NEO magazine - April / May 2017

APR/MAY 2017

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GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO: From the mean streets of Sepolia, Athens to the main courts of the NBA

d e r e v o c s i d o h w h c a o The c O E N o t s k l a t ” k a e fr the “Greek

The Officers, Directors and Members of

The Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance wish the Community Happy Easter - Καλό Πάσχα and request the honor of your presence for our 35th Anniversary honoring

Mr. Alexander Navab Partner & Head of Americas Private Equity, KKR & Co. LP at the

2017 Executive of the Year Award Dinner Thursday, May 18, 2017 Reception 6pm • Dinner 7pm The Union League Club of New York th 38 East 37 Street (between Park & Madison Avenues) New York, NY 10017 For additional information or questions, please please go to haba.org

Role Models :: magazine FOUNDED IN 2005 BY

Demetrios Rhompotis Dimitri Michalakis Kyprianos Bazenikas

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Great men and women rarely live up to their billing in person, but who can live up to such expectations? We’re all human, we all have our foibles, our Paris Hilton moments when we’re young and our Donald Trump follies when we’re not so young but our head is still as full as the affectation of our spun-candy hair. As the example of Easter p r o v e s e v e r y y e a r, t r u e greatness comes from the humility of knowing that we all belong to a common humanity and none of us is without fault, despite our income, despite how many times we visit church, despite the many titles on our business card.

The greatest woman I ever knew was my grandmother.

She wore her mantilla throughout her life (brown for every day, blue for formal occasions), her wedding ring was made of tin, her first house as a bride, I am told, was a chicken coop. And yet, like my grandfather, her love for life was boundless, her devotion to her children and her grandchildren fierce, her curiosity about the world she knew and didn’t know breathless. When she brought me to Canada to join my family she kept up animated conversations with our neighbor (though she spoke no English and he spoke no Greek) and the man seated next to her on the bus (though he spoke to her in English and she only nodded to him in Greek or peppered him with a prim yes or no), who thought Eisenhower ’s head looked enormous on television and laughed along with the mechanical fortune teller at Coney Island.

The greatest man I ever knew was my grandfather, who raised me back in Greece and was a gentle soul and a simple farmer, but who was not simple, at all. He had the grit to survive several brutal wars (and was proud of his service and devoted to Plastiras), to survive the poverty that haunted him for a lifetime, and to weather the frustration of knowing that he was a man with dreams, but Their gentle humanity inspires me still. And beyond his means, who had to settle for a life the misfortune of my children and the of toil so he could raise his family. And yet he generations to come is that they missed out taught himself how to read, he sold his best on these wonderful people who had achieved fields to wide criticism so his son could get an their greatness not with means, but without education, and he saw himself vindicated them, and yet lived a fuller and richer life than when my father earned his PhD from most of us: a life full of humor despite the Columbia. Yet my grandfather wasn’t a hard heartache, a life of humility despite the man, despite his privations: the eyes behind backbone it had taken them to survive, and a his usually fingerprint-smudged glasses life of genuine devotion to the important always had a twinkle in them, his sly humor things in life: family, a sense of honor, and a was legendary (he once convinced me we had faith that life was worth living and we’re all to let the ice cream “cool” before we ate it) God’s children, great and small. and he lived by a simple code of ethics.

Nobody ever said a bad word about Dimitrios.

Giannis Antetokounmpo - Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Spiros Veliniatis - Photo: Facebook

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strategy στρατηγική

Endy Zemenides is the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national advocacy organization for the Greek American community.

To learn more about HALC, visit www.hellenicleaders.com

TURKEY’S TERRIBLE – BUT PREDICTABLE – TURN

Maria Zoupaniotis in Memoriam

By Endy Zemenides

The Washington Post recently adopted the motto “democracy dies in darkness”. But democracies can also die in broad daylight. That’s what many observers fear is happening in Turkey. - The Council on Foreign Relations’ James Lindsay, on April 18, 2017 The President’s Inbox podcast

With a narrow victory in a constitutional referendum to shift from Turkey ’s parliamentary system to one of an executive presidency and presidential system, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inched closer to his apparent goal of surpassing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as the most significant figure in modern Turkish history. I have referred to “Erdogan’s Turkey” in these pages several times; this referendum victory – and what is almost sure to follow – will ensure that Erdogan leaves his indelible mark on the country and, unfortunately, the region.

