Awards Program

The HCI awards program reflects the values of the City of Heidelberg and the membership of the HCI. These values include respect for the world’s environment and the health of its citizens in all phases of the life cycle; concern that mankind’s institutions - particularly business corporations and local governmental agencies - operate honestly, efficiently, and effectively; encouragement of progressive political thought and practice; and recognition of individual human creativity and expression in a diverse world.


There are currently three awards in the program:
1) In June 2009 Dr. Eckart Würzner, the Lord Mayor of Heidelberg, announced the new Mark Twain Award, for travel writing about his famed German city. The prize, which will be awarded every three years, includes a prize of 5,000 Euros and an all-expenses paid trip for two to Heidelberg in September 2011. This is the largest single travel-writing award in the English language. The contest is administered by the HCI New York. Submssions are due by April 1, 2011.
2) In 1995, the HCI initiated the Award for Environmental Excellence, presenting five such awards to date. In September 2008 the last has been presented to the International Institute for the Urban Environment (IIUE).
3) In 2005 the first triennial Award for Contributions to the Field of Gerontology was made at the triennial Heidelberg Club International meeting. The award of 2008 was presented to Dr. Richard Suzman and Dr. Robert F. Schoeni on behalf of all stakeholders of the “Demography of Aging Centers Program” (DACP).

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