Andrew Athens Honored

Andrew A. Athens, a Founding Member and the first Chairman of Leadership 100, who is also National Chairman of the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), President and Founder of hellenicare and Honorary President of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE), received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law from the American College of Greece in recognition of his outstanding service to others and extraordinary achievements. The degree was conferred at Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro, Greece on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

The American College of Greece was founded in 1875 in Smyrna, Asia Minor as the American Collegiate Institute by Congregational women missionaries from Massachusetts. In 1923, at the invitation of Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, the College was relocated to Greece. In 1931 George Papandreou, then Minister of Education, granted the College formal status as a private educational institution. The College reports more than 33,000 individuals are graduates of the American College of Greece.

Dr. David G. Horner, President, presented Athens with the Honoris Causa from Deree College, a division of the American College of Greece, stating, “Your entire life has been characterized by dedication to service to others, your Church, your country, the United States of America and the country of your ancestors, Greece. Your life exemplifies the realization of the American dream as lived by millions of immigrants from Greece who helped make the United States the great country it is today, while also helping Greece rebuild following the ravages of War World II.”

Athens also attended the Annual POMAK-PSEKA Conference in Nicosia, Cyprus in August and was a guest speaker at the 3rd Biomedical Global Hellenic Conference sponsored by the Hellenic Ministry of Health and Solidarity held in Lagonissi, Greece in September, presenting the work of hellenicare, an international medical relief and humanitarian assistance organization.