The Organization of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in collaboration with the Summer Music Performance Program at ACT / A Division of Anatolia College and the MOYSA Orchestra present on Friday, July 1^st the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell (1659-1695) in a modern edition- 1940's Hollywood glamour.

Conductor Thodoris Papadimitriou

Direction/Coordination: Kent Smith, Sets/Costumes: Kent Smith

Preparation: Dr. Brandt Fredriksen (piano) 

Participating:
Dido - Kaitlyn Barnes
Aeneas - Daniel Chiu
Belinda - Alexa-Marie Fini and Despoina Andranioti
Sorceress - Shay Downey
1^st Witch - Alyssa DeLessio and Jillian Prakelt
2^nd Witch - Lauren Leonardi and Anya Bulchandani
2^nd Woman - Nyssa Welshans
Spirit - Christie Kim
1^st Sailor - Angelos Markou

Choir:
Vassilis Sapounidis
Angelos Markou
Despoina Andranioti
Natasa Molliou
Lambrini Manou
Ilektra Manousi

MOYSA – Youth Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki Concert Hall

Participating:
Harpsichord: Athanasios Papaisiou

 In an age of growing political polarization, the Dukakis Center closed the gap between the two partisan poles in American political life, if only symbolically, if only for one night. The occasion was the most recent episode this past Friday, June 17, of Dukakis Center Live on Anixneusis Web TV. Host David Wisner, Executive Director of the Dukakis Center at ACT, welcomed General Mark Welsh, former Air Force Chief of Staff and current Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, for a wide-ranging discussion of the state of public service at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

 Mark Welsh has studied at US Air Force Academy, National War College, MIT, and Harvard Business School, among others, and has received numerous awards and decorations. He is a former Joint Chiefs of Staff member, and has served at NATO and the CIA.

The exchange between senior administrators of academic institutions named after the two opponents in the 1988 US Presidential election, Michael S. Dukakis and George H.W. Bush, the eventual victor, ranged from military and government service to volunteerism and public service in the university curriculum.

Welsh and Wisner traded anecdotes on the lives and careers of the namesakes of their two programs and reflected on the increased internationalization of public service training. Indeed, both speakers noted the appeal of public service programming among international students attending an American institution at home or abroad. Throughout, Dean Welsh exuded a resolute sense of optimism in the appeal of service-based endeavor among young people attending American universities, noting that some three-quarters or more of graduates of the Bush school go on to careers in the public sector. Wisner offered similar testing data, highlighting the political awareness and public engagement of ACT students and alumni.

Dr. Wisner said, "Hosting General Welsh in this session was among the most satisfying things I have ever done while directing the Dukakis Center. My principal takeaway: a public service ethos is alive and well on American university campuses. This is the heartbeat of democracy in America. Meaningful opportunities exist for young people in public service, both across the United States and worldwide."

This was the penultimate episode of Dukakis Center Live for the 2021-22 academic year at ACT. The finale will take place on Friday, July 1, at 7 PM, and will feature Jenifer Neils, outgoing Director of the American School of Classical Studies, and Scott Sprenger, President of the American University of Rome. Join us to discuss "Americans Abroad: Soft Power in the Twenty-First Century."

Video is available on the YouTube channel of Anixneusis Web TV.  

 In an age of growing political polarization, the Dukakis Center closed the gap between the two partisan poles in American political life, if only symbolically, if only for one night. The occasion was the most recent episode this past Friday, June 17, of Dukakis Center Live on Anixneusis Web TV. Host David Wisner, Executive Director of the Dukakis Center at ACT, welcomed General Mark Welsh, former Air Force Chief of Staff and current Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, for a wide-ranging discussion of the state of public service at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

 Mark Welsh has studied at US Air Force Academy, National War College, MIT, and Harvard Business School, among others, and has received numerous awards and decorations. He is a former Joint Chiefs of Staff member, and has served at NATO and the CIA.

The exchange between senior administrators of academic institutions named after the two opponents in the 1988 US Presidential election, Michael S. Dukakis and George H.W. Bush, the eventual victor, ranged from military and government service to volunteerism and public service in the university curriculum.

