Owlcast 71 - The 2023 Gala Edition

[00:00:09] Speaker A: This is the owlcast, the official podcast of ACS Athens. Listen to the exciting story of the American community Schools of Athens. Check out what drives all the members of our international community of learners as we create the education of the future. Here's John Papadakis. [00:00:42] Speaker B: Welcome to a special edition of the Owlcast. If you missed the 2023 GalA and Alumni Awards event last Saturday, this is your chance to listen to what transpired. Hosted at the iconic Grand Britann Hotel Located at the center of Athens, this year's gala marked the 70 eigth anniversary of the founding of ACS AThens, a celebration of the spirit of the school, the coming together of its entire body, students, parents, teachers and administrators joined by ACS Athens alumni reminded everyone what a colorful, diverse and strong this community has been forged to be through the years. The third Alumni Awards also took place, embracing the unique spirit of its graduates around the world who have made or still making a difference in their community and serve as a continuous inspiration to everyone who dedicate their life's work to children's education and global citizenship. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed to Dr. Fotinipazarges, whose family history is intertwined with the history of the school. The Young Leadership Award was given posthumously to Tamur Balba, whose recent untimely passing and his mother's acceptance of the award added a solemn note to the cheerful atmosphere. Student volunteers were throughout the evening ever present, assisting tirelessly talking to the guests, passing gifts, and bringing the happiest of notes to the evening's mood. An area next to the main ballroom hosted the silent auction of donated articles, gifts and artifacts, while guests spoke to the camera next door of their experience with the school and that night's event. [00:02:38] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to the 2023 American Community Schools of Athens Gala and Global Alumni Achievement Awards. Today we honor the recipients of the Alumni Global Achievement Awards while also celebrating the 70 eigth anniversary and legacy of the American community. Schools of Athens excellence in education. But truly, what does make ACS so special? I think we all know there is something very special about this school. For me, it's a sense of belonging and community. The teachers are warm, the students are very bright and ACS Athens is an international school established in 1945. The curriculum is that of the United States general academics. It houses over 60 nationalities. Imagine that all these ideas and mindsets together under one roof in this wonderful community. This year's proceeds are going to the renovation of the science lab. The labs are being upgraded to a state of the art laboratories which are going to help students have hands on experience and put theory into practice in order to keep up with the new generation science standard curriculum. Science is very important for the students at these young ages because it grants them the opportunities to develop their skills in communication, collaboration and critical thinking. Equipping our lab with further resources will grant us educators the opportunities to promote creativity and higher order thinking in our young students. We are seeing if the light from the flashlight goes through the piece of paper. Very nice. [00:04:45] Speaker C: As Richard Feynman once said, I love science for the joy of finding things out, things that are out there, evident all around us, but at the same time hidden, begging us, challenging us to study them, to find them, to understand them, because when you understand something, it makes your fears go away. Labs are very good for kids because some people just like to learn in different ways, and the lab provides a new aspect of learning and it makes people excited to learn more about science. I feel like learning in the lab is extremely important for students like us because these days we've adjusted a lot to sitting on our desks and looking at screens all day, taking notes. The philosophy of ACS Athens is to provide our students this generation the skills that they need to develop themselves and to help them explore and understand what they're really good at doing. Labs really helps me learn new things. Like without labs, I don't think I'd learn nearly as much. [00:05:50] Speaker A: Through this lab, we will get a better understanding of the upcoming material. Personally, I remember better the material and understand it more thoroughly with hands on work, interactive and fun, and can help us make connections to real life. This lab will connect us too, not only for learning, but also in friendship. [00:06:11] Speaker C: I love science because it allows me to explore what everything is made of and how it works, from the origin of the universe to intelligent life. Science is important at ACS Athens because our students can use the knowledge, skills and mindsets to transition from theory to real world impact. [00:06:29] Speaker A: Science helps you know more about the world, many things about Earth and how it works, everything. In school you need science or math, so it's all together. Imagine and create new stuff. It's really interesting, and when you get older, you can use these stuff to your advantages. They learn how to search for truth and then verify it, which in our