AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL Thessaloniki, Greece Annual Report 2017
ANNUAL REP O RT
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 For the year ending June 30, 2017
THE AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL Thessalonica Agricultural & Industrial Institute
AFS
AFS
CO NT ENTS
NURTURING MINDS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD
Letter from the President I
Letter from the incoming Chairman of the Board II
Forward
Perrotis College IV
School of Professional Education V
General High School VI
Primary Division VII
Professional Development
Strategic Project Management Office IX
Campus and Facilities X
The Farm
Financial Results XII
Governance
III
XI
XIII
VIII
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LET T ER FRO M T HE PRESI D ENT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Since its founding in 1904 as a vocational program for orphaned boys, the American Farm School has come a long way. The institution now includes Pre-School, Kindergarten, Elementary, and General and Vocational High Schools under its umbrella along with Perrotis College (BSc and, very soon, MSc degree programs), and the School of Professional Education (adult education and extension programs). The American Farm School and Perrotis College are focused on education, research and extension services. We are educating, training and nurturing the next generation of farmers, livestock producers, scientists, entrepreneurs and business leaders of the agri-food sector in Greece and the greater Balkans region. We are conducting research that is user-driven and application-specific helping companies develop new products and gain a competitive advantage in a dynamic, constantly evolving, global market. We are helping transform agricultural production systems in environmentally responsible and sustainable ways, helping farmers choose the right crops to match soil conditions and implement precision agriculture technology to reduce the use of scarce natural resources and maximize yields. And we are supporting rural development, helping ensure rural youth can earn their livelihood and develop and grow not only crops and livestock, but new ideas and new businesses in the sector.
We also believe that all deserving youth should have access to the highest quality academic opportunities and purposeful, real world learning experiences the American Farm School and Perrotis College deliver. To that end, the School provides significant financial assistance to a large proportion of the student body through the longeststanding scholarship program in Greece. Among the many notable highlights this year, the newly completed Seth Frank Hall of Graduate Studies, equipped with world class research laboratories, is now allowing us to plot a new course in the agri-food sector as well as launch the much anticipated graduate level programs in the Fall 2017. And the Aliki Perroti Educational Center’s construction remains on track to be completed in the Fall 2017. It will be the new home of Perrotis College’s undergraduate programs - including classrooms, amphitheaters, teaching laboratories and more – and will play a transformative and integral role in the College’s drive to meet the growing need for a STEM-educated, innovation-ready workforce in Greece and beyond. Within the next year we will also be embarking on another major addition to the School, the construction of the new Middle School that will welcome our Elementary School graduates in the Fall 2019. This Fall will also mark the twentieth anniversary of the American Farm School’s introduction of Omega 3 eggs, establishing the School as an innovator in the agrifood sector and a leader in the region. The past academic year saw the largest ever cohort of graduating high school seniors seek and obtain admission to American colleges and universities, all with record scholarships; a success we expect to surpass next year as our rigorous educational programs bear fruit. And in their practicum, our high school students developed a Heliciculture (snail farm) installation, evolving methods for growing the colony and researching and refining the snails’ habitat to optimize production of high-quality escargot products and snail caviar – a rare and valuable gourmet food. Cultivating our students’ entrepreneurial spirit is integral to our teaching aims, providing them with extensive training on the techniques and skills required to successfully develop and bring high quality agri-food products from farm to fork. In this year’s annual report you will learn about the School, its many dimensions, and the many meaningful initiatives your contributions help secure. Contributions come in all sizes and all make a difference helping provide our students with the equipment, technology and scholarships necessary for them to reach their potential and drive change that benefits their communities and the world-at-large. Thank you for believing in our mission. And thank you for the support that helps make it all a reality.
The School is a leader in STEM education with intensive English language training woven throughout its programs, instilling American cultural and entrepreneurial values and an environmental sensitivity in all students. Through our unique experiential learning approach to education we empower students to take charge of their learning, seek personal growth and become engaged and inquisitive thinkers. We believe that those who involve all their faculties in the learning process will become the bold architects of tomorrow’s meaningful change.
Panos Kanellis, Ph.D. President American Farm School & Perrotis College
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LET T ER FRO M T HE I NCO M I NG CHAI RM AN O F T HE B OARD
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The Board of Trustees of the American Farm School is extremely proud of the success achieved by the American Farm School and Perrotis College during 20162017. The School continues to grow its programs to address the needs of Greece, the Balkans and to engage with the global community of higher education.
LETTER FROM THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The primary school added another grade level and continues to deliver an innovative science and land-based education to these young students. The secondary school programs continue to attract and educate an increasingly high quality student body. Graduates are welcomed into further education in Greece and abroad or into the work place. The education they receive is a unique blend of strong academics, practical training, civil engagement, and English language instruction. Perrotis College continues to impress academic professionals around the world. It has grown in size, quality and diversity of its students. We are especially excited to share that two M.Sc degree programs have been approved and are under preparation to open in the Fall of 2017. Thanks to the outstanding generosity of Mrs. Aliki Perroti the Bachelors students will move into state of the art facilities starting in the 2017-18 academic year. We are also grateful to trustees Seth Frank, Thanassis Martinos and George Milonas for their generous contributions to this facility and the Seth Frank Hall of Graduate Studies. The School enjoys a successful period in its history thanks to donors, thanks to the leadership, and thanks to sacrifices of faculty and staff who work hard every day to make it a special place to live and learn. We are fully aware of the challenges Greece is facing and are proud that the School can play a leadership role in preparing successful graduates to succeed in a difficult economic environment. It is no exaggeration to say that the School has retained and intensified its original mission of helping to bring prosperity to Greece no matter how difficult the challenges of the day may be. On behalf of the Board of Trustees I would like to thank the School’s friends and donors who have redoubled their commitment during these challenging times for Greece. I know you will feel proud to read the many achievements of the School in the following annual report.
