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American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

july 10, 2020 AHEPA Strongly Condemns Turkish President's Conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Supreme President George G. Horiates has issued the following statement: AHEPA condemns in strongest terms the action taken today by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who formally changed the status of Hagia Sophia to a mosque following a Turkish court's decision that paved the way for him to do so.   It is unfortunate and a disappointment that Hagia Sophia has fallen victim to Turkey's domestic politics. Today's action also is an indictment of Turkey's judicial system following Erdogan’s purges and the diminished role and influence of Turkey's secular community in Turkish society under the tyranny of the Erdogan regime.    We appreciate the swift response from UNESCO. We call on the international community to hold Turkey accountable to the international bodies and conventions to which it is a signatory that stipulate Turkey's responsibilities to preserve its rich cultural and religious heritage. Hagia Sophia is the fifth instance of a former Byzantine church named "Hagia Sophia" to have been converted to a mosque during the past decade in Turkey, according to The Economist. Hagia Sophia is a gift to all humankind. Its value is universal and it must be preserved as such. # # # American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association  July 9, 2020 AHEPA National Educational Foundation Announces Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship The AHEPA National Educational Foundation, in partnership with the Mavroyannis family, is proud to continue to meet its commitment to make higher education affordable and accessible with the availability of the Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates and National Educational Foundation Chairman George Vorkas.   The Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship is open to graduate students who are either Greek or of Greek heritage and are enrolled in a PhD program in either theoretical physics or physical chemistry in the Faculty of Science at a North American university. The scholarship is in the amount of $5,000 and will be awarded in the fall semester.   Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Constantine and Mrs. Patricia Mavroyannis, this scholarship recognizes scholastic achievement and an interest and commitment to studying theoretical physics or physical chemistry by providing financial assistance to Hellenic graduate students to pursue their studies in these fields.   The purpose of the Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship is to recognize the importance of education – specifically, to reward and encourage educational achievement by Hellenes in the fields of physics and chemistry and thereby support Hellenic contribution to the global scientific community. The scholarship honors the life and accomplishments of Dr. Constantine Mavroyannis, an internationally renowned career theoretical physicist with the National Research Council of Canada, and his wife, Patricia.   Supreme President George G. Horiates stated, “We are proud to be able to partner with the Mavroyannis family and assist in providing this wonderful gift to students who qualify. For nearly 100 years, AHEPA has advocated for educational advancement by providing more than one million dollars annually in scholarships. We thank all of our members for their staunch support of education.”   Since its inception the scholarship has been awarded to eighteen recipients. Requirements to apply and application cover sheet are provided via the "Apply Now" button below. APPLY NOW! American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Tsitsipas, Chelios Headline 2020 Athletic Honorees WASHINGTON – A rising professional tennis player, a National Hockey League Hall of Famer, a standout collegiate football player, and nine scholar-athletes are among the 2020 athletic honorees of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA), announced by Supreme President George G. Horiates and Gregory J. Stamos, head of the National Athletic Awards Selection Committee.   “We are proud to recognize Hellenes who excel in their respective sports or sports industry, display excellence in the classroom, and exemplify volunteerism within their respective communities,” Horiates said. “We congratulate and applaud our honorees also for their commitment to perpetuating and promoting these ideals, which are all part of our mission.”   He added, “I commend AHEPA’s National Athletic Department, led by Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves and Gregory J. Stamos, who chairs the Athletic Awards Selection Committee, for their dedication to honoring our exceptional athletes and those in the sports industry.”   The National Athletic Awards are presented annually at the AHEPA Family Supreme Convention. Due to the cancelation of the 2020 Supreme Convention, AHEPA will arrange for their presentation at a future date and venue. Rising Tennis Pro, College Football Standout Receive National Honors Stefanos Tsitsipas, professional tennis player, is selected to be awarded the 2020 AHEPA-Harry Agganis Most Outstanding Hellenic Athlete Award. Tsitsipas, who turns 22 in August, is the youngest player ranked in the top 10 by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He holds a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world, making him the highest-ranked Greek player in history.   