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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A kind reminder by St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;" Matthew 25:35 - A kind reminder: Your help sustains the Ministry.:
A statue of Maria Callas, created by sculptor Nikos Floros, has been adorning the main building of UNESCO in Paris since Thursday.
During its unveiling, which took place at the initiative of the Greek Delegation to UNESCO and in collaboration with the Italian Delegation, the Greek Permanent Representative, George Koumoutsakos emphasised that Maria Callas was a universal Greek woman, a "Diva", as everyone knew her, who with her magical voice took opera out of the halls of the great theatres, expanding the familiar audience. "With her Mediterranean temperament and constant search for perfection, Callas will forever be a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO," concluded Koumoutsakos.
On his part, sculptor Nikos Floros explained that he wanted his sculpture to be made of bronze because bronze is "a strong and eternal material, like the talent and legacy of Callas." He expressed his satisfaction with the fact that, after Venice and Rome, his sculpture is being exhibited at UNESCO, an organisation "that protects the culture and memory of the world."
Greece developed a rich array of traditional, popular, and art music, which diasporic Greeks took with them. In Greek American communities, music has been an essential component – linking the past to the present, the distant to the near, and bonding members with an embrace of memories and narratives. Between 1896 and 1942, an estimated 2,000 recordings were made in America, and thousands have since appeared. They encompass traditional music from all regions, and emerging urban genres, stylistic changes, and songs of social commentary. This talk profiles the scope, practice, and development of Greek music in America with attention to its relationship to ethnic identity.