With the award of diplomas to the participants by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the work of the 10th International Summer University “Greek Language, Culture and Media” on the dissemination and teaching of the Greek language in America was successfully concluded.
The event was held at the Maliotis Cultural Center of the Hellenic College – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston from May 28 to June 2, 2024. The program was co-organized by the University of Ioannina (School of Education, Department of Early Childhood Education, Laboratory for the Study of Social Issues, Media and Education), the Maliotis Cultural Center, and AHEPA, under the auspices and with the support of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad & Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.
The 10th International Summer University was endorsed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Department of Greek Education), the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Department of Greek Education), the Boston University Philhellenes, the University of Chicago – Center for Hellenic Studies, the Setor de Grego, the Instituto de Letras, the Rio De Janeiro University, the academic program Study in Greece, and the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum.
During the diploma award ceremony, greetings were addressed by Dr. Nikoletta Tsitsanoudi-Mallidi, founder and scientific coordinator of the program, and Chrysoula Kourkounti, executive director of the Maliotis Cultural Center, who congratulated the attendees and thanked the distinguished speakers. Special mention was made of Ambassador Simeon Tegos, Head of the Consulate General of Greece in Boston, who received the participants at the Consulate General, and Dr. Anna Batistatou, Rector of the University of Ioannina and professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, who honored the program with her presence and participation. Acknowledgments were also given to Dr. Dimitrios Katos, President of Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, who continuously attended the work of the program and the various evening events, and to former President Mr. George Kantonis, during whose term of office Maliotis was reopened and reformed, and the holding of the summer university on its premises was approved. Special thanks were extended to Mr. Savvas Tsivikos, Supreme President of AHEPA, who generously supported the program financially, and Mr. Drakoulis Behrakis, former head of the advisory committee of Maliotis, who received the participants in the Behrakis wing of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
The support team of the program, including executives of the Maliotis Cultural Center and scientific associates of the University of Ioannina, were also recognized, along with Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, Director of the Department of Greek Education of the Holy Archdiocese, who accompanied Archbishop Elpidophoros of America during the completion ceremony.
During the 10th International Summer University, distinguished speakers, university professors, educators, journalists, artists, intellectuals, and politicians reported in detail, discussed, submitted findings, concerns, and proposals on various issues related to the teaching of the Greek language and culture, with emphasis on their dissemination to Greeks of the diaspora and philhellenes outside Greece.
The topics, which had theoretical and practical dimensions, touched on issues such as multiculturalism, the use of technology, the contribution of the media, poetry, theater, and sketching. Teachers of Greek schools also shared their insights. Video greetings were addressed by Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Mr. George Kotsiras, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Prokopios Pavlopoulos, former President of the Hellenic Republic, Honorary Professor at the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Full Member of the Academy of Athens.
Source and photos: Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross
