Announcing the AHEPA Athletics 2024 Honorees

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

For Immediate Release | September 3, 2024

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org Announcing the AHEPA Athletics 2024 Honorees

Five Inducted into Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (“AHEPA”) announced it’s 2024 AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame selectees. AHEPA is the nation’s largest and longest-tenured Greek-American Hellenic organization, demonstrating philanthropy, community service and the perpetuation of Hellenic ideals. The AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1974 and is the second oldest ethnic Hall of Fame, and now includes near 200 inductees, including athletes and leaders in the sport’s industry such as Harry Agganis, Alex Karras, Pete Sampras, Eric Karros, Steve Lappas, Bob Costas, Greg Louganis and Kurt Rambis.  The 2024 Class of the AHEPA Hellenic Athletic Hall of Fame includes: Michael Bramos, Grosse Pointe North, Michigan, was an outstanding college and professional basketball player. At Miami, Ohio University, Bramos was the Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in 2009, he graduated with 1,515 career points, 4th on the school’s career list; he thereafter had a fourteen (14) year professional career at the highest levels of European Basketball, including playing for Panthinaikos in the Greek Championship and the Euro League, and Reyer Vinezia, the winner of the Eurocup/Basketball Champion League. He was also a member of the Greek National Men’s Olympic Team during the 2011-2013 International Seasons; Paul Kostacopoulos, Middletown, Connecticut, was a highly successful college baseball coach. After four (4) years as a member of the Providence College baseball team, culminating in being named Captain his senior year in 1987, Paul commenced a three (3) decade span as a Division I Baseball Coach, with an all-time record of 1,027 wins berths versus 705 losses, with teams winning 30 plus games, 18 times; he was Head Coach at Providence College, Maine University and concluded his career at the Naval Academy, earning NCAA Tournament berth at each school.                       Leonidas “Lonie” Paxton, Corona, California, excelled as a Offensive Lineman and Long Snapper both in College at Sacramento State and over twelve (12) seasons in the National Football League; at Sacramento State, he was a four (4) year starter, and in the National Football League he was a center for both the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots; with the Patriots, he played in four (4) Super Bowls and won three (3), and was selected to the Patriots’ All-Dynasty Team; Angelo Loukas, born in Corinth, Greece, of Bannockburn, Illinois, was team captain of the Northwestern University football team as a three-letterman and All-Big-10 selection in his senior year (1969); he then played two (2) seasons with the Buffalo Bills, as an outstanding Offensive Lineman; and The late Stylianos Kyriakides, born in Cyprus, represented Greece in the marathon in the Olympics. He is best known for representing Greece in 1948 and winning the Boston Marathon in a photo finish, while advocating for the famine-ravaged Greece of Post-World War II.

HoF Inductee Michael Bramos

HoF Inductee Leonidas "Lonie" Paxton

HoF Inductee Stylianos Kyriakides

AHEPA Supreme President Savas Tsivicos lauded this outstanding Hall of Fame Class of athletes and coaches who had reached the heights of their respective sports.  Tsivicos indicated: “the Order of AHEPA honors brilliance and excellence in all fields, and in this case, athletics. These Hellenic Athletes and Sport’s contributors reached the very pinnacle of success across their respective fields, and we are honored that they are joining the pantheon of outstanding Hellenic athletes over this near half-century of recognition”. Tsivicos also noted “I tip my cap to AHEPA’s Athletic Department, led by Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves, and Gregory J. Stamos, who Chairs the Hellenic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, for its’ dedication in honoring the careers of these exceptional Hellenic athletes, coaches and contributors to the sport’s industry”.

Agganis-Galatis Award Winner George Vomvolakis with HHoF Selection Committee Chair Greg Stamos

In addition, AHEPA recognizes and honors active athletes for achievement at high school, college and professional levels of competition. The William G. Chirgotis Most Outstanding College Athlete Award is presented to Alex Giannaros, of Brockton, Massachusetts.  Alex is a rising senior with the Boston University Terriers Women’s Basketball Team; following the 2023-2024 season, Alex was selected to the first (1st) Team All-Patriot League, recognizing her 14.2 points per game and her career .453 shooting percentage, the third-highest ranking in Division 1. She approaches her senior year at Boston University with 920 career points.

The Agganis Family-Galatis Award is awarded to the Most Outstanding High School Hellenic Athlete, and this year’s honoree is George Vomvolakis, of Greenwich, Connecticut. George was a football All-State Selectee as a three (3) year varsity starter at Greenwich, Connecticut High School, and a three (3) year varsity letterman in lacrosse. He was also All-Conference for two (2) seasons and captain of the football team, and notably a member of the Greece National Lacrosse Team. George will be a scholarship running back at Stonehill College.

Harry Agganis Award recipient George Karlaftis thanks the AHEPA Family for his award

Finally, AHEPA’s premier honor, the Harry Agganis Award, is presented to the Most Outstanding Worldwide Hellenic Athlete. This year’s selectee is George Karlaftis, of West Lafayette, Indiana, who in his two (2) years in the National Football League as a pass-rushing defensive end has garnered two (2) Super Bowl rings as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. This followed a stellar collegiate career at Purdue University, where he attained All Big-10 honors, and was selected in the first (1st) round of the National Football League draft. Notably, George had previously received the William G. Chirgotis Award during his collegiate career.

2024 Scholar Athletes

The Order of AHEPA announced the recipients and selectees of the Athletic Department’s Scholar-Athlete Awards, for 2024. This year's recipients are: Thea Fleury Lacrosse Unionville, Connecticut Gerry & Jeannie Ranglas Family Scholar-Athlete Andrew S. Floros Cross Country Clarkston, Michigan Past Supreme President Franklin R. Manios Scholar-Athlete Joseph Dimitri Karnezis Soccer Joliet, Illinois Past Supreme Athletic Director Monthe Kofos Athletic Booster Scholar-Athlete Blaise Kokkales Wrestling Saline, Michigan A.Vassiliadis-Aristos Family Scholar-Athlete Katerina Kostouros Soccer Cave Creek, Arizona Gerry & Jeannie Ranglas Family Scholar-Athlete Grace Maria Moore Lacrosse Palos Verdes Estates, California Anthony Leondis Memorial Scholarship Alexandra Rivera Soccer New Rochelle, New York John Peter Vlahos High School Scholar-Athlete Vasilios Christos Tsiotos Football, Basketball, Track & Field Winthrop, Massachusetts A.Vassiliadis-Aristos Family Scholar-Athlete Nikolaos Zaharas Football & Rugby Littleton, Colorado Past Supreme President Philip T. & Tula K. Frangos Scholar-Athlete Alexander Zeppos Football & Rugby Coto de Caza, California Manchester Greats Scholar-Athlete

Vasilios Christos Tsiotos Alexandra Rivera

Grace Maria Moore Joseph Dimitri Karnezis

Nikolaos Zaharas Alexander Zeppos

Supreme President Savas Tsivicos indicated “AHEPA is proud to recognize an outstanding group of Hellenes; we congratulate all of the honorees and are thrilled that AHEPA remains at the forefront of recognizing excellence in athletic achievement. These three National Athletic Awards are the “triple-crown” of athletic achievements, honoring the Most Outstanding Hellenic Athlete at all levels, representing premier athletes across the spectrum of sports. These Greek-American athletes represent not only the stars of today, but certainly athletic prominence in years to come”.  Tsivicos also indicated “I commend AHEPA’s Athletic Department, led by Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves and Gregory J. Stamos, Chair of the National Athletic Awards, for it’s dedication in honoring our exceptional Hellenic Athletes”.

# # #

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.  AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.  For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.