Athanasiades Foundation Awards College Scholarships
Athanasiades Foundation Awards College ScholarshipsBy Catherine Tsounis
Members of the W.W. II generation are becoming history. Our youth do not have a person to person encounter with persons who survived a world war and created the most prosperous civilization of mankind. On Sunday, Nov. 27th, citizens of the tri-state area had the unique opportunity of meeting a genuine Cypriot/Greek-American war hero: Costas Athanasiades. The eighty-five year old W.W. II veteran and his wife, Maria hosted the 13th Annual Athanasiades Cultural Foundation scholarships at the Athanasiades Cultural Center at 30-98 42nd St. , Astoria , N.Y.
Prominent program speakers included: Dr. John G. Siolas, educator; Dr. Demetrios Dais, professor/writer; Dr. H. V. Vasiliades, professor/engineer; Costas Athanasiades, writer/benefactor and Christos Tzelios, the Athanasiades Cultural
Foundation, Inc. The presentation of awards was followed by a reception catered by Zenon Restaurant. Philanthropist Stavros Sitarras awarded every scholar with the prize winning book “Who Killed Homer?”
Music was played by guitarist composer Spiros Exaras. Over one hundred persons attended. The Foundation’s efforts to use their wealth to motivate college youth to learn Greek is extraordinary. A country’s wealth is in a prosperous, educated middle class. The Athansiades Foundation enhances the strength of America by promoting the learning of the Modern Greek language.
The 2005 scholarship winners are the following college students: Marina Zotou, Greta Kolezi, Ertzon Zotos of Tirana University; Christa Kotsias, Argyrokastro University; Marina Petrou, Semmelweis University; Theodore Banakos, Queensborough Community College; Michael Nevradakis, Stony Brook University; Anna Kouremenos and Eleftheria Philippousi and Anna Kouremenou, Hunter College; Tina Thampy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Georgia Stagias, New York University; Alex Magkas, Fordham University; Erasmia Banakos, Despina Galatoula, Kelly Vasilopoulou, Queens College; Christina Poulou, Quinnipiac University;Dina Maria Apostolou, Bucknell University; Maria Polydefkis, Eleni Sakkou, Leah Saxtein, Leah Halikoipoulos, Anna Giannikouris, Sofia Gianoutsos, Christina Athanasiou, Stavroula Bountouris, Maria Mitides, Alexander Arsenis, Panagiota Papamitrou of St. John’s University.
“I cut my Thanksgiving vacation in Florida to come up here and receive this honor,” said Leah Saxtein, who is from Aquebogue, long Island. She took a semester leave from St. John’s University to study Modern Greek at Anatolian College in Thessaloniki . She completed a second semester of Modern Greek at St. John’s University with an extraordinary grasp of the language.
All students expressed an admiration for this old-fashion European scholarship program. Three generations of some scholars attended, taking photos with enthusiasm. “My father was so proud of me,” said Stavroula Boundouris. “I want to personally thank Mr. and Mrs. Athanasiades for seeing the happiness on my Father’s face that I am a Modern Greek scholar. I will never forget this moment.”
Erasmia and Theodore Banakos are scholars of the same family from different colleges. Their parents were crying from joy seeing a dream come true: their children’s remembrance of their roots and elevation to a higher level of academic achievement. This is the legacy of Costas and Maria Athanasiades; to emphasize our American youth’s unique accomplishment of learning Modern Greek and keeping Hellenism alive. The smile on every student’s face lit up the entire event’s atmosphere.
Anna Giannikouris and Sophia Giannoutsos gave chocolates to their benefactors and thank you notes. “We want the Athanasiades to know how happy we are. They gave more than just a monetary award: recognition in Greek-American Society. We feel worthy and have an inner sense of pride.”
Christina Poulos, the grandchild the late Mary Damanis Mirabella and Rev. George and Pesvitera Christina Poulos of Archangels Church in Stamford Connecticut traveled long distance with her entire family. Christina is a third generation born Greek-American who said, “listening to Greek gave me such a feeling of warmth. It felt great to be in a Greek speaking environment with persons who really care about us.” Rev. George Poulos, a legendary Greek Orthodox priest/write, was so happy that he posted her achievement on the church bulletin board of Archangels Church . Christina Poulos has now set a standard of love of Hellenism that will be followed by the younger members of her family.
I have been honored by George Bush twice and Ronald Reagan,” said Costas Athanasiades, who published the newspaper “The Kampana” for over forty years. “Our Foundation gives scholarships with the hope that others will follow our example. One hundred universities have honored me with their president’s giving me the highest honors. What ever we do, we do without publicity. From the Day I came to America , I do everything from the heart for my adopted country.” The Athanasiades Foundation’s philosophy is epitomized in Percy Bysshe Shelley quotation. “We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their roots in Greece .”
Photo 1 – Scholar Christina Poulos with benefactor/philanthropist Maria Athanasiades.
Photo2 – The 13th Annual Athanasiades Foundation scholars with the members of the Foundation.
Photo 3- Costas Athanasiades (standing) describing his views on education as Dr. John G. Siolas (left to right), C, Christos Tzelios and Maria Athanasiades look on.
Photo 4– Scholar Leah Halikiopoulos (standing) with Dr. John G. Siolas, Kostas and Maria Athanasiades and Dr. H. V. Vasiliades at the reception.
Photo 5– Sophia Giannoutsos (left to right), Anna Giannikouris thanking Kostas and Maria Athanasiades for their generosity.
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