Charles and Connie Cotros Jointly Receive Doctor of Humanities Honorary Degree at Hellenic College-Holy Cross Commencement
Leadership 100 Chairman Emeritus Charles and Connie Cotros jointly received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology at the 81st Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Also honored was Dr. Lewis Patsavos, Professor of Canon Law Emeritus, who received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Both citations said, “You embody the highest virtues espoused by our Faith, our Hellenic heritage, and the society in which we live.”
In accepting the honor, Cotros stated: “We feel blessed to receive this recognition as part of the baccalaureate and graduate school commencement ceremonies honoring the class of 2023. You are the living proof of our reason for giving. It is essential that all faithful Greek Orthodox men and women support this extraordinary and unique institution, our only Greek Orthodox Theological School here in America. I know Leadership 100 will continue to do so.”
Charles and Connie Cotros jointly honored as Doctor of Humanities by Archbishop Elpidophoros and HCHC President George Cantonis.
The ceremony included a salutation of HCHC President George Cantonis who urged the graduates to move forward in the next stage of their lives with courage and to make choices confidently, secure in the knowledge that God’s plan for each will ultimately be revealed.
Greetings and congratulations followed from Demetrios Logothetis, Chairman of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, Jeannie Ranglas, Second Vice-President of the National Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, on behalf of National Philoptochos President Arlene Siavelis Kehl, and Rev. Fr. Jon Magoulias, Vice-Chair of the HCHC Board.
Dr. Timothy Patitsas, Interim Dean of Hellenic College, and Rev. Dr. George Parsenios, Dean of Holy Cross, offered moving and thought-provoking messages to all the graduates before introducing the valedictorians of their respective schools: Olivia Fahling of Hellenic College and Alexandros Pandazis of Holy Cross.
After the conferral of degrees upon the graduates of both the College and the School of Theology and prior to the benediction, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed them with a paternal exhortation urging them to build on the foundation of their HCHC education and keep developing intellectually and spiritually throughout their lives.
