The University of Sydney’s MacLaurin Hall was filled with applause on Sunday, March 9, as the Dionysios Solomos Awards 2025 honoured New South Wales’ top students in Modern and Classical Greek for the 2024 Higher School Certificate (HSC).
The prestigious ceremony—supported by the NSW Education Standards Authority and organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW)—formed a highlight of the 43rd Greek Festival of Sydney, celebrating excellence in Greek language education and the preservation of Hellenic heritage.
The Dionysios Solomos Awards, named after the Greek national poet who wrote Hymn to Freedom, recognise the top-ranking HSC students in Greek language studies each year, rewarding their dedication and encouraging them to continue their academic and cultural journey with Greek.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and officials from the Greek Australian community and beyond, including Harry Danalis, President of GOCNSW; Ioannis Mallikourtis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney; The Hon. Mark Buttigieg, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism; Anastasia Christofilopoulou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Consulate General of Greece in Sydney; Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Chair in Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, University of Sydney; Elfa Lillis, Head of School, All Saints Grammar; Penny Pachos, Principal of St Euphemia College; Sana Zreika, Principal, Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah; and George Vithoulkas, President of the Zakynthian Association of Sydney & NSW.
The evening commenced with Master of Ceremonies Maria Kakali, a past recipient of the Dionysios Solomos Award, Minister’s Award, and HSC Modern Greek high achiever, who welcomed the audience and encouraged students to continue their Greek studies beyond high school.
“Without you, the future of our language and culture in institutions like this [the University of Sydney] could be at risk,” she said, setting an inspiring tone for the evening.
A series of insightful speeches followed, focusing on the importance of Greek language education, cultural preservation, and policy changes to support bilingualism in Australia.
Mr Danalis highlighted the ongoing struggle to maintain the Greek language in Australia, emphasising that it requires community-wide dedication.
“Successive Australian governments have not paid as much attention to the teaching of languages, and we must continue the struggle to preserve our heritage,” he said.
Mr Danalis praised teachers, parents, and students for their collective efforts in keeping Greek studies alive and called for greater institutional support for language education.
The Consul General Mr Mallikourtis spoke about the Greek language as a foundation of identity and a link between generations.
“Language is more than a tool of communication; it is the foundation of identity and a symbol of our heritage,” he stated.
He also acknowledged institutional challenges that make language retention difficult, such as HSC subject scaling and the need for greater family engagement in language learning at home.
Representing the NSW Government, Mr Buttigieg delivered a special recognition, announcing that the Dionysios Solomos Awards had been officially acknowledged in NSW Parliament.
“Fostering mother tongues like Greek is crucial, as each language provides a unique perspective on humanity,” he said.
Mr Buttigieg explained that he had moved a motion in the NSW Legislative Council to formally recognise the significance of the Dionysios Solomos Awards and the contributions of Greek language education in New South Wales. The motion acknowledged the achievements of HSC Greek language students, the role of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW in promoting Greek studies, and the broader cultural importance of language preservation in a multicultural society.
To mark the occasion, Mr Buttigieg presented a framed copy of the motion to Mr Danalis, reinforcing the government’s appreciation for the efforts of students, educators, and community leaders in sustaining the Greek language in Australia.
Professor Karalis delivered a passionate speech, advocating for policy changes to support bilingual and trilingual Australians.
“Australia must recognise that multiculturalism means multilingualism. We must encourage all citizens to be bilingual or trilingual,” he urged.
Professor Karalis called for government reforms to ensure that heritage languages like Greek receive more support in schools and universities, arguing that multilingualism strengthens Australia’s social and intellectual fabric.
The evening’s highlight was the presentation of awards to the top 10 HSC students in Modern and Classical Greek, as well as the Minister’s Awards for Excellence and Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Greek Afternoon Schools’ Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Following the awards, Vasileios Manis, the 1st place recipient in HSC Modern Greek Extension, delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of all the awardees, expressing gratitude to teachers, parents, and the community for their support in their language studies.
Award winners
HSC Modern Greek – Beginners
1st – Ellie Marmara (NSW School of Languages)
2nd – Ioanna Kalergis (NSW School of Languages)
3rd – Ferenique Bris (NSW School of Languages)
4th – Anna Tzotsika (Endeavour Sports High School)
6th – Stylianos George Vasill (Newington College)
7th – Ta Xanthis (NSW School of Languages)
8th – John Kontellis (Endeavour Sports High School)
9th – Gabrielle Papas (NSW School of Languages)
10th – Maria Soldatos (NSW School of Languages), Eirini Vlachaki (Endeavour Sports High School)
HSC Modern Greek – Continuers
1st – Mary Glekas (St Euphemia College)
2nd – Alexandros Vidiniotis (St Euphemia College)
3rd – Eleni Koinaris (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
4th – Evangelia Zotos (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
5th – Mikayla Epsimaris (St Euphemia College)
6th – Evangelia Miyakis (NSW School of Languages)
7th – Stefania Gounara (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
8th – Vasiliki Delimarkou (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
9th – George Gianna (NSW School of Languages)
10th – Athanasios Karras (NSW School of Languages)
HSC Modern Greek – Extension
1st – Vasileios Manis (All Saints Grammar)
2nd – Mary Glekas (St Euphemia College)
3rd – Alexandros Vidiniotis (St Euphemia College)
4th – Leah Katsaros (All Saints Grammar)
5th – Mikayla Epsimaris (St Euphemia College)
6th – Eleni Koinaris (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
7th – Nikolaos Dallas (Secondary College of Languages, Ashfield Boys Campus)
8th – Stefania Gounara (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
9th – Evangelia Zotos (Secondary College of Languages, Kogarah)
10th – Spyridoula Karagiorgou (St Spyridon College)
The Dionysios Solomos Awards 2025 once again proved to be a vital celebration of Greek language education in Australia, reinforcing the importance of keeping the Greek language alive for future generations.
