AHI Supports AHEPAcademy Washington Summer Program for Second Year in a Row

WASHINGTON, DC—For the second year in a row, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) cooperated with the AHEPAcademy on June 24, 2008 to coordinate a day-long program that introduced 15 participating Greek American high school students to Washington’s diplomatic and policymaking realms. The day’s activities included a briefing at the Greek Embassy, hosted by Ambassador Alexandros Mallias, and a briefing at the Cyprus Embassy, hosted by Ambassador Andreas Kakouris. The students also attended a dinner at the Capital Hilton later that evening where Congressmen Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and Zack Space (D-OH) addressed the group.

AHEPAcademy is a program for Greek-American high school students from around the country selected from a larger pool of applicants to participate in an intensive, academic and interactive program that takes place on the campus of George Mason University outside Washington. This year’s program took place June 22-28, 2008. AHEPAcademy’s program aims to identify, educate, inspire, mentor, advance, and network exceptional Greek-American high school students as they progress through their high school, college, graduate and professional careers.

“It is our great privilege and duty to help bring these types of opportunities to young Greek Americans today so that they can become the leaders of the future,” said AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis. “AHI looks forward to ongoing opportunities such as AHEPAcademy in which we can support and promote young leaders within our community now and for many years to come.”

Graduates of AHEPAcademy are eligible for further mentoring, access to a nationwide network of internships, and participation in continuing internet-based networking and learning opportunities throughout the end of high school, college, graduate school, and beyond. AHEPAcademy provides instruction and inspiration by prominent Greek-American and Philhellene instructors from the academic, professional, and public service fields across the United States.

AHEPAcademy is sponsored by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) through its network of over 300 local Chapters across the United States. Each active AHEPA Chapter is eligible to sponsor one student for participation in this program next summer.  AHEPAcademy on Campus is conducted in cooperation with the American Hellenic Institute.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit public policy organization that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and also within the American Hellenic community. For more information, visit https://www.ahiworld.org.