Celebration of excellence: Greek Community of Melbourne honours VCE achievers

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The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) hosted an event to recognise the remarkable achievements of VCE high achievers of Greek heritage.

The evening brought together families, friends, educators, and members of the community to celebrate the students’ dedication and academic success. More than 100 attendees gathered at the event to honour the students and celebrate their outstanding accomplishments.

The event, held at the Greek Centre, was attended by a delegation from the GCM Board of Directors, who joined in acknowledging the accomplishments of the students.

Greek Community of Melbourne honours VCE achievers
Photos by: Astrini Kopeloudi-Wallace.

The evening began with welcoming remarks by Vicki Kyritsis, Assistant GCM Secretary, who set the tone for the proceedings as the event’s host.

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis OAM delivered a speech highlighting the significance of education in building a better future.

Greek Community of Melbourne honours VCE achievers

“Education has been the foundation upon which our community has built its growth, prosperity, and resilience. Since the establishment of our first school in the 1920s, the Greek Community of Melbourne has remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering a love of learning and preserving our rich cultural heritage,” Mr Papastergiadis said.

“From a modest beginning with one school and 160 students in the 1950s, we now proudly run Alphington Grammar and multiple campuses offering programs ranging from early learning to university collaborations. These achievements reflect the hard work and vision of those who came before us, ensuring that our young people not only excel academically, but also remain connected to their Hellenic roots.

“Our goal is to continue supporting future generations, inspiring them to embrace education as a pathway to leadership and global citizenship.”

Greek Community of Melbourne honours VCE achievers

The Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, also addressed the audience.

“Every year, the GCM organises this event, and I extend my congratulations to your children on their achievements. To the students, I would say: never stop your efforts. Stay connected to your culture and always visit your country. There is no contradiction between Greece and Australia. It is cool to be Greek! Make friends, celebrate your achievements together, and get to know every aspect of Greek culture because that is what it means to be Greek,” Mr Kakavelakis said.

Professor John Chrysoulakis, Greece’s former Secretary for Greeks Abroad and President of AHEPA International, shared his admiration for the GCM.

“It is a great honor to be among such high achievers and students tonight. The GCM is the largest Greek community in the world. It is the best, and I say this from experience, having met many Greek communities. Yours is extraordinary, and I must add, the most active. We will continue to work closely with you to accomplish even more initiative,” Mr Chrysoulakis said.

Greek Community of Melbourne honours VCE achievers

Mr Chrysoulakis was accompanied to the event by His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand.

The evening concluded with the presentation of awards to the high achievers, celebrating their excellence. As a surprise, the students were offered membership to the Greek Community, encouraging them to participate in its events and stay connected to their heritage.

The students who received an award are:

AGRAFIOTIS RAPTIS KonstantinosGCM
ALLEGOS Aden KaiMelbourne Grammar School
Andrikopoulos SotoriosOakleigh Grammar
ANDRONIKOS AoideAitken College
ANTONIADES Emily*Ivanhoe Grammar School
ANTONIADIS PeterGCM
BABATZANIS GeorginaLoreto Mandeville Hall
BAHTSEVANOGLOU Constance*Santa Maria College
BALIS Sophie FrancescaCaulfield Grammar School
BELEGRINOS StefannieGCM
BOUBOURAS Alexa OctaviaPresbyterian Ladies’ College
CONSTANTINOU Eleni MaryBalwyn High School
COURMADIAS Lachlan John *Camberwell Grammar School
DASSIOS NikitaHaileybury College Keysborough
Dassios  AthanasiaVSL South Oakleigh
DELIOS Leah VictoriaIvanhoe Grammar School
DELLAPORTAS Stephanie GraceRuyton Girls’ School
DEMOSTHENOUS GeorgiJohn Monash Science School Clayton
DERMITZAKIS JordiSalesian College
DIMOS-FOUNDAS Stephanie Eleni*Sacre Coeur
DIONYSSOPOULOS PollyTaxiarches Greek School of Mentone and District
FANTAS MadeleineCornish College
FLORATOS-VAKALIS Zoe EllieCaulfield Grammar School
FOSCOLOS EvelynOur Lady of Sacred Heart College
FOTINOS Madeleine SarahGreensborough Secondary College
Galazoula ArtemisGCM
GANAS EmmanuelDe La Salle College
GARDIAKOS Amelie ElektraKardinia International College
GASIS DimitriMelbourne Grammar School
GEKAS Dylan George AntoniosOvernewton Anglican Community College
GIAKOUMATOS ChristosSalesian College
GIANAKIS EleftheriaStonnington School of Dance
GOLDING AlexandrosGCM
GOLDING ParisGCM
GOURVELOS Kayla Olivia*Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School
GOUZANIS Christian Lucas*Camberwell High School
HOGIOS Aurora MyeeMentone Grammar School
IOANNIDOU AfroditiGCM
KAKOUFAS Samuel Andrew*Caulfield Grammar School
KALLIS Joanna VictoriaBraybrook College
KALOGERAKIS StamatisIvanhoe Grammar School
Karagianni Anastasia KonstantinaVSL South Oakleigh
KARPATHAKIS GeorgeSt Kevin’s College Toorak
KATIFORIS Zara Eleni*Sacre Coeur
KELLIS JonathanMelbourne Grammar School
KOUKOURIKIS Melina PanayiotaSiena College
KOUMIDES Savina NasiaGCM
KOUROUMALIS Benjamin GerardMernda Central P-12 College
Kousourakis HelenOakleigh Grammar
KRASSARIS Alexi NicholasCaulfield Grammar School
Leon Stephanie*Loreto Mandeville Toorak
LEONDIS Scarlett OuraniaGeelong Grammar School
LEONIDIS Max EdwardBalwyn High School
LIMBERIS TheodoreMelbourne Grammar School
LOUKA DimitraGCM
MALLIOS Lukas PaulWhitefriars College
MARAMIS AndreaMcKinnon Secondary College
MARAMIS AndreaMcKinnon Secondary College
MELLIOU MyrtoBrunswick Secondary College
Menouchos GeorgiosVSL South Oakleigh
MILIONIS Amelia BellaLoreto Mandeville Hall
MOLIVAS Elias ShengStaughton College
MOURATIDIS George*Alphington Grammar School
MURPHY John PaulXavier Collage
NEZOS Billie JaneKorowa Anglican Girls’ School
NIKOLOUDIS NikolaosLalor Secondary College
PAGANIS GeorgeXavier Collage
PANTELOPOULOS EvaFirbank Grammar School
PAPALEO Adelia CaterinaUniversity High School
PARADISIS Matilda MariaMentone Girls’ Secondary College
PASAKOS Marco Stefanos Dunley*Ballarat Grammar
PASPALIARIS Mischa Anastasia*Methodist Ladies College
PAZINAS MinasGCM
PETRIS Ashton MartinHaileybury College
Pirpiris Georgios*Melbourne Grammar
POLITES Nicolas GeorgeYarra Valley Grammar School
PSEGIANNAKIS Angelique*Frankston High School
PSOMAS Aidan*Caulfield Grammar School
REKAS TeonaCaulfield Grammar School
RISVANIS Hugo ChristosSt Bede’s College
ROMANIDIS YianniSt Kevin’s College Toorak
ROUBOS AnastasiaFirbank Grammar School
Salmas ElenaGCM
SAPOUNTSIS Stella MartiniLoreto Mandeville Hall
SFINAS Kalliopi*Doncaster Secondary College
SIDERA RafaelaGCM
SKLAVENITIS Eleni AnnaGCM
STAMBANIS OscarCamberwell Grammar School
TRIPATZIS Simon Nicholas*Scotch College
TSIOUTRAS YahnaStar of the Sea College
TSOULOS Eleni MariaMaribyrnong College
TZOUBA NataliaGCM
TZOUNOS JaxonBacchus Marsh Grammar
VALCANAS Joseph Andrew*De La Salle College
VELLAS GeorgiaLoreto Mandeville Hall
VESDREVANIS Sophia JuliaDoncaster Secondary College
VOSNIDIS Nicolette Anastasia*Caulfield Grammar School
VOSSOS Peter AchillesHaileybury College
ZAFIRIS ChrisTrinity Grammar School
ZOIS Stephanie EliseEast Doncaster Secondary College
ZOUROS RoseLowther Hall Anglican Grammar School
ZUVELA Chloe AliceMount St Joseph Girls’ College

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