Dr. David Acker Incoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees American Farm School & Perrotis College
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FO RWARD
FORWARD Nurturing minds to shape tomorrow
Since its founding in 1904, the American Farm School has been a leading force in Greece and the region. A pioneer in experiential education. An innovator in agriculture and related life sciences. A catalyst for meaningful change in the country’s agri-food sector. Through its hallmark Learn by Doing approach to education, the American Farm School helps students of all ages achieve their potential. We encourage them to dream big. We give them the confidence — grounded in handson learning experiences — to transform their ideas into reality.
American educational values remain deeply rooted at the School, imbuing our young men and women with a can-do spirit, respect for collaboration and a practical approach to problem solving.
And while proud of our heritage, the American Farm School embraces change. Now in its 113th year, the School continues to grow — expanding its academic offerings, applied research opportunities, academic and business partnerships, and extension and outreach programs. Today, more than ever, the education offered by the American Farm School is vitally needed. Greece is still navigating one of the most difficult periods in its modern history. The economic landscape is one of extreme uncertainty and volatility, one that affects all aspects of daily life.
At the same time, food and agriculture are among the most dynamic and high-growth sectors in the regional and global economy.
We believe in the limitless potential of our graduates to effect change. Amid the troubling statistics, there are also viable agri-food businesses that are generating jobs and introducing nutritious specialty products. Front-line researchers who are creating knowledge to improve health, as
well as competitiveness and sustainability. Successful practitioners incorporating new technologies to conserve resources and increase production.
Whatever careers our alumni choose to pursue, their robust education prepares them to excel, to pivot in a fast-paced world while holding true to the values that keep them strong.
The School’s Scholarship Program ensures that all students in our High School and Perrotis College receive needed support to help cover the costs of tuition and room and board. The institution also earmarks funds each year for merit-based scholarships to recruit and retain the most motivated and gifted students. As the largest and longeststanding of any in Greece, the American Farm School’s Scholarship Program sets an example of inclusion by providing access to quality education for all. We are steadily building a comprehensive framework that prepares students not only for further study, research and careers – but for life. In 2017, we introduced a new academic division: Perrotis College School of Graduate Studies. The new Middle School, scheduled to start operation in 2019, is designed to bridge the current gap between the Elementary and the High Schools. By providing a vertically integrated pathway of intellectual development, we believe learning becomes more meaningful and relevant. And through sustained interaction with our students, we are confident we can more effectively foster the values and transmit the skills needed for these young men and women — and the country — to create a more viable future. We hope you will be inspired by the School’s latest accomplishments described in this 2016-2017 Annual Report. Thanks to your assistance, the American Farm School has stayed true to its mission while dynamically supporting the hopes and aspirations of a new generation.
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ANNUAL REPO RT
PERROTIS COLLEGE SERVES AS A LEADING INNOVATION FACILITATOR
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PERROT I S CO LLEGE
PERROTIS COLLEGE
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Perrotis College is a dynamic center of higher learning focused on agricultural, environmental and life sciences. The School’s tertiary division aims to be at the cutting edge of scholarship and applied research in some of the fastest-growing global sectors.
Undergraduate students currently choose from three internationally recognized B.Sc. programs, conducted in English: Environmental Systems Management, Food Science & Technology, and International Business. In October 2017, Perrotis College will launch the School of Graduate Studies awarding M.Sc degrees in fields related to the agrifood sector. The School of Graduate Studies builds on the AFS philosophy and long history of quality education focusing on applied research, practical training, and entrepreneurship, guided by the principles of social responsibility. The School of Graduate Studies will complement the College’s existing B.Sc. program, by providing the next tier of educational opportunities to students of the College as well as outside applicants. Instruction at Perrotis College is all in the English language, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in order to ensure our students are equipped to handle the dynamics of the worlds of science, academia, and business both on a national and international scale. At the heart of the Perrotis College educational experience is the institution’s Learn By Doing philosophy. Students have access to state of the art College facilities ranging from the Aliki Perroti Research Laboratories to the living laboratories that include the wider campus and educational farm. The new Aliki Perroti Educational Center, scheduled for completion in the Fall 2017, will be a cutting edge academic complex to serve generations of students and faculty.
The College’s academic offerings are enhanced through a network of student support services and a rich community life unique on higher education campuses in Greece. The American values and educational philosophy that underpin the institution are further reinforced by interaction with American students and faculty participating in Perrotis College’s Study Abroad programs from universities across the U.S., such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Arkansas, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Indiana State University, St. Leo University, Texas A&M and more. In addition to providing students with the educational means to excel in future academic pursuits and develop meaningful careers in agriculture agribusiness, food science, and more, the College continues to build partnerships with industry, as well as academic and research institutions, while continually enhancing its own entrepreneurial activities. These collaborative efforts significantly benefit our students, peer institutions and the Greek primary sector, and remain an important priority as the College extends its reach. As Perrotis College continues its trajectory of purposeful growth, areas of engagement will respond to the needs of the region’s economy. Already, Perrotis College serves as a leading innovation facilitator by transferring applied research to support the needs of regional agri-food businesses and related partners in environmental and life sciences.