George Karlaftis, collegiate football player, Purdue University, is selected to receive the AHEPA William Chirgotis Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Award. As a freshman playing defensive end, Karlaftis was named First-team Associated Press Freshman All-American and Second-team All-Big Ten. In high school, Karlaftis was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today and was selected to the All-American Bowl. (Photo credit: Keith Allison/KA Sports Photos.) Five to be Inducted into the Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame The 2020 Class of the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame will include:   Chris Chelios, Evergreen Park, Ill., National Hockey League Hall of Fame member and three-time Stanley Cup champion; George John, Shoreline, Wash., professional soccer player; Eleni Rossides, Kensington, Md., tennis player and executive; Stamos (“Tom”) Mazerakis, New York, N.Y., Greek National Baseball; and Christopher Soukas (posthumously), Ioanninon, Greece, wrestling.   Chris Chelios. A 2013 member of the National Hockey League Hall of Fame, in 2017 Chelios was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Through a professional hockey career that spanned 26 years and 1,651 games with the Montreal Canadians, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers, he won three Stanley Cups, earned three Norris Trophies as the league’s top defenseman, and appeared in 11 All-Star games. Chelios was a member of four U.S. Olympic hockey teams, captaining three of them, including the 2002 Silver Medal winning team. He has been inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and was an All-American at the University of Wisconsin where he was a member of the 1983 National Championship team.   George John. A first-round draft pick of Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, John, a defender, played five seasons for the team, helping it win the 2010 Western Conference Championship and set a franchise-best goals against average of 0.93. John played collegiate soccer at the University of Washington where he was selected First Team All-PAC Ten and was an NCAA Scholar All-American. In 2008, John was named the PAC-10 Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 2010, AHEPA presented John with the AHEPA-Harry Agganis Award.   Stamos (“Tom”) Mazerakis. In 2004, Mazerakis formed the Hellenic Amateur Baseball Federation and was instrumental in Greece’s fielding a team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He has coached the Greek National team in numerous European Championship tournaments, including the 2011 Baseball World Cup; and in 2012, he organized the European World Cup Baseball Qualifier held in Athens.   Eleni Rossides. At Stanford University, Rossides was the number one player on a team that won four straight championships during her time there. As a professional singles player, Rossides ranked among the world's top 200 women. She played a vital role in bringing tennis to Washington, D.C. as the Executive Director of the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation. Rossides is a member of the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame. She follows in the footsteps of her father, the late Eugene Rossides, as a member of the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 1989).   Christopher Soukas. A 2018 member of the Wrestling Hall of Fame, Soukas was a finalist in two National AAU Wrestling titles. He won the Nationals in 1941 and came in second in 1942. Soukas was a three-time New York State Champion and a three-time YMCA National Champion. During a career that spanned more than 35 years, Soukas won more than 60 championships. He also supported amateur athletics as member of the Board of Directors of the New York Greek American Club and the German American Junior League soccer association.   The AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1974 by the late Supreme Athletic Director, Dr. Monte Kofos and now includes more than 150 inductees. Previous inductees include: Harry Agganis, Alex Karras, Milt Pappas, Pete Sampras, Eric Karros, Gene Rossides, Steve Lappas, Bob Costas, and Greg Louganis, among many others. Nine 2020 Scholar-Athletes Named Anthony Banis, Clayton, Calif., and Melina Christodoulou, Branchburg, N.J. are co-winners of the John Peter Vlahos Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is presented to outstanding high school scholar-athletes. Anthony was a member of the Varsity Crew Team at De La Salle High School, attained Academic Honors, served GOYA as an officer. He will row for the University of Washington crew team. Melina served as Student Council Vice-President at Somerville High School, earning 12 varsity letters as Captain of the tennis, swimming, and track teams. She was named the 2020 Skyland Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Melina will attend Drew University as a member of the Scholars Program and will play tennis and volleyball.   Athena Huntalas, San Diego, Calif., is the recipient of the Manchester Greats Scholarship Award. The award is presented for superior accomplishments in athletics and academics. At Del Norte High School, Athena was selected to the All-Palamar League Lacrosse team and was also a standout basketball player. Athena was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Scholar-Athlete Team. She will attend the University of California, Davis.   Matthew Macrides and Marisa Macrides, Canton, Ohio, are co-recipients of the Past Supreme President Franklin R. Manios Scholar-Athlete and Service Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, extra-curricular and community service. Matthew, a standout on the basketball, cross country and track teams in high school, completed his sophomore year at Ohio State University and attained the Dean’s List; and Marisa, a cross country and track and field standout, completed her freshman year at Ohio State University and attained the Dean’s List.   Nathaniel Martine, Zionsville, Ind., will receive the Past Supreme Athletic Director Dr. Monte N. Kofos Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is presented to an outstanding high school or collegiate athlete. Nathaniel completed his freshman year on the Indiana University nationally ranked volleyball team, with a 4.00 Dean’s List GPA. He also earned IU Founder’s Scholarship Award.   Ephemia Nicolakis, Woodbridge, Conn., is the winner of the Spanakos Brothers High School Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is endowed by Hall of Famers Petros and Nikos Spanakos and awarded for athletic and academic achievement. Ephemia excelled as a member of the Amity High School State Championship Volleyball team in 2019 and earned the Superintendent’s Student Award. She also was the Diocese’s District Oratorical Festival Awardee in 2018 and 2019. Ephemia will attend Quinnipiac University.   Anthony Rigas, Cypress, Texas, is the recipient of the Excellence in Athletics Award. The AHEPA Booster Club established the award to honor an outstanding Greek American high school athlete. At at Cy-Fair High School, Anthony was captain of and a 2019 Football Second-Team Academic All-Stater, as a 3 year varsity letterman, and a member of a State Championship Football Team. He also played water polo, track, and basketball. Anthony will attend Texas A&M University.   Emilea Zingas, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., is the recipient of the Anthony Leondis Memorial Scholarship Award. The award is presented for superior accomplishments in athletics, academics, and the advancement of the community good. Emilea earned the 2018 National Silver Medalist as a member of the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and the USFSA’s High Performance Development Team. Emilea was named to the Honor Society at Grosse Pointe South High School. She will attend Boston University. “AHEPA is grateful to each of the benefactors and sponsors of these awards, and to the Athletic Committee Boosters and its supporters, all of who have contributed to the development of this marvelous program to recognized our student-athletes,” said Horiates. Vol. 14 Issue 27 | Wednesday, July 8, 2020 AHEPA E-News Tsitsipas, Chelios Headline 2020 Athletic Honorees A rising professional tennis player, a National Hockey League Hall of Famer, a standout collegiate football player, and nine student-athletes are among the 2020 athletic honorees of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA), announced by Supreme President George G. Horiates and Gregory J. Stamos, head of the National Athletic Awards Selection Committee. “We are proud to recognize Hellenes who excel in their respective sports or sports industry, display excellence in the classroom, and exemplify volunteerism within their respective communities,” Horiates said. “We congratulate and applaud our honorees also for their commitment to perpetuating and promoting these ideals, which are all part of our mission.” Photo credit: Keith Allison/KA Sports Photos check out all our honorees Maids of Athena Celebrates 90th Anniversary Congratulations to the Maids of Athena as the organization celebrated its 90th anniversary on July 5! In 1930, Supreme Governor Thomas D. Lentgis founded the junior women's Order in Tacoma, Washington, with 12 founding members who formed Sparta Chapter 1. Chapters spread throughout the Pacific Northwest and by 1937 there were 20 chapters chartered and membership totaled 444. The Maids of Athena plans to celebrate the milestone anniversary as best as possible during the upcoming year. To learn more about the Maids of Athena and how it empowers young women to lead, serve, and advance Hellenic ideals, please visit www.maidsofathena.org. Sad News | PSG Michael Firilas Passes Away AHEPA mourns the passing of Past Supreme Governor Michael Firilas, who died June 28, 2020. He was 88. Brother Firilas was a 56-year Life Member of James Scofield Chapter 15, St. Petersburg, FL, and previously, Gust C. Kraras Chapter No. 61, Reading, Pa. "We are grateful for Brother Michael's service to his country and to our Order," Supreme President George G. Horiates