Only a few years ago, Turkey was still a celebrated ally of the U.S. and Europe when it came to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. Turkey was treated as the model for countries coming out of the Arab Spring.

The, U.S. treated Turkey as a bulwark against Russia. Turkey’s “zero problems with neighbors” foreign policy was supposed to stabilize multiple regions.

But all were deceived. Erdogan played enough of a reformer to earn the aid of the West in neutering the Kemalist Deep State.

When they had been dealt with, he moved onto the next biggest obstacles to absolute power, his one-time co-conspirators the Gulenists. Now Friends of Turkey are writing books titled “An Uncertain Ally: Turkey under Erdogan’s Dictatorship.” American foreign policy experts are calling Turkey a frenemy as often as they classify it an ally. Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon, a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Defense Minister, has openly called Turkey the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East.

Steven Cook, one of America’s top Turkey experts, reacted to Erdogan’s referendum victory with an article titled: “RIP Turkey – 1921-2017”.

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APRIL/MAY 2017 STRATEGY

On the one hand, it is tragic that all the hopes associated with Turkey are fading away. Yet it is equally tragic that many of these hopes were pinned on Turkey (either blindly or unjustifiably) in the first place. Cyprus, Armenia, the Kurds have for decades been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency by both the U.S. and Europe; relations with Turkey were simply more important. The West ignored several red flags that arose in Erdogan’s Turkey – multiple denials of the use of Incirlik, consistent broken promises regarding granting greater religious freedom, rising anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism in Turkish popular culture – and continued to pin great hopes on Turkey. They promoted the idea of Turkish membership in the EU, despite the fact that Turkey failed to meet the most fundamental requirements of membership.

The illusion is now over. Turkey is not a Western democracy. It is a questionable Western partner. We can only hope that no emerging democracy looks to it as an example. Yet even for those who warned that Turkey would get to this point, this is not a time to celebrate. The West is still vulnerable to Turkey’s lack of reliability as it is still “hooked” on Icirlik to some degree. Europe may start relying more on Turkey as a transit point for energy. Turkey could complicate the fight against ISIS by refusing to cooperate or active obstruction.

On Greco-Turkish issues, major question marks exist. Before the referendum, Greek and Cypriot diplomats maintained in private that a confident Erdogan could be more amenable to compromise in Cyprus and other issues. Now that a narrow referendum victory is likely to lead to a less than confident Erdogan, will the opposite hold true? With the intensification of the war in Syria at hand and summer coming, will Turkey make the Aegean a refugee crossing point to the degree it was two summers ago? Will Cyprus become a more active flashpoint, as Turkey refuses concessions and new energy exploration commences? Will Turkey’s challenges to Greek sovereignty in the Aegean pick up? And will Turkey make its Christian minority – and specifically the Ecumenical Patriarchate – part of its next purge? There are few – if any – positive signs coming out of Turkey. What is sure, is that there has to be a new Western policy when it comes to Ankara; hope can no longer be a strategy.

Maria Zoupaniotis, Director of the Press and Advisory Office at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the United Nations passed away on Holy Thursday at age 59.

The Cypriot official was fighting a brief battle with cancer at the Mercy Medical Center in Long Island, New York. Maria leaves behind her husband Apostolos Zoupaniotis and two children, Irene and Evangelos.

She was born in Paphos in 1958 and studied Economics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She completed postgraduate studies in the same field at Queens College, New York. Since 1989 she has served at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the United Nations, initially as an Attaché and then as a Director and Director of the Press Office.

“Throughout her service Zoupaniotis had been a model of patriotism, conscientiousness, selflessness, professionalism, fellowship and devotion,” said Ambassador Kornelios Korneliou, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, adding that “Zoupaniotis was distinguished for her ethos and hard work and was respected by her colleagues. Her career has been synonymous with the history of the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the United Nations in the last three decades, and her death leaves a big void.”

Paying tribute to his colleague, the Spokesman for the Secretary General of the United Nations Stephane Dujarric said that “for almost 30 years, Maria Zoupaniotis was the press counsellor at the Mission of the Republic of Cyprus. I think, if we kept track of these things, she would have been the dean of the spokespeople at the Missions. Over the years, I had the privilege of working with her preparing quite a few Cyprus talks, whether in Geneva, Buergenstock, Greentree or right here in the Secretariat. Maria was a true professional and someone who passionately loved her country and always a pleasure to work with. In fact, no one could deliver a demarche quite like Maria. Whenever we sometime strayed from the green vocabulary on the Cyprus issue, we often had a message to call her back at the Mission. She would make her point with tact, precision and good manners.