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PERROT I S CO LLEGE
Milestones 2016–2017 Dr. Athanasios Tsaftaris, former Minister of Food and Agriculture in Greece and now Academic Dean of Graduate Studies at Perrotis College, is leading the College’s charge in this major, new strategic direction. M.Sc. degree programs in New Food Product & Business Development, and Marketing for the Agri-Food Sector will be launched in the Fall 2017. Also under development and scheduled to be introduced in 2018 or 2019 are M.Sc. degree programs in Sustainable Agro-Environmental Systems Management, Plant Seed & Propagation Material Production Management, and Livestock Science & Production Management. The recently completed Seth Frank Hall of Graduate Studies, with world class research laboratories and teaching spaces, will host all graduate programs. Among the laboratories, the Graduate School’s “Joshiah Frank Omics Hub” has been equipped with advanced research equipment and a robust state-ofthe art IT infrastructure for the translation of data to innovative applications. The Omics Hub includes research labs focused on Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Phenomics, Metagenomics, Bioinformatics, Epigenomics, Metabolomics and Genomics, one of the most advanced laboratory collections in Europe. Perrotis College’s Krinos Olive Center was established in 2013 to address the education and research needs, and promote the success of the olive and olive oil production sector in Greece. During 2016-2017, students and faculty participated in research that included evaluating the carbon and water footprint of the olive life-cycle and disseminating this and other information regarding sustainable production methods, effective marketing and exports and more, to producers and consumers across Greece. The College’s Olive Center actively collaborates with that of the University of California at Davis for joint research and teaching for the benefit of Greek and U.S. olive oil producers and consumers.
PERROT I S CO LLEGE
The process of seeking U.S. accreditation for the College’s undergraduate programs from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges begun in 2016 and continues to progress at an accelerated pace. Following a recent visit in May 2017 by the Commission’s representatives, the College has been determined to be substantially in compliance with NEASC Requirements for Affiliation and declared eligible to apply for candidacy, a major step in the lengthy and very demanding process. NEASC accreditation is a globally recognized standard of excellence that will attest to the College’s high quality academic programs and administrative integrity and we believe will significantly boost the School’s study abroad program as well as academic and research collaborations with Colleges and Universities in the United States.
Perrotis College will produce global leaders in the areas of agriculture, the environment and other life sciences related to our sustainable future.
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Recognizing that students differ with regard to their academic preparation, personal development and strengths, new emphasis was given to the College’s Student Services program to help students achieve their potential while also fully engaging in the life of the community. With approximately 80% of the undergraduate student body living on campus, opportunities abound. To support this effort, the College is investing in professional development for its Residential Life staff at peer institutions in the U.S. We believe that the longer term vision driving Perrotis College is not only re-making the College itself but will generate the excitement and support needed by the School’s many supporters to help transition the College into a true leader in education, applied research, and extension services; into an institution which will be counted upon to produce the global business leaders, entrepreneurs and scientists who will help feed the world, sustainably and safely.
SCHO O L O F PRO FESSI O NAL ED UCAT I O N
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Vocational High School, Adult Education, Contemporary Agricultural Practices, Extension Services
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Vocational High School
Contemporary Agricultural Practices
The American Farm School was founded as a Vocational High School, making the Secondary School the most historic division on campus. The Vocational High School is unique in Greece for its national draw, as well as the fact that it is largely residential with a vibrant learning-living community focused on applied life sciences. Nearly 85% of its students live in campus residence halls and participate in wide-ranging activities and clubs that include science and management projects on the campus Farm, community service, athletics, student government, the arts and more.
Graduates of the Vocational High School, as well as graduates of other high schools in Greece, may enroll in AFS’ one-year, postsecondary program awarding a certificate in Contemporary Agricultural Practices. The 2-semester program is taught in Greek and focuses on the optimization of plant and farm animal primary production through innovative best practice applications and entrepreneurial thinking for high-end, environmentally friendly products. This experiential program is designed to prepare participants to succeed in primary sector production through mastering knowledge and handson skills in the areas of agri-food operations management. As in all our programs, the focus remains on innovative methods that promote sustainable practices.
Students in the Vocational High School benefit from an unparalleled practical training / experiential learning program in agriculture, food science and environmental studies, culminating in a professional specialization certificate in one of three areas: Food Technology and Quality Control, Landscaping and Environment, or Agribusiness. As an example of the American Farm School’s long standing tradition of innovative food product development, in early 2017 students of the Vocational High School, in collaboration with researchers at Perrotis College, successfully produced white caviar from snails in the School’s snail farm. The Vocational High School's curriculum is designed to equip these young men and women either to enter the workforce in family-owned or other businesses, or pursue their education for the agri-food sector. The unique practical training program gives emphasis on incorporating science into activities connected to agricultural entrepreneurship. The School promotes a “school to agribusiness relationship” framework aiming to bridge students with the business through the opportunity to interact with executives from the agri-food sector.
Adult Education Delivering education and training for nontraditional students is a time-honored aspect of the institution’s mission. With Greece’s prolonged economic crisis resulting in skyrocketing unemployment, these services are more vitally needed than ever. Through the School of Professional Education at the American Farm School, a range of programs are made available for adult education and training — both on and off campus — in areas related to entrepreneurship, production resource management, agriculture, food science, rural tourism, environmental sustainability, new technologies and more. More than 1,000 adults benefitted from these programs in 2016-2017. The aim is to transmit new knowledge and enhance existing skills for adult learners in order to improve competitiveness in the labor market or in business/entrepreneurial endeavors, while also improving end-product quality. Many of these courses result in area-specific certification as the School is recognized by Greece’s National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP). Programs are enriched each year subject to identified market needs and participant interest.
