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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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March 2026
Hellenic foundation honors 16 scholars
(GIF) article photo
By Dominique Speri
HSF Recipients. (Photo by Harry Barba)
Beneath the ornate ceilings and glowing chandeliers of the McGill
University Faculty Club, a profound sense of cultural pride filled the
room as the community gathered to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge and
the enduring vitality of the Greek language. The thirty-seventh annual
awards ceremony of the Hellenic Scholarships Foundation honored 16
university students, intertwining the ancient Greek ideal of excellence
with a modern commitment to preserving Hellenic heritage through higher
education. The event on February 27, 2026, brought together academic
leaders, dignitaries, and families to recognize the achievements of the
diaspora youth, underscoring the critical role of civic engagement in
maintaining cultural identity abroad.
Officials sat at a long table draped in burgundy cloth on a raised
platform, overlooking an audience deeply invested in the intellectual
future of the community. The Hellenic Scholarships Foundation was
established in 1987 by university academics of Hellenic origin together
with the student associations of McGill and Concordia Universities to
encourage students attending institutions of higher learning in the
province of Quebec. Recognizing that educational support is a vital tool
for preserving regional Greek culture for future generations, the
organization aims to inspire a healthy academic drive and create role
models who will carry forward the values of their ancestors.
The foundation operates on the core philosophy of “aristeia”, the
ancient Greek concept of excellence. Professor George Demopoulos, a
member of the academic committee, explained that the selection process
was highly rigorous, reflecting the high standards of the Greek-Canadian
student body. He stated that "whatever the Greeks have done, they have
tried to do it in the best way," adding that they always strive "to
reach excellence" and that the event was a true celebration of that
pursuit. The committee received 35 applications for the 16 available
scholarships, resulting in a 45 percent success rate. Demopoulos noted
that "it was very difficult work, because almost all the candidacies
were of equal merit," forcing the committee to apply their criteria
quite strictly with excellence as the fundamental baseline.
Doctor Evangelia Lila Amirali co-hosted the evening alongside Professor
Eva Kehayia, stepping in for her husband, foundation president Doctor
John Hadjinicolaou, who was unable to attend. Reading his prepared
remarks from the official event program, Amirali shared the extensive
history of the organization and its ongoing mission. She relayed his
message stating that "for the thirty-seventh consecutive year, the
Hellenic Scholarships Foundation devotes this special evening to the
university students of the Hellenic community of Quebec". The statement
further emphasized that the community must "celebrate those who will
hopefully be the successful pioneers of the scientific, academic and
professional world of tomorrow," serving as "able representatives,
leaders and ambassadors of the Hellenic heritage". Including this year,
the foundation has awarded 297 scholarships to 133 men and 164 women,
representing a total of 504,100 dollars distributed over the decades.
The impact of the foundation extends deeply into the personal lives of
the community, as evidenced by conversations held during the
gathering. Eleni Drakopoulou, a retired teacher, expressed her immense
pride in seeing children she once taught now standing as university
scholars. She stated that she attends the ceremony every year because
she has "the great joy and emotion to see my old students being
awarded". Drakopoulou added that "the joy and pride I feel for these
children is indescribable," noting that educators truly feel these
students are their own children. Antonia Macris, a committee member
who received a scholarship in 2020, spoke about her motivation to give
back to the organization. Macris mentioned that "it is a great honor"
to return, explaining that seeing what the foundation gave her and
other students made her want to continue to give back and do more each
year for the new candidates.
The ceremony prominently featured the personal experiences of past
recipients who have since built successful careers. Katerina Lagopati,
who received a certificate of academic excellence from the foundation in
1998 for her graduate studies in music performance, delivered a moving
keynote address. Lagopati described her return to the podium 28 years
later as a deeply emotional experience. She recalled that receiving the
award "was a validation, a public acknowledgement, a realization of my
effort, my efforts and my hard work". She urged the new recipients to
"remember your roots," stating that "Hellenism laid essential
foundations for Western civilization, creating a cosmopolitan,
interconnected world". She reminded the audience of the ancient maxim
inscribed at Delphi to know thyself, calling self-awareness the
foundation of true wisdom.