said. "He will be remembered as a dedicated and upstanding Ahepan. Our deepest sympathies are with the Firilas family. May his memory be eternal." Brother Firilas' obituary AHEPA Cares and it shows: A note of gratitude for your philanthropy AHEPA prides itself on the strength of its chapters and members. With more than 400 chapters worldwide, AHEPA provides community service at the grassroots. In fact, AHEPA has been described as providing “boots on the ground” - a reference to our members and their valuable work in the communities. Working hand-in-hand with local and state community service groups, AHEPA excels at providing relief when times get tough. During this unprecedented time, the COVID-19 pandemic has AHEPA mobilized once again. Our support for the health care heroes on the front lines who are making sacrifices to attend to those infected by coronavirus is resolute. Supreme President George G. Horiates has been spearheading efforts to encourage our chapters to donate or volunteer time and energy to provide assistance. With the spirit of community service at the core of their mission, we are proud our chapters have responded superbly with safety as a priority. Ahepans are going to supermarkets (with appreciation to our grocery workers too) to buy food for those in need. They are visiting area hospitals and delivering food to the doctors and nurses who are in harm's way and to the elderly and the homeless. Ahepans are also donating blood. The AHEPA family is working together to provide assistance around the world. #AHEPACares and it shows. We salute our members for their outreach. We can take pride we are fulfilling our founding fathers' vision of a community service fraternity. Supreme President Horiates thanks the AHEPA chapters that are practicing philanthropy and for sending us inspirational photos and stories. We applaud look forward to seeing more of our Order's great works! We encourage districts and chapters to engage in philanthropic and community service acts and please submit your good works to AHEPA Global Headquarters. Please remember to do so responsibly, according to government guidance, and above all else--safely! The list (below) is what we know at the time of distributing this edition of AHEPA e-news. AHEPA’s list of chapters that are playing a significant part in the communities they serve worldwide is unmatched…and will go on… Donate to the AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund Visit our COVID-19 Resource Center Download & Distribute AHEPA Cares Flyer THANK YOU! Chapter 1 Atlanta, Ga. - Donated lunches to the first responders of Emory Decatur Hospital Chapter 3 Birmingham, Ala. – 100 meals donated to Children’s Hospital of Alabama Chapter 25 Manhattan, N.Y. – Meals donated and funds raised for ventilators Chapter 26 Philadelphia – Brother Dr. Theoklis Zaoutis is actively advising Greece's Ministry of Health on COVID-19 Chapter 40 Detroit/District 10, Michigan – $15,000 donated to Detroit-area churches Chapter 59 Canton, OH - Donated N95 masks and fed elderly in housing project Chapter 64 Harrisburg, Pa. – Brother Dr. Chronis providing medical analysis for COVID-19 and the chapter donated $1,750 to four central PA food banks to feed families in need Chapter 69 Cherry Hill, N.J. – 200 meals donated to Virtua Hospital and other area hospitals Chapter 72 Trenton, N.J. – 280-plus meals an 80 face masks delivered to three major hospitals in Central N.J. Chapter 78, Merrillville, Ind. – Donated $17,000 to charities that assist and provide relief to victims of COViD-19 Chapter 80 Worcester, MA - Donated meals to staff of Holy Trinity Nursing Center Chapter 88 Warren, OH - Donated meals to Mahoning County for Developmental Disabilities Chapter 94 Chicago, IL - Donated funds to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to feed 5000 people Chapter 95 Wilmington, DE - Donated 200 meals to the community Chapter 98 New Haven, CT - Established a relief fund Chapter 110, Norwich, Conn. – Presented a $1,000 grant to fund the Backus Hospital's Mobile Outreach Van Chapter 113 Dayton, OH - Donation of over 650 sandwiches to the House of Bread Chapter 121 Pawtucket, RI - Fundraising for COVID-19 Treatment by Dr. Thomas Walsh and supporting Pawtucket Soup Kitchen Chapter 145 Denver, CO – Donated and served meals to hundreds of first responders and homeless. Delivered thousands of face masks to the city and county of Denver Chapter 156 Canonsburg, PA. – Donated $2,000 to feed 400 area families Chapter 157 Calumet, IN – Meals, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer donated to the community's front line heroes Chapter 158, Poughkeepsie, NY – Provided lunch to first responders upon city's reopening Chapter 186 Astoria, NY - Served 150 meals and delivered another 35 meals to the community at-large Chapter 219 Phoenix, AZ – Donated N95 face masks to essential workers Chapter 250, New London, CT. – Ahepans donated and delivered meals to residents of five elderly housing communities Chapter 319 Port Jefferson, NY– Secured & donated 1,000 masks and 3,000 pairs of gloves for the community Chapter 326 Flushing, NY – Presented scholarship grants to 3 students while adhering to social distancing and guidance Chapter 408 Wilmington, NC– The