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SCHO O L O F PRO FESSI O NAL ED UCAT I O N
Extension Services The School’s Extension Services are focused on improving the competitiveness of farmers and producers in Greece and the Balkans as well as on implementing sustainable agriculture practices. In collaboration with industry leaders and peer institutions in Greece, the E.U. and the U.S., and with support not only from major companies in the sector but also from non-profit foundations such as the Niarchos Foundation and the Bodossaki Foundation, the School has helped develop and administer professional training across Greece and the Balkans. Consulting on primary production continued this year with TITAN-Kosovo, Melissa-Kikizas Food Products S.A., Athenian Brewery, McCain Foods, and Papastratos S.A. among others. Importantly, these consulting programs give students the opportunity to gain real field-work experience and prepare them for viable careers, as well as more broadly help contemporize production in the primary sector, promote competitiveness, and spread awareness on sustainable agriculture practices.
Some notable milestones this year include: •
A collaboration with the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania for the establishment of a post-secondary agricultural educational program in Sukth, Tirana.
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Training more than 400 sector professionals on campus and in the field in collaboration with companies like Coca Cola (training in entrepreneurship, new business and new product development); McCain-Hellas (training on good agricultural practices for potato farmers in Northern Greece);
Vivartia (dairy cattle farmers trained in contemporary herd management methods); and Melissa-Kikizas (durum wheat producers under contract with the company in Central and Northern Greece). Partnerships with Coca-Cola and Vivartia yielded awards of 20 scholarships to individuals completing the associated training programs.
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A collaborative agreement instituted between the School and Evlogia, a Mount Athos company, for field consultancy services on primary production in Mount Athos. Advisory services focus on aromatic and pharmaceutical plants, olive cultivation and viticulture.
GENERAL HI GH SCHO O L
GENERAL HIGH SCHOOL
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In recent years, the General High School has placed a pronounced emphasis on STEM education, while staying true to its roots in experiential and environmental learning. For all students in the AFS High School, developing a scientific habit of mind and acquiring English language proficiency, are central goals. Same with the Vocational High School, most students live in campus residence halls and participate in wideranging activities and clubs. Many of today’s applicants to our High School are considering career possibilities in sectors broadly related to agriculture, including the conservation of natural resources, food quality and security, consumer health, and other disciplines associated with the complex challenges related to feeding the world in sustainable ways. To better prepare these young men and women, the School is investing in new science laboratories and equipment, as well as ongoing professional development opportunities for our faculty. Students intending to continue their studies, either in Greece or the United States, are guided through this process with the help of the School’s Student Services Center. The Center, modeled to incorporate American educational ideals, continues to be a central element in each student’s academic and extra-curricular career. Services include, among others, college counseling, student life engagement, service learning, afterschool clubs and classes, support for learning differences, and more. The College Counseling Office aims to strengthen the School’s ties with the U.S. and help AFS students gain access to quality educational experiences by providing guidance throughout their high school careers and facilitating their transition to an educational environment in which they will be dependent on their second language. The largest-ever number of high school seniors (Class of 2017) will pursue undergraduate studies in the U.S.
Rewarded for their extraordinarily hard work and academic success at the American Farm School, these students have accepted generous scholarship offers to pursue degrees ranging from neuroscience to political science to economics at Brown University, Davidson College, Rhodes College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), among others. The American Farm School’s Scholarship Program opens our doors to the brightest, most motivated young men and women from throughout Greece. Without this Scholarship Program, the oldest and most expansive in the country, the School and its acclaimed programs would be out of reach for the majority of our students. The President’s Scholarships are additional merit-based awards to high-achieving students entering the High School. They are a way to encourage students with exceptional talent to fulfill their potential at AFS. Design has been completed and construction for a new Middle School (Grades 7-9) is slated to begin in early 2018. The new Middle School is scheduled to be completed in time to accept our Elementary School’s first graduating class in the Fall 2019. The Middle School is a critical strategic initiative, meant to bridge the existing gap between Elementary and High School, and will heavily rely on the School’s unique blend of Experiential Learning, intensive English language training, environmental consciousness, and STEM.
GENERAL HI GH SCHO O L
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PRI M ARY D I VI SI O N
PRIMARY DIVISION
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At the American Farm School, we believe that planting the seeds for environmental consciousness and scientific thinking begins in the earliest years of a child’s education. Our Primary Division, founded in 2011, today comprises a Pre-K, Kindergarten and growing Elementary School. It is the only primary school in Greece focused on environmental education through experiential learning. The primary division uses the environment as the core, integrating theme to develop students’ understanding of life sciences. It also blends the School’s fundamental Learn by Doing methodology, strong English language curriculum, and STEM focus to create a unique environment and teaching approach which both children and parents have embraced. The preschool encourages students in their first steps of exploration and readies them for the learning process. Natural and applied life sciences, as well as English language acquisition, become an increasingly important part of the curriculum in the Elementary School. Students acquire a gradually sophisticated understanding of scientific methodology through active engagement, hands-on experimentation and analysis. All students master age-appropriate skills in technology and related tools that help them understand the world, express themselves,
and share their investigations with classmates. Our innovative programs are implemented by highly experienced teaching staff, and are enhanced through the creative and systematic use of the unique campus environment. The School’s Educational Farm, “Discovery Garden,” and ample outdoor spaces make the AFS primary division a one-of-a-kind learning experience. Extra-curricular activities are an important part of the development process. The School offers more than 20 options for after-school activities from sports, to science, to language and performing arts. During the 2016-2017 school year, the Pre-K and Kindergarten programs were fully enrolled, with 103 and 49 students respectively. The Elementary School, established in 2013 with a single first grade section, has since introduced a grade each year and currently enrolls 213 students grades 1 through 5. Its enrollment will reach the 300 pupil full capacity in 2019.