Welsh and Wisner traded anecdotes on the lives and careers of the namesakes of their two programs and reflected on the increased internationalization of public service training. Indeed, both speakers noted the appeal of public service programming among international students attending an American institution at home or abroad. Throughout, Dean Welsh exuded a resolute sense of optimism in the appeal of service-based endeavor among young people attending American universities, noting that some three-quarters or more of graduates of the Bush school go on to careers in the public sector. Wisner offered similar testing data, highlighting the political awareness and public engagement of ACT students and alumni.

Dr. Wisner said, "Hosting General Welsh in this session was among the most satisfying things I have ever done while directing the Dukakis Center. My principal takeaway: a public service ethos is alive and well on American university campuses. This is the heartbeat of democracy in America. Meaningful opportunities exist for young people in public service, both across the United States and worldwide."

This was the penultimate episode of Dukakis Center Live for the 2021-22 academic year at ACT. The finale will take place on Friday, July 1, at 7 PM, and will feature Jenifer Neils, outgoing Director of the American School of Classical Studies, and Scott Sprenger, President of the American University of Rome. Join us to discuss "Americans Abroad: Soft Power in the Twenty-First Century."

Video is available on the YouTube channel of Anixneusis Web TV.  

On June 15th, ACT bade farewell and congratulated the Class of 2022. The Commencement Ceremony took place at the closed gym of Anatolia High School. The event marked the successful completion of a demanding academic period that led the class of 2022 to degrees, academic awards, and distinctions for outstanding performance in extracurricular activities.

Dr. Stamos Karamouzis, ACT Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, underlined the institution's mission and its contribution to society by instilling in students democratic and civic awareness, a sense of individual and social responsibility, a spirit of esteem for others, social institutions, and the environment. Dr. Karamouzis also conveyed his gratitude to parents, family members, and faculty members for the graduating class's achievement.  

This year's keynote speaker was Thomas Tsotsos, Senior Director of Global Retail Transformation & Channel initiatives at adidas and ACT Class of '01 alumnus. After graduating from ACT with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Thomas started working at Tchibo, a German chain of coffee retailers and cafés known for its weekly-changing range of products, including clothing, household items, electronics, and electrical appliances. In 2004 he assumed the position of Senior Planning Manager at adidas Germany and is currently responsible for the company's global retail transformation and channel initiatives. In addition, he received executive education in Finance from the London Business School and Leading through Influence from Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School. The speaker was introduced to the audience by Markos Papageorgiou, an Anatolia College's Board of Trustees member and chair of the ACT Oversight Committee. During his inspiring and encouraging speech, Mr. Tsotsos pointed out that "ACT education has been a catalyst in my life and helped me navigate the change." His experience made him realize that "looking back, what prepared best for the few, big moments of opportunity that mattered, were positive outlook, and a bias towards action." His advice to the graduates was to believe in themselves, define what they want, keep moving forward, and grow by helping others grow.  

The ceremony proceeded with the awards and distinction. This year's Teaching Excellence Award recipient was Dr. Serap Ayşe Kayatekin, Professor of Economics and Social Science in the Division of Humanities and Social Studies. Anatolia College President Dr. Panos Vlachos presented the award, acknowledging her contribution to ACT's strategic direction and objectives.

 

Markos Papageorgiou, Marianna Rassidaki – Kyriakidou, Dr. Aimiliza Stefanidou, Coordinator, BS in Psychology & MS in I/O Psychology 

The valedictorian for the Undergraduate Class of 2022 was Marianna Rassidaki – Kyriakidou, who earned a 3.99-grade point average and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

The valedictorian for the graduate MBA class of 2022 is Angeliki Athanasiou, with a 3.97-grade point average in the Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Dr. Maria Kyriakidou, Head of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Anton Daniel Podovinikoff graduated with the highest GPA in Political Science and IR and received the William McGrew Award for Excellence in International Relations from Markos Papageorgiou.

The valedictorian Marianna Rasidaki Kyriakidou also received the Alki Kyriakidou-Nestoros memorial prize for excellence in Liberal Arts for 2022 for getting the highest grade point average within the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences and for her participation in extracurricular activities.