world today, I think that's a great skill and also to stretch their minds into seeing how the scientific method works and how science develops. [00:07:02] Speaker C: The best way to discover the world around us is through science, and not only discovering the world, but also expanding our perception, expanding our imagination. I believe in a holistic approach to education. And that holistic approach includes hands on experiences, getting in the science lab, seeing the actual chemical reactions, instead of just reading them in a textbook so we. [00:07:29] Speaker A: Can discover things, we are ready to enter the world. Sometimes you may need it to figure out what happens if you mix water with baking powder. If you didn't know that, you could have, like an emergency. [00:07:44] Speaker C: These are the experiences that spark the imagination and the inspiration to our future scientists and our future leaders. And all these lead to a better education, and better educated individuals will lead to better educated leaders. And that's what we all want for our future generations. [00:08:08] Speaker A: Well, the importance of science is really more than I can explain. And a lab is basically kind of like the Church of science. Not only does it teach us how to know things that we need in the basic life, it also helps us know things that we need to en masse, and even social studies about planets, about chemicals. [00:08:32] Speaker C: Also in figuring things out, our strengths are going to become more visible and more evident. And how we can play a role in this world will also be more apparent. [00:08:47] Speaker A: Knowledge fun instead of reading into textbooks and it's really interesting and it's like my favorite part of the day. Science is important for international education because first of all, it promotes innovation and at the same time cultivates curiosity and research skills to our students so that they can make informed decisions about life on Earth. In addition, science also encourages critical thinking for our students so that they become truly educated and can ask meaningful and responsible questions. As citizens of this world, you're actually exploring things from yourself instead of reading it from something helps you with basic thinking, like in life in the future. It helps you at your everyday life. You get to be with your friends and try out new fun experiments, which I really like. And we don't have to work all the time. Let's give them the tools to make science even better and bring it to the next level. [00:09:53] Speaker C: We're counting on the support of all the AC Savage community in bringing science to the next level. [00:10:09] Speaker B: This is the 2023 Gala edition of the Outcast and its audio Account of that evening, edited for content. Here is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of ACS Athens, Mr. Timananiatis. [00:10:27] Speaker C: On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to welcome you and thank you for joining us for this special event celebrating the legacy of ACS Athens and looking towards the future of ACS Athens. Securing the future and the legacy of ACS Athens is a priority for our board, and I can tell you that we're working very hard on that. Our alumni is an important part of our school's future as they continue carrying the legacy of ACS Athletes throughout the school, throughout the world and throughout their careers. I have to tell you a personal experience that over the years I've met a lot of the alumni throughout the world and there is a common thread between them. Every time we talk about the school, there is a smile and there is a fondness about the years that has been in school, and that means a lot for the school and what it means for them and what is done for them. It will be a wonderful evening. Thank you very much for coming and honoring us with our presence. A lot of you are here with the school for a lot of years and thank you for trusting the school with the future of your children. Thank you very much. [00:11:52] Speaker B: The President of ACS Athens, Dr. Peggy Pelones, offered her remarks to the guests. [00:11:58] Speaker A: It's a privilege and a joy to stand before you tonight as we gather for this wonderful gala. We come together not only to acknowledge the achievements of our students and alumni, but to reaffirm our commitment to nurturing hope, instilling belief in a better world and empowering our young minds to shape the future. No doubt, we live in a period of unprecedented challenges, literally on a tipping point of everything that we used to take for granted. From the fragility of institutions that defined our lives for centuries, including democracy and the rule of law, to climate crisis, and to a world full of human suffering from prevailing multilayered economic crisis and the new pandemic of mental stress, to wars and conflicts in various corners of our planet and not too far away from our homes. A world that, instead of becoming more inclusive and united, often seems to be more exclusive and divided. The challenges in our daily lives are multilayered and lightning fast. And more often than not these days, we find ourselves in deep, unchartered waters. So in this world that set by challenges, it is vital that we, as educators and parents, take up the mantle of responsibility. We must be the beacons of inspiration and support for our students in school, because our students are not just the recipients of knowledge, they