FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 28, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Jeff Jackson, Director of Marketing & Communications

Columbus Council on World Affairs

jjackson@columbusworldaffairs.org

Alyson Helwagen, Fahlgren Mortine

alyson.helwagen@fahlgren.com

Columbus Council on World Affairs Announces 2025 Global Impact Awards 

Honorees to be recognized at 50th Anniversary Celebration on October 16

COLUMBUS, Ohio (September 24, 2025) – The Columbus Council on World Affairs (CCWA) today announced its distinguished 2025 Global Impact Award Honorees, who will be recognized during the Council’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, called GlobalColumbus: The World We Want, to take place at The Ohio Statehouse on October 16, 2025. The milestone event will bring together community leaders, educators, and changemakers to celebrate five decades of global engagement in Central Ohio.

The inaugural Global Impact Awards are a key part of CCWA’s 50th Anniversary celebration. They honor individuals and organizations whose leadership, innovation, and service have advanced global understanding and strengthened Central Ohio’s connection to the world. 

“These awards shine a light on the individuals and organizations whose leadership and innovation embody the Council’s mission of global awareness, connection, and impact,” said Patrick Terrien, President and CEO of CCWA. “Our honorees not only inspire with their work, they represent the spirit of global vision that has defined the Council for 50 years.”

2025 Global Impact Honorees

• Global Citizen Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Jerry Ladman
  For more than four decades, Dr. Ladman has advanced international collaboration across Latin America. As a longtime Associate Provost for International Affairs and faculty leader at The Ohio State University, his leadership in agricultural development, his direction of the Latin American Studies Program, and his global partnerships in Mexico and the Dominican Republic reflect his lifelong commitment to connecting communities across borders. A devoted supporter of CCWA for more than two decades, Dr. Ladman exemplifies what it means to be a globally minded citizen.

• Champion of Culture Awards: Jewish Family Services, UsTogether, Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) and Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS)
  These Central Ohio refugee resettlement and immigration services organizations
  embody Central Ohio’s global spirit—welcoming newcomers, strengthening cross-cultural understanding, and creating opportunities for all to thrive. With more than 2,100 refugees resettled in Columbus in 2024 alone, these organizations are at the heart of a dynamic transformation, partnering with CCWA’s Global Scholars Diploma students to help build inclusive, action-oriented communities.

• Global Change Agent Award: Dr. Rattan Lal
  A world-renowned soil scientist and Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University, Dr. Lal is celebrated for his pioneering research on regenerative agriculture and soil health. His career-long contributions to combating climate change and advancing global food security have earned him international acclaim, including the World Food Prize (2020), the Japan Prize (2019), and India’s Padma Shri Award (2021)

• Global Economic Innovator Award: Vertiv
  Headquartered in Central Ohio, Vertiv is a global leader in powering critical digital infrastructure. From advanced power and cooling systems for data centers to its growing investment in workforce development, Vertiv drives global economic innovation while strengthening the region’s talent pipeline. As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for high-density computing, Vertiv’s expertise ensures the technologies shaping the future can thrive

About GlobalColumbus: The World We Want
The 50th Anniversary Celebration for CCWA will be held Thursday, October 16, 2025, at The Ohio Statehouse. The evening will include a fashion show, networking, interactive activities and a program highlighting the Council’s five decades of global impact, as well as a forward-looking conversation about the next generation of globally minded citizens.

Tickets and event details are available at: https://columbusworldaffairs.org/event/globalcolumbus-the-world-we-want/

About the Columbus Council on World Affairs

The Columbus Council on World Affairs (CCWA) is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1975. The Columbus Council on World Affairs aspires to create engaged global citizens, leaders, and changemakers. The Council is dedicated to transforming the Columbus Region into a globally fluent community where everyone thrives through signature programs, including the Global Scholars Diploma and Global Fluency Training. More information is at https://columbusworldaffairs.org