Named after the Greek word for wisdom “Sophia,” this award is presented to a person or organization that has actively contributed to the international appreciation of Spain and the Americas through a donation of time, expertise, and an innate wisdom in the areas of sciences, arts, or humanities.

From 1978 to 2013, the Institute annually awarded Gold Medals to individuals who contributed to the international appreciation of Spain and the Americas through their achievements in international relations, science, business, the arts, literature and philanthropy. Some recipients of the Gold Medal included Santiago Calatrava, President Bill Clinton, Julio Iglesias, The National Soccer Team of Spain, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Antonio Banderas, Montserrat Caballé, and Felipe VI of Spain. In 2018, the Institute renewed a tradition of presenting our most prestigious award to persons who embodied our mission. Thus, the Institute inaugurated the Sophia Award for Excellence, a prize honoring the wisdom and humanitarianism of our Patroness Queen Sofía of Spain.