PRI M ARY D I VI SI O N
Our innovative programs are implemented by highly experienced teaching staff, and are enhanced through the creative and systematic use of the unique campus environment.
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PRO FESSI O NAL D EVELO PM ENT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Recognizing that faculty and staff are the most powerful components in successful student learning, the School invests significantly in ongoing professional development. During 2016-2017, High School faculty participated in professional development opportunities in the areas of STEM teaching, differentiated instruction, ESL, and new technologies through the support of U.S. university partners, including the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at Fresno State University and St. Leo University’s School of Education & Social Services. Teachers also followed subjectspecific differentiated instruction seminars at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Other areas of ongoing professional development focus on leadership training in a culture of change for High School administrators, and curriculum and assessment workshops for English language faculty. The American Farm School also shared its expertise on learning differences with educators from throughout Greece when it hosted the Fall Pan-Hellenic Conference on Dyslexia.
The School’s exemplary Arcadia Program for students with learning challenges, supported by the Androus Foundation, has expanded its services to serve the larger student body who also need academic learning support (i.e. study skills, time management, and organizational skills, etc.) in order to be successful in school. Student Life staff and teachers involved with the students from Pre-K through Perrotis College were trained on how to support teenagers/young adults (both well-being and academically); how to supervise study time effectively; and how to handle student conflicts/issues.
ST RAT EGI C PROJ ECT M ANAGEM ENT O FFI CE
STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
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The Strategic Project Management Office (SPMO), established in 2016, focuses on achieving long term institutional results through the identification of opportunities, as well as the selection, design and implementation of large EU or privately funded projects. The office ensures that the goals of the selected projects align with the institution’s strategic mission and objectives, and that their implementation is undertaken efficiently. Using, to the extent possible, existing institutional resources across multiple projects, the SPMO identifies available institutional skill sets, collaborates with heads of departments, identifies growth opportunities and seeks to contribute to the development of appropriate resources as needed to take full advantage of funded project opportunities.
Current EU co-funded projects:
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“Balkan-Mediterranean” research project on the environmental footprint of agricultural activities in collaboration with the Benakion Institute.
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“Research, Create, Innovate” 2014 – 2020 ESPA program in collaboration with the AFS educational farm, companies, universities and research institutes. “LIFE” proposal on biodiversity and •local entrepreneurship in collaboration with Captain Vassilis Foundation and a European consortium of universities and NGOs (results to be announced in 2018). Privately funded projects: Successful completion of the 1st year of training courses through the Agri-food Entrepreneurship Centre of Messinia in collaboration with the Captain Vassilis Foundation.
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“Thought for Food” program in collaboration with the Bodossaki Foundation
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“New Agriculture for a New Generation” multiyear program funded by Stavros Niarchos Foundation aimed at training, supporting and developing infrastructure for a revitalized economy through food and agriculture. Networking activities The SPMO is also representing AFS in the “Agro-Nutritional Collaboration” of Central Macedonia and has developed a close relationship with the Regional Authority in the latter’s effort to participate in the European Smart Specialization Platform inter-regional consortia in the agri-food sector. This collaboration is expected to lead to participation in INTERREG and HORIZON projects.
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CAM PUS AND FACI LI T I ES
CAMPUS AND FACILITIES
The American Farm School’s beautiful campus is a dynamic fusion of its historic past and vibrant present. A green oasis surrounded by a semi-urban environment, it is situated on the eastern edge of Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki. The campus today is a physical manifestation of its bi-national character, Learn by Doing teaching philosophy, and commitment to sustainable living. The oldest American educational institution in Greece still occupying the site where it was founded, the campus has grown over the years from its original 50 acres of 1904, to its current 280 acres serving all academic divisions.
To any visitor, several aspects of the campus stand out: Every corner is a teaching tool for our academic programs related to agriculture, the environment and life sciences – from our edible gardens, to our pomegranate groves, to our waste management facilities. The campus Farm is a convergence point where theory and practice come together in a physical space. It functions as a living laboratory for student engagement, leadership and applied research projects in a wide range of fields. The School is a 24/7 collaborative learning community. Unique in Greece, the majority of students in the High School and Perrotis College reside on campus, as do many of its faculty and staff. Our world-class, active learning facilities demonstrate the commitment of the School’s supporters from throughout Greece and the U.S. Named academic centers, classrooms, gathering spaces, residence halls, walkways, farm buildings and more testify to far-flung network of individuals and organizations that actively support the School’s mission.
AFS
The School has made significant investments in its physical plant in recent years to meet the demands of a growing and more diverse student body, new academic programs, and the external environment. In planning and implementing these investments, we have focused on balancing the School’s mission and available resources.
Below are the major capital investments made during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Close to 87% of all capital expenditures in the period were covered through gifts and grants made for these purposes, with the remainder covered by endowment income and operations.
