On Thursday night, AHEPA held a Grand Banquet at its 100th Annual Supreme Convention in Orlando, Florida, where it honored Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, with the 2022 Socrates Award.
Special guest speakers included US Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
In his remarks, His Eminence said, “As you celebrate and remember your first century of mission and purpose, allow me to call to mind something very special to me about AHEPA. When our spiritual fathers and mothers – who made the journey across the great ocean to this blesséd land, and were shut out, denied and even persecuted for being immigrants – AHEPA stood tall for their rights. And not only in confronting prejudice against Hellenes, but prejudice against anyone. You should take such great pride in the founding principles of this sacred brotherhood; for you uphold the traditions of what is best in Hellas, and what is best in America.” (Read Full Remarks)
Remarks were also offered by His Excellency Marios Lysiotis, Ambassador of Cyprus to the US; Her Excellency Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to the US; Jimmy Kokotas, Supreme President of AHEPA; Nicholas Karacostas, Chairman of the AHEPA Board of Trustees; Kathy Bizoukas, Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope; Carl R. Hollister, President of AHEPA Housing; Paulette Poulos, Executive Director of L100; Basil Mossaidis, Executive Director of AHEPA; Maria Ana Pantelous, Grand President of the Maids of Athena; and Timothy Noitsis, Supreme President of the Sons of Pericles.
Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent, served as the Master of Ceremonies.