are the architects of the future. They must believe in their ability, their power and the potential to make things happen. It's easy to get caught up in the daily routines and demands of education. But we must remember that our mission goes beyond preparing students for universities and careers. We're here to imbue them with hope, to fuel their belief in a world where positive change is possible, where everyone belongs, and to assure them that they have a say in shaping that kind of world in such challenging times, we must master our abilities, skills and talents, and collective effort in ways like we've never done before. As such, we at ACS Athens believe that providing tomorrow's leaders, tomorrow's employees, tomorrow's entrepreneurs, civil servants, politicians, educators and tomorrow's parents, not only with the skills that the new business and societal arena dictates, but also with the values, the principles and the ethical code that is so necessary in our times. ACS Athens, from our magnificent little haven in Halondri, continues to move forward. We aim to continue to inspire a mindset that synthesizes creative solutions to current, seemingly unsolvable problems, to propel forward new ideas through the achievements and examples of our students, our graduates and our fabulous alumni. Through innovative programs. We work with other institutions from educational circles and collaborate with companies, NGOs and world organizations. And we believe that we will empower others to raise the level of public debate and set forth new opportunities for us. Everyone has the potential and can become a leader in anything that they dream of doing and anything their talents would guide them to do. Through our initiatives and our programs, those actions that will allow our kids to look far beyond what dominates their social platforms. In their everyday lives, we must make them see further than today's discouraging images. We must help them believe in all those things that they can accomplish, because they can, and because it's our duty, our profound duty, to guide them to become what they wish. People with strong psychological muscle who can achieve what they envision to help them become conscious global citizens aiming to improve life and living on the planet in order to live fulfilling lives. So let's celebrate this evening with a profound sense of purpose as we applaud the accomplishments of our students and our alumni. Let us also recommit ourselves to the noble task of fostering hope, nurturing belief, and empowering the next generation to create a world that is not just better, but that it's the best that it can be. Thank you very much. [00:18:13] Speaker B: The US Ambassador to Greece, George Chunis, talked about his appreciation for educators. [00:18:21] Speaker D: I'm comforted in the fact that at ACS we take the responsibility of educating the whole child, heart and mind in a way that they are going to be passionate and purposeful in their lives. So I thank you and I thank all the educators for this noble endeavor. You all have the most important jobs in the world. You promote self esteem and confidence. You inspire curiosity and connection. You encourage creativity and launch our children as they navigate an ever more complex world. You educate in a way that is values based in addition to academic excellence. This is more than a school. It's a microcosm of values that are fundamental to Greece and fundamental to the Greek American pillar of education. Our ethos, our Philotimo, drives all of us to ensure that our children, and children of all abilities, receive a fantastic education. Promoting inclusive education is not just the right thing to do, it's the economically smart thing to do. Differences and disabilities, however slight or however vast, they come in many different forms. And it may surprise you to learn that one in five people is a person with a disability. We must invest. We must invest in inclusion. And we must start early. We must start in the classroom. We need to integrate all people, all talents and all abilities to build healthier, more prosperous society for our children and our grandchildren. We further need to embrace our overarching mission, to do the collective work, to do our part to repair the world, one person, one situation at a time. To choose love. To choose inclusion, opportunities and possibilities for all. Compassion, equality, dignity. To choose community. Kindness, integrity, honesty, respect for all. To choose justice for all. To choose facts. To choose peace. The planet. To choose humanity. To choose ACs. To choose love. Thank you, ACs, for your invaluable contributions to the American community here, to my embassy community, as we entrust you to take care of and to nurture our most valuable possession, our children. It is times like this that we step back and see what is most important in this world. And I am grateful that this community is led by Peggy and Tim, an outstanding board, an outstanding faculty and supporters. Like all of you who took time today to take the responsibility to support the school, my president once said, don't tell me what your values are. Show me where you put your time in and I will tell you what your values are. Ohi Lawyer but Erga Kesimirospodo Yasas Kesavco SeF Caristo Parapoli. [00:22:24] Speaker B: Guest speaker and ACS alum, Dr. Gregory Patakos. [00:22:28] Speaker E: It's my privilege and honor to be here with you today as we gather to celebrate