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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With a long career in finance, from billionaire George Soros' asset management company to McKinsey, Dr. Maria Vassalou, now a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, responsible for managing more than $200 billion in funds, believes the Fed is not is going to cut interest rates soon.
The Hellenic Initiative welcomed over 800 guests at their 10th Annual sold-out Gala, which took place at the iconic venue of Cipriani Wall Street on December 3rd, 2022. The evening drew dignitaries, prominent Greek Americans, and Philhellenes to support the not-for-profit organization offering donations to Greece through various initiatives. The President, George Stamas, and Chairman, Andrew Liveris, spoke to the guests about the Greeks helping Greece, and The Hellenic Initiative’s past decade of service and milestones reached by the philanthropic organization with the slogan “Olli Mazi”. They also featured the Plant a Tree in Greece” campaign to help restore and reforest the areas ravaged by the wildfires in 2021.
The Hellenic Initiative honored Dr. Albert Bourla, CEO and Chairman of Pfizer, for overseeing the development of the world’s first COVID-19 vaccines. Master of Ceremonies 20th Century Fox’s CEO Jim Gianopoulos, spoke about the resilience of Greece and the Greeks. The famous Greek singer, Ellie Kokkinou, performed her top hits and had all guests dancing all night. THI raised over 2.5 million and will deploy the funds to Greek humanitarian programs to promote and support Greek economic and entrepreneurial development.
The Hellenic Initiative’s Venture Fair initiative is in its third year and gives the opportunity for Greeks startups to pitch their proof of concept to a variety of international investors that the organization draws in to promote investing in Greece. The organization also supports regenerate Greece and Odyssey, job seekers.
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A charismatic figure in advertising and design, the pioneer Greek-American George Lois, responsible, among other things, for some of the most daring and powerful images published in American magazines of the 60s, but also for iconic advertising slogans such as “ I Want My MTV!”, died at the age of 91, at his home in Manhattan, New York, as announced by his son, photographer Luke Lois.