Join the Paideia Institute and Co-Chairs Daniel G. Cohen, Scott Clemons, Parisa Jaffer and Beverley McCaskill on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 6:00pm at the University Club of New York as we present the Arete Award to two distinguished classicists: Dr. Georgia Nugent, former President of Kenyon College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and The College of Wooster; and Dr. Michael Straus, attorney, arts foundation leader, and published translator of Greek and Spanish texts and a monograph on translation theory. All proceeds from the evening go toward supporting the Paideia Institute's mission to expand access to the classical humanities.
Honoring
Dr. Georgia Nugent
Dr. Michael Straus
About The Paideia Institute
The Paideia Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the study of the classical humanities. For over 15 years, we have pursued that mission through travel programs, outreach to expand access to the classics, publications, curriculum development and digital language learning. Each year we teach the classics to more than 2,500 students of every age group, making us one of the largest organizations in our mission area. In 2015, the Society for Classical Studies, the principal learned society for the study of Classics in North America, honored Paideia with its President's Award, one of the highest honors in the field, citing our work in "significantly advancing public appreciation and awareness of classical antiquity."
About The Arete Award
Since 2018, the Arete Award has recognized individuals who have had an outstanding impact on the field of Classics. We give the award to two honorees annually: a distinguished academic classicist, and a passionate supporter of the Classics who has gone on to success in other fields. Past honorees include Roger Bagnall, former Columbia Classics Professor and Director Emeritus of NYU ISAW; Michael Putnam, Professor Emeritus of Classics at Brown; Daniel Cohen, a businessman and philanthropist who is widely supportive of the classics and who served as the Paideia Institute's first board chair; Dr. Thomas Sculco, Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York; and Dame Mary Beard OBE, a New York Times-bestselling author and scholar of Ancient Rome.
Impact
Your support will help us provide 2,500 students a year with access to the study of the classical humanities; disburse over $250K in scholarships annually; and develop our innovative curricula, which teachers around the country rely on to bring Latin and ancient Greek to life for their students. With your help, we can ensure that everyone everywhere has access to the classical humanities, regardless of location and circumstance. All proceeds from the evening go towards Paideia's general operating expenses.
Details & Tickets
We invite you to join us for what is sure to be a memorable evening of cocktails, dinner, and conversation. Reserve your tickets or table below.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Cocktails 6:00 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
The University Club of New York
1 West 54th Street