learning, to celebrate science, and to celebrate the men and women who have nurtured within us and within our children, the love of learning. It seems not that long ago that I myself was learning chemistry from Ms. Dodoly, Biology for Mr. Sabiro, and loving Physics. As explained by our much beloved Dr. Tsokos. This knowledge, but more importantly, this love of learning, provided me an unobstructed path towards success. When I left Athens to continue on my journey towards becoming a cardiac surgeon in the United States, I would brave the cold weather of Boston, the demanding surgeon scientists of Washington, DC, and the world renowned heart researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, aided by all that had been instilled in me during my days at ACS. Two days ago, at a restaurant about a block from here, I sat to dine with the president of the American College of Cardiology, who is in town for a cardiology conference. We discussed our life's journeys, and we both came to the conclusion that an early love of science and understanding of science were crucial to our development as academic physicians, children and young adults grow to love subjects taught by teachers with a passion. When Dr. Sokos took us outside the classroom to discuss physics in the outdoor amphitheater on a warm spring day, he likely did not realize that he would be hearing about it 25 years later. But these repetitive daily acts that all teachers perform slowly chisel the marble of their students future personalities. The past few years have placed a new spotlight on the utility of science and on the dire need for the development of science to save the human race. The COVID pandemic turned scientists and researchers into rock stars, with the whole world following their every move and waiting on their every word. Through daily press briefings, we realized that a microscopic virus threatened our existence on this planet. From an ancient era when the largest and strongest creature dominated the playing field, we transitioned into a species whose existence depended on its understanding of DNA, RNA, and mRNA vaccines. And those of us who label ourselves as science lovers watch with anticipation every October as the Noble Prizes are announced, prizes established to honor those whose work provides benefit to all of humanity. Stated simply, science is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained. Thus, evidence derived from experimentation drives the acquisition of new knowledge. This is the exact reason why I received great joy when I learned of the upgrade that the ACS Science Laboratories are receiving to ensure that the excellence in science that has characterized ACS since the days of black and white yearbooks will continue well into the future. Friends of ACS who have made this possible, we all thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to the global progress that will be made by students educated in these laboratories. I wish you all a fantastic evening, and it has been my honor and my pleasure to speak to you and to be here with you tonight. Thank you very much. [00:26:28] Speaker B: Three ACS Athens students performed songs from the great American Song book during the evening's musical interlude. [00:26:43] Speaker A: Don't tell me not to just stay in fear Life's candy and the sun's a fall apart don't bring around a cloud terrain on my parade don't tell me not to fly every single two. If someone takes us Bill, it's me and not you. Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade? I'm watching my band out, I'm beating my drum and if I band out your turn at bad sir. At least I didn't fake it hot sir. I guess I didn't make a shine of a thousand spotlights. All the stars we steal from the night sky will never be enough, never be enough. Powers of hope are still too little because could hold the world but it'll never be enough, never be enough. Believe you never, never for me, for me, never know my heart, you know memory. [00:28:58] Speaker B: The final act of the evening was the Alumni Achievement Awards. First, the Young Leadership Award to Tamur Balba, as it was introduced by Dr. Peggy Pelones. The award was accepted by Mrs. Cara, Tamur's mother. [00:29:13] Speaker A: Tamur Balba was an award winning architect and was recognized as one of Canada's emerging voices in architecture. His body of work included a range of complex community, mixed use and residential projects, as well as workplaces, cultural and educational buildings and places of worship. In 2005, he was the commencement speaker at ACS Athens. And I happen to have a copy of his speech and would like to quote just a few lines from that which and that will give you an idea of the kind of human being that Tamur Belba was. He said. Many of my teachers and administrators whom I will always look up to, are here. No doubt they're proud of seeing off yet another group of conscientious and creative young adults. All of these people are living proof that ACS has never really ended for me and never will. When I left ACS, I struggled with my decision of what to study at university. I truly believe that this was the result of the education I received at ACS. I left here interested in so many things. So I studied architecture, which seems like something that could accommodate both the arts and the sciences. It was also here that the notion of universalism was ingrained in me, in the sense that when one of us is hurting, we are all hurting. But