Greek Honor Society Formed at St. Johnʼs University

New York.- A Modern Greek Language honor Society has been formed in December 2008 under the auspices of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America at St. Johnʼs University (SJU), in Queens, New York City. Miss Veronica Georgiades, a St. Johnʼs University Senior, determination and perseverance in the face of obstacles, formed the Modern Greek language Society. “I was inducted into the Italian Honor Society in May 2008 in an inspiring ceremony,” she said. “I realized then that it is time to form an Honor Society for the Modern Greek language.”

Miss Georgiades is a high honors student and is from Cyprus. Her father is from Limassol and a Queens College graduate from the CUNY University system. Her mother, a St. Johnʼs University graduate, is from Ammogostos (Famagusta), a refugee family from the Turkish invasion. She is a recipient of the Pan-Cyprian Association and Athanasiades Foundation scholarships. The college senior was born in Queens, New York, and was raised in Cyprus. She plans to attend graduate School for a higher degree in the multi-faceted field of Psychology.

This is the first Modern Greek language Honor Society created in the United States by Dimitrios Filios, President of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America. He was assisted by instructors Dr. John G. Siolas and Catherine Tsounis, Dr. Herbert Pierson, SJU Chairman of the Languages and Literatures Department and Prof. Willard Yoder, SJU Coordinator of Minor Languages. The Pan Arcadian Federation of America is a nationwide organization dedicated to promoting: the principles of Democracy and the ideals of Hellenism; the preservation of the Greek language and Orthodox Church; the support of Arcadian and Arcadian-American philanthropic and educational institutions. For more information, visit http://www.panarcadian.org/aboutus.

“The formation of a Modern Greek Language Honor Society, without funding, will create a precedent in higher education,” said Dr. Herbert Pierson. “We plan to form a Chinese Language Honor Society.” For more information, contact tsounisc@stjohns.edu and siolasj@stjohns.edu.