“Maria will be remembered and missed in these halls,” Mr. Dujarric concluded.

Reince Priebus, the host of the dinner, speaking

Vice President and Mrs. Pence with Archbishop Demetrios

Greek Independence Celebration at The Blair House The White House Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, hosted the day before the President's celebration, at Blair House – the Vice President's official residence a reception and dinner for about 70 invited guests, on the occasion of Greek Independence Day and in honor of Archbishop Demetrios of America. Vice President Pence, made a surprise appearance shortly after the beginning of the dinner. The Vice President praised the Greek American Community in the United States and reminisced of his visit last year with Archbishop Demetrios at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in New York.

Archbishop Demetrios in his response thanked the Vice President for honoring the Greek American community with his presence.

Archon Andrew Manatos offered the initial toast and welcomed the guests on behalf of Reince Priebus, the White House Chief of Staff.

Reince Priebus spoke of his faith, the family values he was raised by and his Greek Orthodox roots. He said that the Greek Community always stood by his side in difficult times. He also praised the other Greek American White House staff members of Greek Orthodox descent, George Gigicos, George Sifakis, and Alex Angleson. He said “we have something special here as a Greek community,” and asked the guests to ask any questions they might have.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Andy Manatos, the creator and maintainer of the Greek Independence Day annual White House event

Priebus for hosting the event and expressed the pride of the motherland for him. He also said that this gathering can send a message to the people of Greece, who are suffering economically for more than 5 years now, to be strong, a message of hope that everything in the future will be better.

Reince Priebus, responding to another question and speaking about religious freedom said that it is one of his personal goals to get the President involved in the religious freedom of the Orthodox Church in Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

From left, Nancy Papaioannou, Atlantic Bank President; Laura and Mike Manatos; John & Joanne Koudounis

Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America, spoke about the importance and the dynamics of the Greek War of Independence of 1821 noting that the Greek struggle for independence did not happen in a vacuum but it followed a long history of thousands of years of contributions in language, literature, civilization and faith which Panos Kamenos, Minister of National Defense of were all contributors for the democratization of Greece, took the opportunity and thanked Mr. the human existence.

PHOTO: GANP/DIMITRIOS PANAGOS

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kamennos, Reince Priebus, Cyprus Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides 20

APRIL/MAY 2017 NEWS & NOTES

President Donald Trump and Archbishop Demetrios

L to R: Mike Manatos, Michael Bapis, Yanni Sianis

Archbishop Demetrios, President Trump and Vice President Pence

Greek Independence Celebration at The White House For the 31st consecutive year, the President of the United States met with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America and Greek-American leaders on the occasion of the commemoration of Greek Independence Day. The Irish-American community (one in 7 Americans) and the Greek-American community (one half of one percent of Americans) are the only two ethnic groups that have such an annual meeting with the President.

Greece was represented by Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and the Ambassador of Greece to the US Haris Lalacos. Cyprus was represented by Cyprus Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides and the Ambassador of Cyprus to the US Leonidas Pantelides.

Over 400 guests attended. New this year were Greek bouzouki music that greeted visitors as they entered the White House and Greek youth dancers in White House Chief of Staff and proud Greek- traditional costumes dancing in the hallways.

American and Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Reince Priebus, introduced President Donald Trump, Following this event, the National Hellenic Society Vice President Mike Pence and Archbishop Demetrios (NHS) hosted a reception for its members and friends during the formal program. President Trump spoke, at the Trump Hotel blocks away, where Archbishop followed by Archbishop Demetrios and then Demetrios and Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation spoke. proclaiming March 25, 2017 as “Greek Independence Day: A Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.�

White House Social Secretary Rickie Nicetta with Tom and Dana Manatos, Mike and Laura Manatos

The Manatos Family: L to R: Andy and Tina, Tom and Dana, Mike and Laura

Greek youth group dancing in the White House

Bouzouki music greeting visitors as they arrived at the White House

Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush Anita McBride with Laura and Dana Manatos

NEWS & NOTES

APRIL/MAY 2017

21

hellenes without borders Nostalgia for My Favorite Athens I am not the greatest fan of Athens. Having lived and worked there for two years, I believe that my impression is based on the hard facts of daily life there. And yet, the city possesses a magnetic force I cannot deny, in my opinion best appreciated with a visit of a few days rather than through the rigor of daily life.