Emmanuel Maou, Head of Division of Science and Tecnhology,  Danjela Lura, M;arkos Papageorgiou.

This year the Stavros Niarchos Award for Excellence in Computing was presented to Danjela Lura, a student with strong technical background and passion for programming. 

Sonja Canco received the Elizabeth Yfantis Demeter Award for Excellence in Business Administration which is presented to the most academically proficient female graduating student of the Business School.

Stepan Partemian, Coordinator of Athletic and Student Activities, Ioannis Matsinas, Thomas Tsotsos.

Ioannis Matsinas, the ACT basketball team MVP and best dressed Sparrowhawk, and the basketball MVP, received the Athletic Award.

ACT Professor Dr. Nikolaos Dimitriadis was accepted by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Monday, May 23rd. Nikolaos Dimitriadis was recently elected President of the Centre of Ecumenical, Missiological and Environmental Studies "Metropolitan Panteleimon Papageorgiou" (CEMES). The Center is a non for a profit research center that aims to provide scientific research services, studies, conferences, and publications promoting and theologically establishing all the Εcumenical, Inter-Christian, and Inter-Faith Dialogues. During the one-hour meeting, His All-Holiness offered His heartfelt wishes to the newly elected President of CEMES for a fruitful tenure. Furthermore, Nikolaos Dimitriadis gave to His All Holiness the volume, dedicated for the thirty years of his gracious ministry, of the proceedings of the inter-Christian series of scientific conferences under the title «For the Unity of the One Church of Christ» in a special publication curated by himself, the Honorary President of CEMES and Professor Emeritus Petros Vasileiadis and Aikaterini Drossia, Ph.D. 

Nikolaos Dimitriadis had the opportunity to present to His All Holiness the recent activities and programs developed by CEMES, such as the initiatives focused on Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Reconciliation Project, and the EU-funded program PROSECUW - Protection and Security for Places of Worship (See more here: https://prosecuwproject.eu).

Before he visited Constantinople, on April 29th, Dr. Dimitriadis delivered a speech under the theme of 'NON-VIOLENCE' at a peace event titled "The Marathon of Peace and Harmony." A few days later, on May 1st, Dr. Dimitriadis was invited as a faculty member at The Fletcher School (Tufts University) to teach at the Program Faith-Based Leadership in a Turbulent World, which took place from May 2nd - May 6th, 2022, in Athens. The Office of Executive Education and the Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, in collaboration with the Foreign Affairs Institute of Athens and with generous support from the U.S. Embassy in Greece, hosted a leadership program for a diverse, multinational cohort of clergy and lay leaders belonging to the Orthodox Church of Greece, the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, including hierarchs, clergy, and lay experts from diverse professional contexts.

On June 10th Dr. Dimitriadis had the privilege to present his ecological views and moderate a session in the historical Theological School of Halki for the Halki Summit V entitled "Sustaining the Future of the Planet Together." Halki Summit V was an international and interdisciplinary conference co-organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Sophia University Institute, inspired by the prophetic magisterium of Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis. 

On May 13, 2022, ACT, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and its Psychology programs organized the first Positive Psychology event led by the guest speaker Dr. Anastasios Stalikas, Professor at the Psychology Dept., Panteion University as well as founder and President of Hellenic Society for Positive Psychology.

Through his interactive and compelling presentation, Dr. Stalikas explored the determinants of a happy and fulfilling life. The audience had the opportunity to learn about several misconceptions regarding happiness and about relevant research in the field pointing at ways through which people can positively transform their lives. Dr. Stalikas is an esteemed positive psychology expert, author, and speaker. The event was fun and stimulating and the attendees felt the impact of the presentation on many aspects of their lives.

Dr. Aimiliza Stefanidou, Associate Professor of Psychology, Dr. Stamos Karamouzis, ACT Provost, Dr. Anastasios Stalikas, Professor at the Psychology Dept., Panteion University, founder and President of Hellenic Society for Positive Psychology, Dr. Maria Kyriakidou, Chair, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Before the event, Dr. Stalikas gave an interview with ERT3. You can watch the interview here.