there's another aspect of bridge building that I'd like to briefly talk about. Another thing I began to understand. Having attended a multinational school, if we realize how much we have in common with the people in the world, then we should also come face to face with diversity. Every culture has as much to offer and teach as the next. When I spoke to Tim earlier in the summer, he was incredibly excited and eager to attend this event. However, life had other plans. He succumbed within a month to cancer. We continue to honor this incredible human being, and I know that his wife and children, just as we at ACS Athens, are heartbroken but humbled by his achievements, but more so from the kind of human being that he was and the legacy that he has left behind. It's with great humility and pride that I present the Young Leadership award to Tamer Balba. Posthumous to receive the award tonight is Tim's mother, Alexandra Kara. [00:32:26] Speaker F: Please allow me here to refer to a little story that shows how much he loved his Greek heritage. It was summer of 98, still a student in Canada, and like every summer, he came to spend it with me. His holidays here in Athens. In Greece, he applied as a volunteer and worked with archaeological team on the Acropolis Restoration Project and was there from 07:00 a.m. Till 02:00 p.m. Under the burning August sun every day, collecting Little stones, there is a document from the Ministry of Culture that mentioned his participation. In closing, please allow me to quote one of my very favorite poets, Khalil Jibran, who wrote, if I accept the sunshine and the warmth, I must also accept the thunder and the lightning. My Timmy was the constant sunshine in my life. And tonight's ACS Award is warmth from his sunshine, and I'm grateful that he chose me to be his mother. Thank you, ACS community, for this great honor and for giving me the opportunity to accept this award for his children and say a few words about my team and tonight to all of you. Thank you all. [00:34:00] Speaker B: Finally, the Lifetime Achievement Award was given. [00:34:03] Speaker A: To Dr. Fotinipazartes Fotinipas Artis, Class of 77, professor of Public International Law and Director of the Athens Public International Law center of the Faculty of Law of the National Encapodistian University of Athens. Currently, she holds the Constantine Caramalis Chair in Hellenic European Studies at the Fletcher School of Law Diplomacy, Tufts University, Boston. She has been a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, serving as vice chairman and chairperson. Faye visited ACS Athens some time ago during the United Nations Day celebration. She spoke to our students about human rights and about their sustainable development projects, giving them the opportunity to have dialogue and ask questions. Some of the students were eager to know what it was like to be in the United nations among so many people from so many countries, and how does everyone communicate and collaborate? Without hesitation, she said. Your school is like a small United nations with so many different nationalities, you seem to communicate and collaborate quite well, and your curiosity to learn is impressive. You will have no trouble getting on in the global arena. It is my pleasure to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Fortinipazartis, class of 77. Please join us. [00:35:49] Speaker G: I stand today in front of the ACS community to receive this award and to be recognized at this stage of my career for apparently some accomplishments that I've had. When I received the message from Dr. Polonis, I thought, Lifetime Achievement Award. Why I'm still, I don't know. I had to go back into my biography to see that I graduated from ACS in 1977. You cannot forget the year. Okay, so it's been a while. It's been a few years, almost 50. As I look back on these years, I come to realize how important, maybe I forgot it on the way. I don't think I did, actually. My first educative years were for me and permitting me to stand here this evening back so many years later to my old community. I'm grateful to this school because it opened my eyes to an international world, a global world, I guess I told the students a couple of years ago, and this I owe to my teachers who believed in me, who cultivated this sense of community and also of international community. And this was the, it's important to remember, satisfied the thirst of all of us students in what was then a small school, smaller than now, for education and also for reaching out to the world for going to laboratories for biology, which we didn't have, no one had at that time. And I've been to other schools and know, using multimedia, whatever was there at that time, which now, of course, is so developed in the ACS, but it was a different school. It took me a while to realize it. I realized it first when I had the opportunity in the Greek university to quote Marshall McLuhan. I don't know if anybody still remembers him, but he was a big mass media thing. And when I quoted it, I got a ten out of ten on an exam at the University of Athens because I knew Marshall McLuhan. And everyone was asking me because he know Marshall McCluren now everyone knows him. Probably I am grateful because through this experience and maybe others in my life, I did what I did afterwards. I had never expected in 77 the way my life was going to unfold. And I think I told that to the students of ACS a couple of years ago as well. I