I find myself drawn there, whenever I am able to go, in spite of memories of life in the city as a banker just before the financial crises made the cracks in the Athenian pavement (when not obscured by illegally parked cars) globally apparent. My yearly visits while we lived elsewhere in Europe were a spiritual recharging of my batteries. Though I do not miss Athens, I feel a deep nostalgia for my “favorite Athens.”

The Athens I love is that oriental warren of lanes, with decaying or lovingly preserved neoclassical homes, delicately proportioned little Byzantine churches, and the jumble of r uins — Classical, Roman, Byzantine, and Turkish—that is the Plaka. With every turn there are tiny shops, some open for generations, many now sadly shut and shuttered. For the palate one finds every type of watering hole or restaurant, from the latest global fusion, to the uber-tacky tourist, to the stark, proletarian tavernas off Monastiraki Square.

Then, from every vantage point, look up and you see it, the Parthenon, the symbol of our ancient greatness. No doubt Athena’s wise brow furrows a castigating glance on her modern progeny when she sees the concrete profusion below. Every time I go there, I feel her icy gaze, and yet I cannot help but feel the seductive charm of the Plaka’s juxtaposed beauty and tackiness, the accumulation of twenty five centuries, as I settle into a taverna with my signature Greek meal. Athens today is Melina Mercouri’s smoky voice and charm as she lies back in her boudoir, assuring in no uncertain terms that Greece “still is the greatest country in the world.”

Greece is at her timeless best with a square table, simple wicker backed chairs, and a tin tumbler of Retsina from just over the Hymnettos Mountains, near Athens’ new Germanic international airport.

Retsina, the “Greek Blonde,” is as Athenian as the 24

APRIL/MAY 2017 HELLENISM

Parthenon. A tenth century Byzantine Archbishop, from the Asian environs of Constantinople, “exiled,” as it were, to serving in provincial Athens, complained that Athenian wine tasted as if ”pressed from the pine rather than from the grape.” No complaints here. The fiery, ice-cold, sulfite-free retsina, a Greek salad, and your choice of grilled meat or fish, with someone you love or you love to talk to, is one of the greatest joys to be had in life. In my experience, nowhere is that particular meal better than in Athens, with the Acropolis as your backdrop.

Rising on unsteady legs, I refuse the Greek coffee or my ubiquitous espresso at the taverna, and I guide myself and my company to the next stop, the navel of Athens and the nearest thing to a spiritual center of gravity that I, a Greek American globalized n o m a d , possess —Mitropoleos Square.

What, Where, you ask? It is a small square flanked to the east by the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, and the tiny eighth century Byzantine Church of Agios Eleutherios. The Cathedral, built in the 1 8 4 0 s i n a We s t e r n ecclesiastical style, is a disappointment, particularly given the enormity and centrality of the Orthodox faith in Greek consciousness. It lacks, for example, the domed elegance of Sofia’s massive Aleksandur Nevski Cathedral, a grand monument of Slav Orthodoxy, or Belgrade’s St. Sava Cathedral, the largest church in the Balkans, absolutely “St. Sophian” in its splendor. I suppose, however, that no structure in Athens can be allowed to compete with the Parthenon. Further, that grand temple on the Bosphorus, the lost St. Sophia in Constantinople, for a Greek (or for any Balkan Orthodox) is simply irreplaceable.

Rather, it is the surroundings of this little square that make the difference. Next to the somewhat pedestrian Metropolitan Church is the tiny Agios Eleutherios Church (also known, confusingly, as “Theotokos Gorgoepikoos”—“Quick Prayer Answerer”—Church), often closed, but a diminutive

Alexander Billinis is a writer and lawyer in Chicago, Illinois. He and his family returned to the US after nearly a decade in Greece, the UK, and Serbia. He writes prolifically on Balkan topics. His books, The Eagle has Two Faces: Journeys through Byzantine Europe, and Hidden Mosaics: An Aegean Tale, are available from Amazon.com. reminder of our Byzantine past. The church itself is almost like a repository of anteceding civilizations, as plenty of its bricks are ancient marble quarried from other buildings, and the site itself sits on the foundations of a small Classical shrine.