Aliki Perroti Educational Center at Perrotis College Through a transformative gift by benefactress Mrs. Aliki Perroti, the College is expanding its capacity and breadth of capabilities with a new academic complex serving the needs of a growing undergraduate and, soon, graduate student body. Ground-breaking for this state-of-the-art facility took place in April 2016 and it will be completed in the Fall 2017. One of the largest developments ever undertaken on campus, the center is a hub of collaborative learning for students and faculty across disciplines related to agriculture, the environment and other life sciences. Sited near the entrance to campus in a pine wood, the new complex is designed to harmonize with its surroundings and embody the ethical and sustainable practices that characterize our campus. The three-story, 36,000-square-foot facility is comprised of two parallel wings joined by an entrance atrium. It will accommodate classrooms, amphitheaters, labs, communal spaces and study areas for 600 undergraduate and 100 graduate level students. In addition to this major new construction, an adjoining, pre-existing building was renovated in September 2016 to host the graduate program. The Seth Frank Hall of Graduate Studies, named in recognition of Trustee Seth Frank, whose generosity made this project possible, has research labs in the fields of Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Phenomics, Metagenomics, Bioinformatics, Epigenomics, Metabolomics and Genomics.
This integrated academic complex, designed by the award-winning architectural firm of Kouloukouris & Associates in Thessaloniki, extends Perrotis College’s capacity for research and innovation, while fostering scientific inquiry, creative discovery, and the enterprising execution of ideas.
CAM PUS AND FACI LI T I ES
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AFS
Princeton Hall Princeton Hall is the School’s signature landmark building at the heart of its campus. Built in 1924 of limestone from a local quarry, it was named in honor of the college classmates of the School’s second director, Charles Lucius House, who raised funds for its construction. Last renovated in 1986, the building is undergoing major new work, which is completed in stages as funds become available. The purpose of the renovation is to meet new institutional needs, bringing together functions that serve across all academic divisions, while also making the building more energy efficient toward improving campus sustainability. During 2016-2017, the second level of the building was renovated to host the Finance Department and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Renovation of the Dimitris & Aliki Perroti Library located on the third level also began. The year marked the establishment of a Writing Center with support from renowned author Gregory Maguire to aid students in strengthening their writing skills. The Writing Center is operated by a Writing Fellow with working experience in Writing Centers in the U.S.. Moving forward, the Library renovation will include the creation of flexible spaces to encourage collaborative learning and research, as well as to accommodate new information technologies and their use. The School is grateful to the Vasilios S. and Aphrodite B. Haseotes Family Foundation, Inc. for the major gift toward the library renovation project and the creation of the Library Commons.
St. John Chrysostomos Chapel The beautification of St. John Chrysostomos Chapel surroundings started in May 2015, through the support of AFS alumnus Mr. Dimitrios Vlachos. In 2016, Dunlap Foundation funded the construction of a stone path bridging the west side of campus with the High School.
Athletic Facilities Thanks to a gift by General Mills Foundation, basketball and tennis courts have been refurbished to serve all students.
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AFS
Other capital investments of 2016 –2017 Where students learn affects how they learn. Thanks to the gifts of friends and supporters, the School invested in needed new classroom furnishings, instructional materials and laboratory equipment for our primary and secondary divisions during 2016-2017. Other capital allocations focused on information technology needs. Increasingly, IT is central to how we support our students, faculty, researchers and staff, both on and off campus. It not only supports the demands of the academic environment, the needs of our administration, the learning and quality of life of our students, our Farm and other living assets, but also the well-being of our entire community. As research efforts on campus move toward a more data-centric and computational model, our IT demands are projected to grow. And we’re conscious we need to prepare to send our graduates out to compete in a hyper-connected job market in a thoroughly digital world. We take this opportunity to thank our supporters. Gifts for capital projects make an enormous impact, one that is multiplied through the years and impacts multiple generations of students.
CAM PUS AND FACI LI T I ES
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T HE FARM
THE FARM Nurturing innovation — from the ground up
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The School’s diversified education and research farm is a living laboratory for students of all ages. Since the School’s founding, the Farm has provided students with hands-on experiences that amplify academic learning, bridge disciplines, and spark science-driven innovation. Managed as part of an integrated agroecosystem, the campus Farm aims to demonstrate sustainable farming methods that are economically viable, socially responsible and ecologically sound. Comprising livestock, horticulture and food processing operations, the Farm’s purpose is educational. Its premium products sold on the open market is just one aspect of the training it provides. Student engagement in production, project management and new product development provides invaluable, real-world learning, while sales support the School’s extensive scholarship program.
The Farm also provides an invaluable platform for relevant research that strengthens the region’s economic competitiveness. Perrotis College students and faculty contribute to this effort through wide-ranging applied research projects. The Perrotis College Graduate School will multiply research opportunities and the transfer of new knowledge to the agri-food sector. Since the School’s founding, the Farm has also served as a training and demonstration center for producers, agri-food businesses, university students from the region and beyond, and agricultural educators applying our hands-on pedagogy.
AFS
Dairy
Poultry
Our state-of-the-art educational dairy processes milk from the School’s own 120 milking cows. The herd also includes approximately 100 growing replacement animals. Under the School’s direct supervision, fresh milk from select AFS graduate farms is also pasteurized and bottled in the campus dairy. The Farm today produces a total annual yield of 1.5 million liters of whole and light fresh milk prized as the best in Greece.
The School’s poultry division introduced the Omega 3 egg to Greece in 1997 in partnership with Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University and other international veterinary and food experts. Today, the Farm’s 22,000 egg-layers annually produce an average of 5.5 million Omega 3 eggs for commercial sale. Renowned for the quality of its hens, the School’s Hatchery annually supplies local farmers and rural egg producers with 150,000 day-old chicks to develop their own businesses.