Before the formal distribution of the awards, the proceedings paused for
a musical interlude that further highlighted the cultural richness of
the evening. Pianist Janette Wolff took to the grand piano to play an
adagio by Marcello transcribed by Johann Sebastian Bach, a waltz by
Frederic Chopin, and a prelude by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Following the musical presentation, the foundation officially awarded
the scholarships to the meritorious graduates. The 16 recipients
represented a wide array of academic disciplines across universities in
the province of Quebec. The students recognized included scholars
specializing in occupational therapy, psychology, pediatrics, mechanical
engineering, and history. Polychronia Aretakis, a graduate student in
music at McGill University, received an award sponsored by the Hellenic
Community of Greater Montreal for her passion for Greek musical
traditions. Anthony Georgaros, studying history and classics, was
recognized for his research into the historical movement of the
Kollyvades and his active involvement in Byzantine music. Peter
Nikoletopoulos, a second-year medical student at McGill University,
received the Doctor Peter Varvarikos Scholarship and was recognized for
his leadership of an exploratory medical team comprising 50 volunteer
assistants. These diverse fields of study reflect the multifaceted ways
in which the diaspora youth are contributing to both Canadian society
and the preservation of Greek cultural heritage.
The financial and emotional support provided by these awards has left
lasting impressions on previous recipients, as documented in the
organization's records. Georgia-Maria Kalogirou, a previous
scholarship recipient from McGill University, stated that the award
contributed significantly to covering her tuition fees as an
international graduate student, relieving her from a great amount of
stress. Kalogirou emphasized that the foundation made her feel like
part of a huge and valuable network, making her feel that she is "part
of another family" despite being so many kilometers away from home.
Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, who received the Pink in the City scholarship,
shared that the financial support enabled her to publish her thesis
work on pediatric cancer and present at an international clinical
conference. Rahimzadeh noted that she gained lifelong friendships and
expanded her network of mentors who share her commitment to promoting
Hellenism in spheres of higher education.
Community leaders emphasized the reciprocal relationship between the
scholars and the society that supports them, urging the youth to remain
engaged with their roots. Basile Angelopoulos, the president of the
Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, addressed the students directly
with a message of civic responsibility. He expressed the immense pride
felt by the entire community, telling the students that "you are our
children," "you are our future," and "you are our hope". Angelopoulos
referenced the Athenian leader Pericles, who believed that citizens must
serve the public good. He told the students that they "have an
obligation of service to the community," explaining that "community is
me, community is you, community is all of us together". He instructed
the scholars to "have it always in your mind that this community will
always need you" and that they will have, sooner or later, the feeling
that it is time to give back.
Various organizations sponsored specific awards, demonstrating a broad
network of support across different professional sectors. Doctor
Marietta Varvarikos, president of the Hellenic Medical Association of
Quebec, presented three scholarships to medical students. She assured
the recipients that the medical association exists to be a pillar of
support for them throughout their careers. Varvarikos also honored the
legacy of past presidents, including Doctor Peter Varvarikos, describing
them as essential role models who led with a deep love for the youth.
Member of the National Assembly for Chomedey-Laval Sona Lakhoyan Olivier
and Member of Parliament Annie Koutrakis also attended the event to
present an award, praising the new generation and the exceptional
quality of the students recognized.
Amidst the celebration of academic triumph, the gathering observed a
moment of deep solemnity to honor lives lost and demonstrate
solidarity with the homeland. Kyriaki Speri, a reporter covering the
event, addressed the room and requested a minute of silence. The
audience stood in quiet reflection for the 57 victims, many of them
university students, who died in the Tempi train crash in Greece on
the same date in previous years.
After the final expressions of gratitude to the academic committee,
volunteers, and media were delivered by the hosts, the formal
proceedings concluded. The evening then moved directly into a reception,
allowing students, families, and organizers to gather and converse.
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