The rest of the square is dedicated to heroes, including the huge statue of Archbishop Damaskinos, a former prizefighter, whose bouts with German occupiers, British liberators, and Communists, all focused on protecting his flock—or Greek Jews—reminds me that, when at its best, the Church has been our guardian and solace. Shaded by trees, near a couple of standard cafes, lies a smaller statue, that of the Serbo-Greek Constantine XI Dragas Paleologus, the last Byzantine Emperor, who died at his post on the Walls of doomed Constantinople. The statue is a replica of one in Mystra, at the foot of the fortress town in southern Greece where the martyred emperor served as an enlightened and brave Despot before taking the doomed Crown of Byzantium.

After a quick trip inside the Metropolitan Church to light a candle and to linger, perhaps, for a moment over the vestiment-clad bones of another Constantinople martyr, Patriarch Gregorios, hanged by the Turks as vicariously responsible for his Greek flocks’ rebellion against their lawful Sultan.

Emerging into the square, I now proceed to my coffee at a nearby café, overlooking the small square.

Here, in the shadows of the Acropolis, the full inheritance of Hellenism and heroism, Classical, Byzantine, and Modern, is quietly and elegantly displayed. Around me are Athenians clicking worry beads or the tapping the digits on their cell phones, but I am in the final stages of my meditation.

When we lived in Athens, I made an excuse to go at least once a month through this ritual, often as not with our son in tow or a visitor. It’s a great place for a walking talk, with stops for drinks or meze on the way. A few hours’ respite, with a view of the Parthenon, a simple meal under Athena’s gaze, and a visit to my ethnic and spiritual font, and I am off, recharged again. Usually, absent political demonstrations, I make my way to Syntagma Square, pausing, perhaps, for a brief look at the rather unattractive parliament building and a thought of the generally equally unimpressive deputies, and I head for the cool marble underground of Athens Metro, fashioned out of the same white marble as the Parthenon.

In less than four years Giannis Antetokounmpo of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks has not only won his place in the fiercely-competitive world of American pro basketball—but also gotten his fans to pronounce his name—a tongue-twister even by Greek standards.

He was also voted among the top five players of the Eastern Division in the All-Star Game.

Along the way Giannis has also brought joy and pride to hardship-stricken Greece while making new and numerous friends in the US. In fact Gianni’s life is a Cinderella story: he is the son of immigrants from Nigeria who for years tried to survive working odd jobs. He tried to fit in, but he truly found his salvation at the famous basketball court in Triton.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO: From the mean streets of Sepolia, Athens to the main courts of the NBA

by Kelly Fanarioti

d e r e v o c s i d o h w h c a o c The O E N o t s k l a t ” k a e the “Greek fr THE DISCOVERY

The "Greek Freak" of today who may one day claim his place among the NBA greats would probably never be an NBA star without Spiros Veliniatis. This is the man who not only believed from the beginning in the17-year- old Giannis, but did everything to convince him and his family to take basketball seriously.

Spiros Veliniatis with his protege Giannis Antetokounmpo 32

APRIL/MAY 2017 COVER STORY

"When I met Giannis, he loved soccer and was dreaming of a career in it,” his former coach says in an interview with NEO. “It was extremely difficult for me to change his mind. His parents were not able to understand the true gift of their child. They were very poor: I saw their inability to make a living and I tried to do the best for them and Giannis. I told them I would find them a job if Giannis started playing basketball."

coach. “Even before Giannis I met some pretty talented immigrant children, but the ordeal was too much and some committed suicide or got into drugs. Having seen this I decided to 'sacrifice' myself for somebody like Giannis. Especially for three years in the beginning it was like swimming in an ocean: I had not only to convince him and his family, but my parents were severely ill at the time.”

The Antetokounmpo family.

Giannis had to work from an early age But Giannis wasn’t thrilled about training at first. As his 48- year-old coach admits, Giannis often skipped practice to help his parents. "So together with Mr. Loukas Karakousis - the Inspector of the Filathlitikos team-we decided to help the family so Giannis could train,” says his coach.

Loukas agreed to give them 500 Euros per month. “I was very sure about Giannis and I knew that in the end the 'investment' would pay off. And I remember in an interview Giannis said he was now committed to basketball. That’s when I knew that I had done the right thing."