Farm fresh milk is a key ingredient in the traditional pasta products (xilopittas and trahana) introduced in 2011, along with our own eggs and durum wheat. Cow’s milk yogurt was added to the AFS dairy line in 2012. A new, premium quality semi-hard cheese was introduced in spring 2017 produced exclusively from the School’s fresh milk, salt, and rennet. The cheese is aged four months and then packaged in the School’s on-campus Educational Dairy and Milk Processing Training Center. The cheese production process – made possible through a grant from USAID/ASHA – was an especially beneficial learning experience for Perrotis College students because of their involvement in every stage of its preparation - from testing the milk to ensuring its quality to conducting market research in order to evaluate the retail landscape and consumer preferences. Dairy science is just one area benefitting from a long line of agricultural innovations introduced by AFS throughout its history. The School produced Greece’s first pasteurized cow’s milk in 1935 by building the country’s original milk pasteurizing and bottling plant. Applying U.S. dairy breeding and herd management practices over the years, the School’s Holstein Friesen herd is today ranked among the top 10% in the world.
The same flaxseed that is fed to our hens, and that results in eggs with the high levels of the Omega 3 fatty acid proved to promote cardiovascular health, is also in the diet of the 42,000 American Farm School turkeys sold annually, both whole and fresh, as well as in delicatessen cuts.
High School students raise and harvest some 2,000 broiler chickens annually for local consumption. The School’s campus Feed mill prepares desired formulas for both the poultry and dairy livestock. The Charles Storrs Barrows Meat Science and Food Safety Laboratory, the only hands-on educational facility of its kind in Greece, supports teaching and applied research in poultry meats. In addition to its harvesting facilities and processing laboratories, it also provides opportunities for teaching food product safety and quality control testing.
T HE FARM
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AFS
T HE FARM
Horticulture & more
Community Outreach
The Farm at a glance
Other living labs on the Farm include the campus olive groves and vineyard, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, aromatic plant cultivations, greenhouses, legume fields, snail farm and more. Olive oil is pressed and tested for quality control in the campus Krinos Olive Center. Thousands of liters of wine, including the indigenous northern Greek varietal, Xinomavro, are bottled in the campus winery each year, as is the traditional pomace brandy known as Tsipouro. Students keep bees and produce honey. Perrotis College students manage the campus store that provides Farm products to the campus and local community while giving students management and retail business experience.
Besides serving students enrolled in the School’s own primary, secondary and Perrotis College divisions — as well as providing an introduction to agriculture and sustainable food systems to more than 15,000 visiting schoolchildren in 2016-2017 — the Farm acts as a center for demonstration, training and research for adult learners.
COWS & CALVES
The School’s satellite Zannas Farm on the Axios River west of Thessaloniki provides an additional 210 acres of land for field crops, animal feed, as well as opportunities for field trials and other applied research projects undertaken with the School’s extensive network of academic and business partners.
Farm to Fork
Together with faculty members dedicated to their students’ success, the Farm offers a powerful combination of hands on experiences and applied research opportunities that lead our graduates and trainees to fulfilling careers and professional accomplishment.
The majority of students in our high school and Perrotis College live on campus and the Farm’s fresh vegetables, milk, eggs, poultry meats and other products supply the Campus Dining Hall serving day and residential students, as well as thousands of visitors each year.
XI
220
TURKEYS
42,000
LAYING HENS
22,000
BROILER HENS
DAY-OLD CHICKS
2,000
150,000
LITERS OF FRESH MILK (WHOLE & LIGHT) PRODUCED
1,500,000
OMEGA 3 EGGS PRODUCED
5,500,000
FARMERS TRAINED (ON & OFF CAMPUS)
CAMPUS OLIVE TREES
VISITING SCHOOLCHILDREN
500
1,000
15,000
REAL-WORLD LEARNING O IN 360 CLASSROOMS
FI NANCI AL RESULTS
FINANCIAL RESULTS
X II
The American Farm School closed its 2017 fiscal year in a solid financial position — a remarkable accomplishment given the severe challenges of the Greek economy. Since 2009, the country has been mired in a deep recession, said to be the most difficult of any developed economy in peacetime. Constant changes and fluctuations across the economic landscape have led to deteriorating living conditions and an eviscerated middle class.
The School is meeting the challenges of the economy head-on — through a combination of conservative budgeting and careful day-to-day management, backed by a long-term strategy focused on investment in quality academic offerings and diversification of revenue sources.
Through the graduated expansion of academic levels, and by continuing to raise philanthropic funds towards the highest-impact expenditures (including professional development, new technologies, and needed facilities), the School is poised for sustainable growth over the long term. In FY 2017 the School’s operations generated a net operating gain of $669 thousand, while total net assets increased to $59.6 million in comparison with $54.2 million in FY 2016. This increase was mainly due to the purchase of property and equipment ($3.6 million) as well as to variations in USD/EUR exchange rates ($837 thousand).
Operating revenues were $16.0 million, with tuition and fees accounting for nearly 34% of revenues, income from the educational farm contributing 30%, and 28% coming from gifts and grants from private sources. Government grants contributed an additional 3%, while 4% was generated by income from the School’s $30.2 million endowment. Since 2010, the School has made rigorous efforts to slow expense growth and eliminate non-essential spending, while prudently investing in areas that make the most significant differences in the quality of academics and student life. The School has also exerted discipline in capping administrative costs; in FY 2017, these were just 11% of the total budget compared to costs of program and campus services of 86%. Although the School’s substantial scholarship program continues to provide accessibility to academically deserving and motivated students whose families are facing the hardships of the prolonged economic downturn, financial aid policies and practices have been adjusted in recent years to bring scholarship assistance to a more sustainable level. Overall, campus operating expenses increased by a marginal 1.2%, while total expenses increased by only 1.5% in FY 2017 over the previous year, from $15.1 million to $15.3 million. This change is primarily attributed to variations in USD/EUR parity. The operating currency of the School is the euro, while endowment income and a substantial part of gift revenue is in US dollars. As a result, fluctuations in the exchange rate have an impact on the School’s financial statements and net assets valuation.
