News & Articles

Filipino Technopreneur Stephanie Caragos Named Eisenhower Fellowships’ Douglas Dillon Fellow

Originally published April 18, 2016 · Updated August 21, 2026

A Cagayan de Oro-based entrepreneur earned one of the most prestigious honors in global leadership circles. 

Stephanie Caragos, CEO and President of Syntactics Inc., was named the 2016 Douglas Dillon Fellow by Eisenhower Fellowships. This award is given annually to one fellow worldwide who bridges private enterprise and public service. The recognition highlights Syntactics’ 26-year legacy as a Philippine-based web design and digital marketing agency with a global presence.

What Is the Douglas Dillon Fellow Award?

The Douglas Dillon Fellow Award is presented by Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) at the conclusion of its Multi-Nation Program. Established in 1996 through Ambassador Douglas Dillon’s endowment, the award recognizes one fellow each year whose vision and achievements best integrate private enterprise with public service.

EF trustees select the recipient after several months of direct engagement with prospective awardees. Selection is based on the performance and potential of all Eisenhower Fellows that year, regardless of whether they traveled to the United States or Americans went abroad.

Each named fellowship, including the Douglas Dillon Award, reflects the values and leadership focus of its sponsoring trustee. Senior staff to the EF president manage the selection process, evaluating how well a fellow’s vision and achievements align with the trustee’s legacy.

Previous Douglas Dillon Fellow Recipients

• 2011: B. Rajsekhar, India
• 2012: Faik Tunay, Turkey
• 2013: Jeff Frazier, United States (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
• 2014: Hugo Alconada, Argentina
• 2015: Thiago Toscano, Brazil
• 2016: Stephanie Caragos, Philippines

The Real Work Is Already in Motion

Caragos received her certificate directly from Eisenhower Fellowships chairman General Colin Powell, along with her EF pin from Governor Christie Whitman. In her own words:

“My very own Eisenhower Fellowships pin. It started with a key to the Eisenhower Fellowships door as a symbol of fellowship for life, and now we have our pin with the symbols for book for knowledge, torch for enlightenment, and olive branch for peace. The real work is about to begin.“

The fellowship reinforced her commitment to developing technology that drives economic growth, a focus she brought back to Syntactics’ work as a Philippine web design and digital marketing agency serving international clients.

About Eisenhower Fellowships

Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit international leadership organization founded in 1953 in Philadelphia. It was established as a birthday gift to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, honoring his work as a soldier, statesman, and world leader.

Since then, EF has selected nearly 2,000 mid-career leaders from over 100 countries, connecting them in a global network dedicated to dialogue, understanding, and collaboration for a more peaceful and prosperous world.

EF’s flagship Multi-Nation Program brings about 25 outstanding leaders to the United States each year for several weeks of tailored travel, meetings, and seminars with field experts.

Fellows are selected from business, government, academia, and civil society for their influence and leadership potential. General Colin Powell served as EF chairman during Caragos’ 2016 cohort.

For more information on other awards and recipients, please refer to the EF website’s list of Sponsored Fellowships.