate in 2018. From 2017 to 2025 he held the McDermott Chair of Social Sciences at West Point. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a charter member of the Senior Military Advisory Group of the United States Institute of Peace; a member of the board of the American Academy of Diplomacy; and a member of the board of the Atlantic Council of the United States.

The Award for Contributions to the Community is given to local individuals, organizations, or companies who have contributed to economic growth in the area and have shown exemplary service to their community.

The 2026 Honoree is the Kansas City Current

The Kansas City Current have an unwavering commitment to become the best women’s football club in the world. Through brave actions, we are raising the bar for our players, our fans, and our community.

Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long, Brittany Mahomes, and Patrick Mahomes. The team competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and played its first season in 2021. The Kansas City Current plays its home matches at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team.

 

Past recipients include the Global Ties KC (2025), Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City (2017), Julián Zugazagoitia (2014), R. Crosby Kemper III (2013), Sporting Kansas City (2012), Seaboard Corporation (2010), and John P. McMeel (1998).

The Award for Academic Leadership is given to local individuals or educational institutions that contribute to global education in the Midwest. In 2026 we will be recognizing Guadalupe Centers.

Founded in 1919, Guadalupe Centers’ mission is to improve the lives of Latinos in the Kansas City region and remains the longest continuously-operating organization serving Latinos in the United States, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

Guadalupe Centers operates out of 12 different facilities throughout Kansas City and provides community-based services in the areas of Health and Human Services, Education, Youth Recreation, Workforce Development & Adult Education, and Summer & After School. Guadalupe Centers serves over 20,000 individuals annually. Guadalupe Centers, Inc.(GCI) is the proud founder and home of the Guadalupe Centers Charter Schools (GCCS). GCCS is a PreK-12 charter school system with over 1,600 students enrolled and is sponsored by the Missouri Charter School Commission.

The 2025 nominee was Julie Robinson, of R.I.S.E. at the Kansas City Library

In memory of our founder and longtime executive director, Eliot S. Berkley, the International Relations Council presents this award to an exceptional high-school junior or senior who has demonstrated superior academic interest and competence in international studies. The award includes a $1,000 scholarship. Applications for the 2026 Berkley Award are open – and can be found at this link.

Past Awardees

Awards have been presented in a variety of categories since 1984:

  • The IRC has been honored to confer the Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship on dignitaries and thought leaders who have made outstanding contributions in international commerce, diplomacy, and education, including Ambassador Deborah Birx (2019), Richard Myers (2017), Janet Napolitano (2014), Madeleine Albright (2006), John Danforth (2005), Robert M. Gates (2003), Alan Mulally (2001), Robert J. Eaton (1993), and William G. Hyland (1984).
  • The Award for Contributions to the Community is given to local individuals, organizations, or companies who have contributed to economic growth in the area and have shown exemplary service to their community. Past recipients have included Swope Health (2019), the Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City (2017), Julián Zugazagoitia (2014), R. Crosby Kemper III (2013), Sporting Kansas City (2012), Seaboard Corporation (2010), and John P. McMeel (1998).
  •  The Award for Academic Leadership is given to local individuals or educational institutions that contribute to global education in the Midwest. Past recipients have included Dr. Sarah Finocchario Kessler (2019), the University of Missouri–Kansas City (2017), the Stowers Institute (2009), the KU Confucius Institute (2008), KCPT Public Television (1999), and Dr. E. Grey Dimond (1989).

Please click here to learn more about past awardees.