went to a Greek university, then I went to a French university. [00:38:47] Speaker F: Then. [00:38:48] Speaker G: I came back, I joined the Greek university as an academic, which is not a simple thing to do. Then I taught around Europe. Then I went to the UN for eight years, where the experience for me was groundbreaking, interesting. Before joining Fletcher School, and so, see, everything comes back. I was going to say class, but you're not class, ladies and gentlemen. Everything comes back. At some point, the circle turns. I have to say also, and I will say this, this is probably the last chance I will get. You will bear with me. I also come from a smaller community within the ACS community, and that is the community of students who were fortunate or unfortunate to have parent, a mother or a father. As the teacher in the school. I see Eleanor Vaness. I'm sure others are here. I don't know if Anne Cristandinides is here. There you are. And I couldn't but not pay tribute to those teachers. I had them both, but also to another teacher who I would meet at home as well, who would tell me, just do your homework and let me finish my averages. She didn't care about me much. So I owe a lot of this to my mother, who was a teacher in this school since the beginning, almost when it was a small school in Philofe, Mary Pizartas. I'm sorry to put this personal note, but I did have to pay homage to her. She showed me this way. And along with, of course, Ms. Ervan as coach costandinitis. No, I wasn't good in gym. He gave up. I just was in the library. So he gave up after a while. And I think the science teachers as well. Where's Gregory? They gave up on me, too. I didn't want to dissect frogs, I just wanted to read books. But one teacher had said, and I'll finish with that, had told me, I think it was maybe middle school, maybe high school. Faye, you're going to write a book. And I thought, okay, I went out and played. And then years later, when I was writing my PhD, because I did try to write a novel, it didn't work. So I thought, no, she was wrong. But when I was writing my PhD, I thought, here, I'm writing a book. And when it was finished, wow, my teacher was right. I did write a book. And I did it. So I really remember all these people with much warmth, much love, a school, which was for the reasons I explained a second home to me, because I heard about it even when I didn't want to, after school, and even in the years when I left and was traveling around the world. So I want to give a little advice to, as I conclude, to the students, I think a few of them, quite a few are present today and they're great, by the way, all of them. The world has changed today and we've heard so much from Dr. Peloni's Ambassador Sunis. It's changed drastically since we were playing in ACS in the small playground we had, which was great, by the way. I don't see why you had to do all this new stuff. We get lost now. It was a small playground. We had a great time. And after school there was someone waiting to sell Popsicles. I don't know if you remember. So that, I guess has changed now it's passe for the newer, for the younger generation. But the world has always been changing and it has always been advancing. And you young people will too. Take the time to learn as much as possible, seize all the possibilities, offer to you and take time to think. You need to take time to think. You need to step back. Take time to think of what you want to do now in the future, how you want to make your world better, different. You all can do it. I think I did. Thank you very much. [00:43:33] Speaker B: A number of the guests came to the microphone to offer their remarks and share their experience of the event. [00:43:42] Speaker C: I think that this gala is first of all to connect people, to get knowing. The school in Greece being a multicultural International School which gives the best opportunity to the kids to be global citizens and build their own future. And of course, it's quite important for the school to have good amount of donations which is necessary for the growth and the improvement of the facilities and make sure that we have an excellent faculty to serve the kids. [00:44:35] Speaker H: Most of all, we need to create a community beyond the school, the teachers and the students. There is a community that supports it and establishes the school as a premier academic institution, K through twelve for Greece. And I think that the community is what happens here where we all have a chance to come together, come together, step away from our roles as parents, as board members, as staff, as teachers at the school, step back and behave more as the community that supports the know. The school has done such wonderful things for the children here, not only in Athens, but the kids who come from all over the world to go to school here. My son came to summer camp here a few years back and can't stop talking about it, still really excited. And the gala tonight is such a wonderful event to raise money, to not only promote the school and everything that we're doing, but know to recruit the best teachers in the world to come here to ACS. So it's a really wonderful event and really honored to be here tonight. [00:45:49] Speaker D: It's incredibly important to our family because our three children are fortunate enough to be able to go to school there. And it's a wonderful community. This is 80 years of the educational pillar between the United States and Greece. It's