University of Washington
Hellenic Studies Program : Special Events

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Updated on October 24, 2008

2008/09 academic year events:

- Visit of Mr. Angelos Pangratis, Deputy Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to the United States. Mr. Pangratis will be visiting the University of Washington and will participate in a public event on Oct 29 – see the relevant flyer.

- On October 7-9 2008 Professor Yannis Phillis, Production Systems Engineering Director, CAM Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, will visit the University of Washington under the sponsorship of the Onassis Foundation. Professor Phillis will deliver three lectures – see the relevant flyer.

Previous Events:

The academic year 2005-06 brought welcome momentum for Hellenic Studies at the University of Washington. Support for the program came from the University, local organizations and individuals, the Consul General in San Francisco and her associates, and organizations and ministries in Greece .

Planning for the first major event of last autumn began early in 2005 when members of AHEPA accepted the challenge presented by the Greek Ministry of Culture of hosting a concert by singer Nadia Weinberg and ten accompanists.  The goal was two-fold:  to provide a memorable concert and to raise money for Hellenic Studies.  Another aspect was added through the generosity of the family of Gust Rakus.  The family’s financial support and donations of material to the University library collection created an exhibit of Hellenic culture in the Pacific Northwest which was displayed at a pre-concert reception also hosted by the family.  Hundreds, nay thousands of hours were contributed by people whose efforts were coordinated by Jack Stavros, George Maroutsos, John Tziotis and Thomas Rakus.  Those efforts added $9,397.00 to the Hellenic Studies Endowment in addition to the wonderful concert on October 18.

An exhibit titled “ENA TAXIDI – A Journey in Two Cultures” presented the art of Ioanna Giannoulas-Papanicolaou which was displayed in the Undergraduate Library of the University from October 25 to December 24, with efforts coordinated by Guita Monfaredi.  Guest lectures were given each week to link the “journey” of art from its ancient foundations to the present in America . 

Winter brought a visit from the Greek Consul-General in San Francisco , Xenia Stefanidou, whose energy rivals that of the tireless Herakles.  In addition to dinners, receptions, and participation in the Hellenic Studies courses being offered that quarter, a trip to Microsoft resulted in the designation of Hellenic Studies as a target for matching funds contributed by Microsoft employees.

To begin the 2006-07 academic year, we welcomed the exhibit of new paintings by the renowned Hellenic/American artist Gregory Kondos: “From Mount Olympos to the Olympic Mountains .”  After its showing in Lito-choro , Greece , a portion came to Seattle to be exhibited from September 22 to October 1 in the piano room of the University of Washington Club (formerly Faculty Club.) Thanks to Moni van Kamp, Gregory’s wife, whose enthusiasm for our program is a joy to experience, posters were available as were 40 prints of one of Gregory’s paintings, with proceeds intended for our Endowment.  Mr. Kondos presented a talk on a Greek artist’s expression of his culture in his art on Monday, September 25.

Overall, since its inception the University of Washington Hellenic Studies program has hosted or co-sponsored a numerous other events, including public lectures and cultural events. For a detailed description of past events, please click here.

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