ACS Athens proudly hosted the signing ceremony for the Blue Frontiers Program, an inspiring international partnership between Roger Williams University, the International Propeller Club Port of Piraeus, the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, and ACS Athens. This collaborative initiative establishes a strategic alliance dedicated to advancing maritime education and ocean stewardship for the next generation of leaders.
The program, centered on a commitment known as "Our Pledge," offers students a real-world summer exploration of the Earth’s oceans and the burgeoning global Blue economy. By combining academic rigor with scientific research and industry networking, the partners aim to inspire youth to protect and sustainably manage marine environments.
The event featured impactful remarks by ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis and Mr. Costis Frangoulis, President of the International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, whose vision and leadership continue to champion environmental stewardship and youth opportunity. The ceremony also welcomed Dr. Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, Greek Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Ocean and Chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection, who underscored the national and global importance of such initiatives.
A significant highlight of the partnership is the generous scholarship support provided by Mr. Frangoulis and the Propeller Club, which helps make this transformative experience accessible to students. Additional insights were shared during the ceremony by Ms. Carla Tanas, Dean of the Institute, and Ms. Beatriz Tintoré of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, who both emphasized the vital intersection of research, sustainability, and experiential learning.
Through the Blue Frontiers summer program, students are challenged to embrace Conscious Global Citizenship—applying their skills, compassion, and learning to protect the oceans and improve life and living for future generations.
The official agreement was signed on May 13, 2026, at ACS Athens, marking a new chapter in international educational collaboration for the benefit of the global maritime community.
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New York, NY – In a moving ceremony held at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, 29 priceless ancient Greek artifacts—valued at approximately $45 million—were officially repatriated to their homeland. The event marked another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Greek Ministry of Culture in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural treasures.
Consul General of Greece in New York, Iphigenia Kanara, welcomed distinguished guests and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, calling the occasion “another testament to the fruitful and productive collaboration between the American authorities and, of course, the Greek Ministry of Culture.”
Representing District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr., Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, a decorated Marine colonel and noted expert on antiquities trafficking, led the presentation. Bragg, unable to attend, extended his joy in seeing these invaluable works of art “returned to their rightful home—Greece.”
Bogdanos, himself of Greek descent with family roots in Lemnos, spoke passionately about the mission behind the repatriation efforts. “These Greek antiquities belong to the people,” he said. “They represent, in many respects, the best part of the world—our shared humanity. Over the last twenty years, we’ve had seven such repatriations and recovered more than 160 priceless antiquities worth about $45 million. But their real value cannot be measured in dollars or euros. They are living, breathing testaments to our cultural heritage—glimpses into our past and roadmaps to our future.”
Bogdanos praised his team and their partners for their tireless work, naming antiquities trafficking analysts Michael Chapman and Charlotte Laurum, among others, as essential to the operation. He noted that the artifacts had been seized from galleries and collections across New York, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which fully cooperated with the investigation.
Highlighting the broader scale of their mission, Bogdanos shared that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has convicted 18 traffickers and seized over 6,000 artifacts worth more than $450 million from individuals, galleries, museums, and auction houses worldwide. “A criminal is a criminal,” he stated firmly, “whether it’s an individual, a gallery, or an auction house. Justice doesn’t care about wealth, nationality, or status.”
The returned collection includes objects dating from the Late Neolithic period to the 5th century B.C., and includes bronze objects, Mycenaean vases, jewelry, and a marble head of a Kouros, According to George Didaskalou, Secretary General of Greece’s Ministry of Culture, the pieces represent an “important and defining period of Greek civilization.” He praised the joint efforts between U.S. and Greek authorities, emphasizing their “steadfast commitment to protect, trace, and recover cultural heritage.”
Didaskalou also delivered a message from Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, who expressed deep gratitude to the New York District Attorney’s Office, the Consulate General, and all involved in the effort. “Each artifact’s return,” she wrote, “is a restoration of memory and justice—a triumph for culture and humanity.”
The ceremony concluded with applause, reflection, and a shared resolve to continue the fight against cultural theft. As Bogdanos reminded the audience, “Everyone wants justice done; everyone wants antiquities returned. But we must remember—this is the place, and now is the time.”