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FI NANCI AL RESULTS
Operating Revenues
Operating Expenses
TOTAL REVENUES
$ 15,992,438
TUITION & FEES
$ 5,378,863
SALES OF FARM PRODUCTS
$ 4,836,076
GIFTS
$ 4,555,259
E.U. & USAID–ASHA GRANTS
$432,903
ENDOWMENT INCOME
$ 565,375
OTHER 1%
$ 223,962
TOTAL EXPENSES
100%
$ 15,323,053
EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION
42%
$ 6,458,127
EDUCATIONAL FARM
24%
$ 3,702,948
ADMINISTRATIVE & GENERAL MANAGEMENT
11%
$ 1,688,541
CAMPUS BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
9%
$ 1,363,940
DEPRECIATION
8%
$ 1,188,295
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT
6%
$ 921,202
4%
3%
28%
30%
34%
100%
Consolidated Statement of Activity Year ended June 2017
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FI NANCI AL RESULTS
Institutional Endowment
AFS GENERAL $ 18,560,744 61%
Consolidated Statement Of Financial Position in thousands $ 2017
2016
TOTAL ASSETS
65,962
60,040
LIABILITIES
—6,396
—5,839
—43,232
—39,414
NET ASSETS
UNRESTRICTED
TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED
—6,619
—5,223
PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED
—9,715
—9,564
—65,962
—60,040
2017
2016
OPERATING REVENUES
15,992
15,911
OPERATING EXPENSES
—15,323
—15,086
669
825
3,858
-338
4,527
487
54,202
53,933
837
—219
59,566
54,201
2017
2016
REVENUES AND EXPENSES
0.92: 1
0.90: 1
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
0.88: 1
0.90: 1
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
PERROTIS COLLEGE $ 11,624,513 39%
Consolidated Statement Of Activities in thousands $
NET OPERATING SURPLUS/DEFICIT
NON—OPERATING REVENUES/LOSSES
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
NET ASSETS AS OF BEGINNING OF YEAR FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENT TOTAL $ 30,185,257 100%
Endowment as of June 30, 2017
NET ASSETS AS OF END OF YEAR
*Foreign Currency translation EURO/USD
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GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE
The American Farm School is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of volunteer leaders from Greece and the U.S. who provide financial oversight, ensure adequate resources, ensure legal and ethical integrity, and maintain accountability for the School’s operations.
The School is a private, not-for-profit organization as described in section 501 (c) 3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and registered in the State of New York.
Gifts to the School, made by private donors in the U.S., Greece and throughout the world, are critical to help support operations, the Scholarship Program, capital projects, program development and more. The Board ensures that private gifts are used in support of the School’s mission.
Board of Trustees, 2016–2017 OUTGOING CHAIRMAN Robert W. Uek INCOMING CHAIRMAN David G. Acker VICE CHAIRMEN George Milonas William A. Tsacalis SECRETARY Sharon W. Vaino TREASURER Constantine N. Darras
The American Farm School extends its deepest gratitude to our 2016–2017 board members and welcomes incoming member from the Fall of 2017: William J. Bennington.
TRUSTEES Deborah Androus John R. Crunkilton Joannie C. Danielides Kim E. Dooley Thymis Efthymiadis Christos S. Folias Seth E. Frank Perry A. Gotsis Constantinos Hadjiyannakis Sophia S. Hartch Barbara K. Heming Truda C. Jewett Stephen King Vicki Kyriakos Annie Levis John C. Lycouris Frances Manthos Thanassis Martinos Daniel M. Morgan Elaine K. Nelson Stefanos Panteliades Anastasia Pappas Nikolaos Pentzos Joel S. Post William L. Richter Manita S. Scocimara Susan L. Stupin Theodora Valentis Panayotis P. Yatagantzidis
HONORARY TRUSTEES Antonis Anezinis Charlotte P. Armstrong Sheila Baird Peter Bien John H. Cleave Stavros Constantinides Phillip G. Foote Dimitri Gondicas Edmund Keeley John Moscahlaidis Pantelis Panteliades Aliki Perroti George B. Post Gail D. Schoppert Judson R. Shaver Charles L. Thomas, Jr.
The American Farm School and Perrotis College are focused on education, research and extension services. We are educating, training and nurturing the next generation of farmers, livestock producers, scientists, entrepreneurs and business leaders of the agri-food sector in Greece and the greater Balkans region. We are conducting research that is user-driven and application-specific helping companies develop new products and gain a competitive advantage in a dynamic, constantly evolving, global market. We are helping transform agricultural production systems in environmentally responsible and sustainable ways, helping farmers choose the right crops to match soil conditions and implement precision agriculture technology to reduce the use of scarce natural resources and maximize yields. And we are supporting rural development, helping ensure rural youth can earn their livelihood and develop and grow not only crops and livestock, but new ideas and new businesses in the sector.
Greece Marinou Antipa 54, P.O. Box 60097, 570 01, Thermi, Thessaloniki T +30 2310 492 700, F +30 2310 492 710 U.S.A. 1133 Broadway, Suite 1226, New York, NY 10010 T +1 212 463 8434, F +1 212 463 8208 E info@afs.edu.gr www.afs.edu.gr