NO HELP FROM THE STATE To help other migrant children, Spiros Veliniatis now maintains an association with 90 girls and boys from Africa, each of whom he tries to help in life as well as sport.

His other discoveries include Michael Afolanio -the first African Greek, who also addressed the Greek Veliniatis says he’s now lost touch with Giannis and Parliament; and Paul Jones, an officer in the Greek his family and the last time they spoke was last army, and many others. summer when Giannis and his brother Thanasis came to Greece. “Giannis had to deal with so many "This is something I inherited from my German people. He said he would call me, but since then we mother who was responsible for personnel in a large company and was supervising 5,000 employees. She have lost touch.” used to take me with her since I was a kid and it really Veliniatis says Giannis will have to stay grounded to helped with my life as it seems". withstand the pressure of the NBA. “He definitely has the mind to keep the balance needed. We will see The reason why for so many years he has chosen to help the African community in Greece is that it is along the way,” he says. even more difficult for them to assimilate in a As for the comparisons Americans make between country like Greece. "Children among the Balkan Antetokounmpo and other international stars of countries have a predisposition to understand how basketball, the 48 year old coacher believes that Greece works, so as not to require much help.

Giannis will reach even greater heights than Lebron Immigrants from African countries, however, cannot James of the Cavaliers. “My only fear is how he will decode the Greek society in which their family is manage himself off the court. Inside the stadium I'm asking them to live." not afraid of him. His family and friends have to be his support system and his base. Giannis has huge His only complaint is that in all these years he’s had potential. It used to be Onassis (the number one no support from the government. "There's a lot of Greek celebrity), now it’s Antetokounmpo. He is the talent out there, but I'm fighting by myself. There is number one export of our country right now,” the no need for the State to help financially, but it could coach says, recounting an incident in Copacabana help with publicity, such as offering an award, for ”when some Brazilians heard that I am Greek, they example.” asked immediately about Antetokounmpo. This is incredible.”

Only he might have been alone: many people in Filathlitikos did not believe in the talent of the young player. "He didn't even know how to dribble the ball.

Also, he wasn’t very tall: at age 17 he was only 1.90.

But in the coming years he didn’t stop growing.”

And growing as a person. Veliniatis says the difficulties faced by the Antetokounmpo family played a key role in the brilliant ascent of Giannis in the basketball world. “This family had serious survival problems and did anything to earn a wage.

The fear of the extreme poverty that Giannis had experienced was the biggest motivator,” he says.

“Because of it he listened and worked. All we did was spot the talent and give him the technical skills.

Going to the NBA from the poorest streets of Athens is equivalent to sending a man to Mars or to the moon.”

Coach Spiros Veliniatis Spiros with Giannis' brother Thanasis, also a basketball rising star

And Giannis hasn’t forgotten his roots even with NBA stardom. "He was something like father for his family. Giannis has never been a child. Maybe now he can enjoy life a little more.”

“NOW WE DON'T COMMUNICATE AT ALL” Veliniatis has no Internet at home so he goes to the nearest Internet café to see games of the Milwaukie Bucks and the highlights of Giannis’ performance.

“I am very glad and really proud of him,” says his old

Coach Spiros Veliniatis

Spiros Veliniatis ( first from left), age 18, with his team Care Coral High School Varsity, in Florida

COVER STORY

APRIL/MAY 2017

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students. My school, City College of New York, had an arrangement with the great mixing studio, Sound One (which no longer exists) and I was lucky to get a professional sound mix. It never occurred to me at the time that sound editing was something I could do for a living. I thought it was part of picture editing.

Stepping into Sound with Oscar Nominated Mildred Iatrou Morgan

How long is the typical process of sound editing? How large is a typical team of editors on a particular project? At what stage do you get involved in a project?

by Athena Efter Sound Engineer and Oscar Nominated Mildred Iatrou Morgan with colleague Ai-Ling Lee

La La Land, the Hollywood “It” movie that won five Oscars for best director, best cinematography, best actress, best original music score, and best production design, can also add a Greek-American woman to its list of Oscar nominees. Mildred Iatrou Morgan, a New York native, was nominated for her outstanding work as a sound editor on Hollywood’s Oscar-winning movie hit this year.

That’s a big honor and big accomplishment for one of few women, and a Greek-American woman, who lend their talent to a primarily male dominated industry when it comes to the art of sound design.