board of AHEPA 408 Senior Apartments donated "Care Bags" with essential items to the residents. Face masks and thermometers donated to St. Nicholas. Chapter 445 & Sons of Pericles 290 Upper Darby, PA – Delivered food to the ER dept. at Jeanes Campus Temple U. Hospital Chapter 489 New Port Richey, FL – Donated meals to elderly residents at AHEPA 489 Apartments Chapter 500 Greenlawn, NY – Held a food drive that amassed 400 lbs of goods to benefit the area shelters Chapter 515 Radnor, PA – Donated and delivered 100s of meals for healthcare, ER & admin staff at Inova Alexandria Hospital Chapter 517 Holmdel, NJ - Donated funds to local hospital Chapter 545, Middletown, NY – Raised $2,000 to provide financial aid to families recovering from illness, donated 500 "Gyros for Heroes," and is undertaking a goods collection drive Chapter CJ-1 Toronto, ON – Implemented the Greek Easter Relief Food program, providing low-income families with a voucher to ensure everyone had access to an Easter meal Chapter 601 Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey – Donated food to Orthodox churches for Easter Chapter HJ-1 Athens, Greece – Ahepans provide support to Evangelismos Hospital Chapter HJ-3 Thessaloniki, Greece – AHEPA Hospital is treating COVID-19 patients Chapter HJ-10 Holargos, Greece - Assisted and donated items for the Police Force & Riot Gear Chapter HJ-26 Larissa, Greece – Coordinated blood donor drive with several Ahepans donating Chapter HJ-34 Corfu, Greece – Coordinated blood donor drive, donated face masks and health supplies to Corfu General Hospital and vulnerable populations Chapter HJ-38 Palio Faliro, Greece – Donated and delivered meals and necessities to a local food bank for the municipality's elderly and vulnerable Chapter HJ-41 Kalamaria, Greece – Delivered care packages of food and water to the elderly Chapter HJ-43, Nea Smyrni, Greece – Donated and delivered hygienic supplies valued at €14,000 to Leros and surrounding islands Chapter CY-1 Nicosia, Cyprus – Contributed to District 27's countrywide blood drive with hundreds of units of blood collected Chapter CY-4, Idalion, Cyprus – Donated financial aid to assist five families in need Chapter 614 Vienna, Austria - Activated a hotline for immediate response and delivered meals to the needy with local DOP Chapter. Chapter 615 Westminster, England - Supported and fed those in need affected by the pandemic Chapter 617 Frankfurt, Germany - Supplied 12 refurbished defibrillators to different areas in Greece District 10, Michigan - Donated $23,300 to 11 Michigan-area Greek Orthodox churches The Ahepan | Summer 2020 Edition Hot off the electronic press -- the Summer 2020 edition of The Ahepan! This issue features: Rising-up in response to COVID-19 The U.S. Greek Battalion of WWII Rallying support for Greece News from our senior housing program, chapters worldwide, and more! Read it here Book Announcement "Greek Orthodox Church in America: A Modern History" The AHEPA National Educational is pleased to provide the following book announcement for "Greek Orthodox Church in America: A Modern History," by Alexander Kitroeff. In this sweeping history, Kitroeff shows how the Greek Orthodox Church in America has functioned as much more than a religious institution, becoming the focal point in the lives of the country’s million-plus Greek immigrants and their descendants.  order online | download flyer The 2020 Census is happening now! Respond today! Ensure your ancestry is counted! 91.4 million Census responses have been received -- that's 62% of all the households in the country! AHEPA encourages your participation in the 2020 U.S. Census to ensure the Greek American community is accounted, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.   It is part of our civic duty to participate in the U.S. Census. It is important to do so for a couple of reasons.   First, community-based organizations such as AHEPA, rely on accurate census data to ensure that its constituency is represented properly. On a larger scale, census results will help communities receive federal funding for hospitals, schools, and emergency services. (Pictured: Thanks to our friends at the New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission for providing this flyer. Share it widely!) Question 9 about Race: When asked on the Census form to indicate your race, you can mark or check "White," and under the designation, write-in "Greek" or "Cypriot" to indicate your ethnicity/ancestry.    Census documents have arrived in the mail. People will be able to respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail. You can choose the option that works best for you.   Personal information provided on the census is kept confidential by law. Share: Hellenic Pride Census flyer | Greek glossary | Fact Sheet on Race Question | Beware of Census fraud/scams Complete the U.S. Census Online The Senate Must Act! View our Latest Action Alert Contact Senators and urge them to: Uphold American values and security interests.  Hold Turkey responsible for its actions. Urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring sanctions legislation to the Senate Floor. The House acted. Now the Senate must. Contact the US Senate Today! Take Action: Learn More!