By Muhammad Sohail
On July 14, 2025, at the Černín Palace, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský presented the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy to two prominent figures – Hana Ripková and John Brassard.
Hana Ripková, the long-time director of the Fulbright Commission in Prague, has ended her 34-year successful career at the head of this important institution, which during her leadership enabled scholarships in the USA for more than 2,000 Czech students and researchers.
The second awardee, John Brassard, was a member of the Canadian Parliament and one of the key figures in Czech-Canadian relations in recent decades.
For example, the interparliamentary Czech-Canadian Commission of Friends was established on his initiative.
“With this award, I want to express my gratitude to both laureates for the excellent work they do for the benefit of the Czech Republic and in the interest of deepening friendly relations between the Czech Republic, Canada and the USA. Their work will inspire future generations,” said the head of Czech diplomacy.
In addition to the awardees, their relatives and guests, the ceremony was also attended by diplomatic representatives from Canada and the USA.