In NEO’s interview with Mildred, she shares her passion, her thoughts and her experiences on her craft -to bring cadence to the value of sound editing, and what is, like screenwriting, an often underestimated aspect of filmmaking.

How did you get into sound editing? Was the art of film sound something that intrigued you from the start?

I got into sound editing by accident but the art of film sound intrigued me from the start too. When I was a film student, my senior thesis film was about my family and I incorporated the silent home movies my parents filmed throughout my childhood into that film. I spent months on elaborate sound editing, adding sound effects and dialogue to the silent images, way more time than on editing the film itself.

I recorded and edited in footsteps, zippers, kisses, to match the footage. I actually thought I’d invented the process which I later found was called Foley. My student film had many more tracks than the other 38

APRIL/MAY 2017 NEWS & NOTES

There is something fun and interesting with every film. On big-scale films it’s fun to be part of a big crew, working together to bring the Apes to life, for example. We start by working with scenes where the actors are wearing motion capture clothing and then as we progress the visual effects become more finished and they look like real apes. But I prefer working on the smaller scale films where there is more time spent working intimately with the directors. My two recent favorites are La La Land, where Damien Chazelle was involved with many of the sound decisions so there’s a lot of give and take. He’ll make suggestions on how a scene should sound, then we work on it, play if for him and he gives us notes. We go back and forth like that.

It was a similar experience working with Jean-Marc Vallée on Wild, another of my favorites.

After film school I tried getting work as an assistant editor thinking I would eventually become a picture editor. Over the years I was offered jobs as a sound editor and found I still loved the process so I decided to focus on sound editing instead, specifically dialogue and ADR. The more I edited sound, the more I loved it.

What is the biggest misconception people have about what a sound editor does? Tell us a bit about what sound editors do.

We usually get involved just before the director shows his “director’s cut” to the studio which is 10 weeks after the end of shooting the film. We help smooth out and add to the sound tracks from the picture editor’s Avid. Then a couple of weeks later there is usually an audience preview and we do a lot of sound work for that. We do a Temp Mix so the sound track sounds good for the preview, making sure the dialogue is clear, adding important sound effects and sound design especially to clarify the story and characters. Then from there we add to and fine tune our sound tracks until we get to the final mix where our dialogue, sound effects, etc. are mixed against the finished score. Up until that point we are working with temp music. This whole process lasts anywhere from 3 months to 6 months.

When I first started working in sound, 30 years ago, the sound crews were larger, around 20 people because we were working in film which took a lot longer. When we started to use computers we could work faster so the crews became smaller. On La La Land Ai-Ling Lee and I did most of the editing with a handful of editors helping us for a couple of weeks for the first temp mix. After that it was just the two of us for the most part.

Most people have no idea how much sound work is done on a film. They think the sound they hear in the theater is the sound that was recorded on set during filming. Yes, that production dialogue is part of the sound track but they are also hearing sound effects, backgrounds, Foley footsteps and prop handling, crowds, wallas, and ADR (looping). Also, the production sound needs to be edited and worked on to remove unwanted noise. All the work we do as sound editors creates a soundscape which helps build the world of the film. We help to tell the story, create moods, and describe the characters, sometimes revealing their inner life. Many people don’t realize how important sound is, even film professionals.

What are your experiences with directors? I’ve noticed you’ve worked with some really wellknown ones, such as Terence Malik, Cameron Crowe, and Steven Spielberg early in your career. Are some more involved hands on with the sound editor and others less so?

You’ve had such a long and diverse career of films that you’ve worked on from dramas such as “Wild” and “Hitchcock” to comedies such as “Monte Carlo” to big-scale films such as last two “Planet Of the Apes” films. Do you have a personal favorite genre to work on or does each present its own challenges?

Yes, some directors are more hands on than others.

All directors usually have a spotting session where the key members of the sound crew watch the movie with the director while he or she gives notes as to what sounds they want us to add or fix. But then it varies as to how closely they work with us. With Spielberg, for example, we worked on our own for

the most part and then at the temp mix and final mix he would give us very specific notes on which sounds should be the most prominent and which should melt away, the idea being to focus on the most important aspects of each scene: what we want the audience to focus on. With someone like JeanMarc Vallée, he edits the film himself and adds a lot of sound effects and dialogue to his edit. This becomes a template for us to follow, sometimes very closely, sometimes it’s a hint in which direction to go.

it’s an unusual film that harkens back to an earlier era in cinema. We were all delighted when it connected with critics and audiences.

