On Thursday, April 4^th, an event honoring our School’s Donors, Volunteers and Supporters was held in Choremi Auditorium. It was the first time that the strategies and approaches used by the School’s newly established Development Office to seek out new potential donors, both in Greece and abroad, were presented.

The evening began with speeches by the Chairman of the HAEF Board of Directors, Mr. Nikolaos Tsavliris, College President, Mr. Richard Jackson, Executive Director of the Development Office, Ms. Joann Ryding, and Deputy Director of Development, Ms. Kastalia Samoili.   In their speeches, the latter two set forth the goals and development strategies that will lead the School into a new era.  Equally, they spoke about the need to find resources so that the College will maintain its position as a pioneer:  an educational institution that implements and offers its students cutting edge teaching methodology in state of the art facilities.  At the same time, they emphasized the importance of the Scholarship Program that has given thousands of students an opportunity to study at the College from the time that it first opened its doors.

Especially moving were the speeches by two scholarship recipients who expressed their gratitude to all those who contributed to their ability to attend the College.  As they pointed out - one now a distinguished university student, the other a Junior High School student – the opportunities afforded to them have changed their lives.

The speeches were followed by a viewing of video clips of Donors giving testimonials about the motives that prompted them to give to the School.  They also emphasize the importance of contributions by the broader College community – in whatever amount, large or small, or in any other way – to support this effort.

Like every year, volunteers who devote their time, skills and resources were honored for their invaluable contribution and support of the Annual Fund Drive.  Heads of the various Committees that support the Scholarship Program, specifically: Dimitris Vamvakopoulos – President of the Alumni Committee, Margarita Koutentaki and Anna Papadimitriou-Siatopoulou – President and Vice President respectively of the Parents Committee, and Epi Douma – President of the Past Parent Committee, were given honorary plaques.

Awards to the alumni classes who collectively, most supported the Scholarship Program then followed.  On behalf of their respective classes the following Class Agents were called upon to receive trophies:  Charis Komselis and Apostolos Doxiadis for the class of 1958, Apostolos Allamanis, Giannis Papapolitis and Ninetta Vafeia, representing her husband Nikos Vafeias, for the class of 1968, Manolis Kazamias and Spyros Taliadouros for the class of 1975, Evaggelos Papandreou and Apostolos Athanasopoulos for the class of 1987γ - 1988Δ, Nikos Pinatsis for the class of 1998γ - 1999Δ, and Marina Dritsa for the class of 2007.

Last to be honored for their all-important contribution and support of the Scholarship Program were the Athens College and Psychico College Elementary - Junior High - High School student communities, as well as runners in the 36^th Authentic Athens Marathon: Nikos Skagiannis x76 who gathered the greatest number of the donors and Themistoklis Christopoulos (IB student) and Melanie Dalakoura who accumulated the greatest donation amounts.

The evening held a surprise for Advisor to the HAEF’s BoD and for many years Head of the Scholarship Program, Mr. Dimitris Karamanos, when he was given an honorary plaque for his unceasing and significant contribution to the College and to the Scholarship Program.