also supporting what is the Stepping Stone, the ladder of success for most people, getting an outstanding invitation to be able to go on and have a enriched and fulfilled and vibrant life. So as my father used to tell me, you're your life to your mother, you're the fact that you have an enlightened life to your educators. I'm so grateful to all the teachers and everyone at the ACS community. They do outstanding work and it's incredibly important. And I'm just very happy to be here to support their efforts today. [00:46:51] Speaker A: ACS became my family when I came back from New York, and I attended for three years before graduating in class of 90. I am an alum. I'm also a parent, proud parent. My daughter is in fifth grade and I'm very excited to be able to support the gala. My experience so far is that it's an amazing event for networking, for supporting our legacy. We're celebrating 78 years of ACS so far, and we're also honoring two of our alumni this year. And it's a very exciting event. And we're hoping that we will be able to raise a lot of money for our science lab, which is very important for the future of our children. I'm an ACS Athens alum. I have been at ACS for many years. I started as a 7th grade student. I came back as a teacher. I have been the athletic director for a number of years and now part of the administration. My children went to ACS, so I'm an ACS. This event is significant and important because it reminds me, and I'm sure a lot of people, of what ACS meant to them. It brings out the history of ACS and we continue to connect. And once connected within ACS, I think that stays forever. [00:48:25] Speaker C: I'm an ACS alum from 1993. This is the first time I'm actually coming to the ACS Gala. It's filled with many, many different people from different disciplines that I've had the honor of chatting. The purpose for the gala is not only to meet people from across the globe that have a relationship with ACS, but it's also to help the science labs and raise funding with various silent auctions. That are happening to raise the funds to elevate the science labs. It's an amazing cause. I'm having an extraordinary time. [00:49:15] Speaker A: I'm a very proud alumni of ACS. Whenever I return back to ACS, it's like going home. And I'm on the advisory board trying to assist the institutes to bring in new ideas and move the school even more forward. Events like this are very important because first of all, they bring the community together and networking is a big part of ACS culture. We were taught that back in my days, and the money raised is also very important to support the causes of bringing forward the new technologies within the school. And as an alumni, and I've also been on the board of the alumni some years back and now as an advisory board member, I'm very proud to be assisting in this cause. [00:50:15] Speaker C: Why this event is important. It is very important of high, very high importance, since it gives us the opportunity to connect, it gives us the opportunity to find common ground with other parents, other agents of the school. And it gives the opportunity to the school to raise funds. We need to support such institutions. ACS is probably top three, top five in the world. We need to support it. It's a gem in my mind. It's the best. And if it wasn't for ACS, I wouldn't be in Greece. [00:50:57] Speaker A: ACS Athens has been my second home since 1981, when I started as a teacher. And then I became an administrator, retired five years ago. But I could not keep away. So I'm back in another position as supporting development. Alumni events like this one, which I enjoyed putting together with a committee, bring community together. They celebrate ACS Athens for the many years that we've been doing excellent work. And also it's a fundraiser to refurbish and make our science lab the best that we can for our students. I love the school because ACS Athens gives back. It's more than a school, it follows you. It's within your DNA. So this event is very important for our community to see what is ACS Athens. Tonight we're awarding two alums, the Young Leadership Award and the Achievement Award. This is two special people who have made a difference in the community, in society in general, not only in the ACS community. [00:52:20] Speaker C: The most important thing about the school is that my kids are so happy being at the school and they want to go every day, even when they're sick. Now, regarding this gala, for me, it was a very nice surprise, because actually what is the power of the school is bringing this triangle together. And one of the angles is to get Together, all of us, get to know to each other, get connected and understand the real value of the school. And that's really important, and I'm really glad to be part of it. Such kind of events are very important to help causes like the labs, the science labs. I'm an engineer myself, so I would love to see the already very good labs. To be exceptionally world class. That's the basic purpose of this. [00:53:24] Speaker H: I think today's event is very important because we're investing in our future. Children are our future. And this goes to getting a better education. But it's more than just that. This is helping us keep our connections after we complete our basic education. And the gala is an event to bring. I mean, a lot of ACS alumni, obviously a lot of people connected to the ACS. I've seen so many of my teachers and parents today. It's