Hellenic American Project

HAP EVENT: Honoring Women’s History Month

SUNDAY MARCH 8th, 1pm
https://www.anamniseis.net/alliotiki-kai-epikeri-giorti-ginekas-sto-whitestone/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRbvyJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMSEhkVzR1b2dkVGN1cHoxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuDwLDyFQ7nNJAKqQfxY3VqLafWz0FonNG03O4xUHVMLTKGewTNwfy79Uzm4_aem_TjgaeYRfNQ216E9ixIFY-A

20 YEARS OF CONNECTING CUNY STUDENTS AND GREECE

For more than two decades, the City University of New York (CUNY) Study Abroad Program to Greece—organized by Queens College and led by Professor Nicholas Alexiou of the Department of Sociology and Founding Director of the Hellenic American Project, has built a living bridge between New York and Greece, uniting history, culture, and education. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the program continues to bring hundreds of students closer to their roots and to the broader human story told through Greek civilization.
The Winter 2026 session carried special meaning, with visits to three emblematic cities—Athens, Chalkis, and Sparta, each revealing unique dimensions of the Greek experience.
In Athens, students were welcomed by the Acropolis Museum, where archaeologist Maria Andreopoulou offered an unforgettable tour through ancient treasures and living history. Under her guidance, the past came alive—the colors, stories, and humanity behind the marbles of the Parthenon. The visit reached new significance thanks to the generous support of Mr. Antonis Diamataris, President of the Acropolis Museum, whose sponsorship of the tour symbolized the deep ties between Greece and the Greek diaspora. His gesture stood as a model of cultural diplomacy and faith in public higher education—connecting heritage with the aspirations of new generations.
Students also traveled to the archaeological site of Eleusis, the 2023 European Cultural Capital, where they walked the Sacred Way and learned about the ancient Mysteries of Persephone and Demeter, exploring the philosophical roots that still shape our modern understanding of life, death, and renewal.
In Chalkis, the group experienced Theofania—the Blessing of the Waters—where young divers plunged into icy sea currents to retrieve the cross in a dramatic ritual of faith. They were welcomed by Mayor Elena Vaka, who hosted them at City Hall, sharing the city’s unique history and its famous tidal phenomenon, the Euripus Strait.
The journey concluded in Sparta, where the students met a remarkable member of the Greek-American community, Mr. Stathis Valiotis, philanthropist and founder of Sparta Gourmet. A proud native of Sparta, Mr. Valiotis arranged the visit, personally guiding students through his olive oil production facilities—a living link between ancient agricultural traditions and modern sustainability. The Mayor of Sparta, Mr. Michael Vakalopoulos, welcomed the group and presented them with books and materials about local heritage.
Reflecting on the program’s mission, Professor Alexiou, poet, sociologist, and founder of the Hellenic American Project, emphasized: “Our goal has always been for students to experience Greece as a living, breathing society. History isn’t abstract—it’s alive in daily life, in art, and in people’s stories.”
The combined efforts of all those involved—Mr. Diamataris and Ms. Andreopoulou at the Acropolis Museum, Mr. Valiotis in Sparta, and the local leaders of Chalkis—show the strength of partnership between Greece and the diaspora. They demonstrate how education, culture, and generosity can unite communities across continents.
Two decades later, the Queens College CUNY Study Abroad Program to Greece remains more than a class—it is an education in history, identity, and connection. Through it, a new generation of students becomes true ambassadors of Greek culture and global citizenship.
https://www.anamniseis.net/se-athina-halkida-kai-sparti-oi-fitites-tou-cunny/

https://www.ekirikas.com/eikosi-chronia-istorias-foitites-tou-cuny/