wonderful. But also a lot of other people, businesses, organizations. And it's very nice to see our community grow and expand. [00:54:01] Speaker A: I've been at ACS Athens since 1976, when we moved from New York City. And I was 6th grade and I graduated. I went off to college, and then I came back to give back to the school what the school gave back to me. I've been working there for 37 years, and both of my children, who are now 26 and 24, actually went through all the grade levels. So ACS, to us, is not only a workplace, not only our history, but also our life and our family. I graduated in 2009 from ACS, and I think this is a very good event, a great event, sorry. Because it brings all the alumni together, and it's a chance for everybody to see what everybody is doing from all around the world. And a silent auction such as this is a great way to raise money. I think this event is so important because it brings the community together. ACS is about community continuity. Knowing what we're all doing, making a difference. It's amazing how many different things are up for auction that just show the richness of what we've all done and what we all do. [00:55:37] Speaker C: You I'm an SS alumni. I graduated in 2017. My dad is also an alumni. SO my connection is very strong to SES. I think this event is very significant, and I'm very happy to also be a sponsor to this event. When Lydia contacted me and asked me if we can help out to fund the new science lab, I was like, tell me what to do. And so here I am, very happy and very proud. [00:56:23] Speaker A: And I think this event is just great. It's a great community event that brings all the parents and the board and the staff and alumni, and it's just a great way to celebrate the school. And the greatness of the school is this event is very important for our school because we are trying to create the future of our school, of our students, and of course, all parents to come together and to continue to support our school visit Gala is so important for this school because, first of all, the alumni are gathering, and just to see old and new faces here is just part of this community, and that's what we try to build at ACS every day. And it's just a wonderful, wonderful place to be, to work, to be a part of. And I am blessed to have been at the school for the past 16 years. We are new family here and we are so honored and I'm so pleased to be a member of ACS family. I believe my son will have a very great journey in ACS. It was breathtaking, sensitive. It just spoke to my heart, you know, when you have an English professor here, I would say I can't say anything else. So, yeah, it was breathtaking. As she said, it was very emotional. It was beautiful. It was everything wrapped together with a big bow on top. Exactly. It was friends coming together, even people who didn't know each other. It was just so much love, so much care, so much comfort, so much kindness, and just hope for the future. We're ready to seize the day for another year, another decade, another ten decades, countries I could see there. Ten decades. Yes, for sure. We are ACS. [00:58:56] Speaker C: I have two wonderful children, twins, boy, girl, age eight in the school. So that's my connection to ACS. And I think tonight was a wonderful evening for us as parents and as members of the community and as a Greek American, born and raised in New York, to see the warmth of love and the intelligence that was surrounded tonight by all the people who attended, it gave me, as a parent, a wonderful opportunity to see what the future of my children may be. [00:59:22] Speaker A: It was such a great honor serving as a Master of ceremonies. ACS, for me, is home. It is a community. It represents love, safety, excellence, innovation. And I feel like part of the family. And that's why I'm always here to. [00:59:43] Speaker G: Support the American community schools of Athens. [00:59:46] Speaker C: I'm an alumnus of ACS, Class of 2010. Had the pleasure and privilege of graduating from ACS. ACS gave me momentum. I found home at ACS everything. It was the catalyst for a career. It was the catalyst for me to discover myself, to find my strengths and harness my weaknesses in the meantime, as far as the night, today's night is concerned, it was a wholesome evening with lots of familiar faces, teachers, administrators, that made me fall in love with this school from the very first beginning. And an homage to friendships, bonds and distinguished alumni who made a very colossal impact thinking locally but acting globally. That's the ethos that ACS teaches you, the ethos of global citizenship, more importantly, that we're all embracing and celebrating today. And a tribute to a mentor, I would say Dr. G, whom last time I met with him was in Washington, DC. And the reason that I decided to pursue a career in academia is because of educators and mentors like Dr. G, Dr. Yalamas. So I think that's to him. [01:01:17] Speaker B: And that, dear listeners, wraps up our riveting recount of the ACS Athens Gala 2023 and Alumni Achievement Awards. Until next time, this is John Papadiki signing off and reminding you that even in the vast cosmos, a good cause can still use a sprinkle of glitter. [01:01:48] Speaker A: You are listening to the Owlcast, the official podcast of ACS Athens. Make sure you subscribe to the Owlcast on Google Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This has been a production of the ACS Athens Media Studio. Our.