Damien Chazelle, the director, is relatively young at 31. The film was so literate and informed about the musical genre. How was it collaborating with him? Did he congratulate you on the nomination.

How did you get involved in “La La Land?” Was Yes, Damien was very generous with his your work on musicals like “Hairspray” and c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d p r a i s e . H e “Rock Of Ages” something you discussed and understands the importance of sound influential in getting this assignment? and was very supportive. He’s the youngest director to win a best director Andy Nelson, the great re-recording mixer, was Oscar, and extremely talented and approached by the La La Land producers and dedicated to his art. His knowledge of Damien, to mix the music and dialogue. Andy had film history is impressive and he loves the mixed many musicals including Les Miserables for same films I fell in love with at film school which he won on Oscar. Andy agreed to do it and like the Novelle Vague musicals of recommended Ai-Ling to work with him as Sound Jacques Demy.

Effects mixer and Sound Supervisor/Sound Designer. Ai-Ling then asked me to join her as co- Everyone has had their favorite supervisor because of our successful history of moments about the movie, especially working together and also because of my experience the much-talked about musical with Hairspray and Rock of Ages. sequence on the freeway in the opening. Is there a particular scene What challenges does a musical present in the film in which you have a creatively that other genres don’t? special affection for the work you added?

The biggest challenge in doing sound for a musical is creating seamless transitions between the dramatic My favorite scene is Mia’s audition near dialogue scenes and the musical numbers. The the end of the film where she starts to tell dialogue scenes are shot on location and we hear the the story of her aunt in Paris and then sings that location sound but the songs are usually recorded in gorgeous song, The Fools Who Dream. It was the a recording studio. The sound is very different. On first scene I worked on. Because it was recorded live old classic musicals you can always hear the change. on set there was a lot of noise. During the song the camera moves in on her face and in order for that to happen the desk broke apart to allow for the camera move. There was all this creaking noise which had to be removed. It took me two days but I was very happy with the result. We had to preserve that breathtaking performance of Emma Stone’s.

Members of the sound crew attending the Oscars: Ai-Ling Lee, Galen Goodpaster, Teri Dorman, and Mildred Iatrou

We didn’t want that on La La Land so we used all the tricks in our arsenal to blend the transitions. But many of the songs in La La Land were recorded live on set. In those situations there is no transition because the dialogue and song were recorded in the same environment but there is more noise so it has to be removed and that can be very tricky.

Mildred with husband Ronald Morgan on the red carpet

It’s a very different role from Mia and she’s fantastic.

And yes, we hope to work with Chazelle again. We all loved working with him and each other. The whole crew was fabulous to work with.

When not editing sound for big, amazing films, what do you keep busy with? Other hobbies and interests?

As a Greek-American, did you come from a family that was supportive of your creative I started making short films in high school and never endeavors which are not ‘traditional?’ stopped. My husband and I make short videos which are sometimes shown in festivals and museums. And At first my family was very skeptical about my choice we also make interactive iBooks one of which is a to pursue a career in film and they were not happy. children’s books called Pelicans and Bears. It’s been My mom wanted me to be a secretary for a film translated to several languages, including French company or some other steady job. But over the and we are currently working on the Greek version years as my career started to take off and they saw which was translated by my cousin, Effie Pavlou. that I could make a decent living they relaxed and were proud of me. My parent passed away a few What advice can you give to others who are years ago and I wished they could have seen me get trying to “make it” in the industry? Did you find the Oscar nomination. They would have gotten a that you faced greater challenges as a woman kick out of that. in Hollywood? Or does true talent and great work get noticed, regardless of gender Do you stay connected to the community in LA? difference?

Of course congratulations on the Oscar Not really. But I come back to Astoria whenever I’m nomination! Did you know you had such a big not working on a film, two or three times a year, and critical and commercial success on your hands I’m very close to my family here. when you were working on it?

What’s coming up on the horizon? Do you hope While we were working on La La Land all of us, to work with Chazelle again? including me, fell in love with the film. We had a very passionate connection to it. I really hoped the Ai-Ling and I just finished doing the sound for Battle audience would love it too but I wasn’t sure because of the Sexes starring Emma Stone as Billy Jean King.

Women are still a minority in the film business even though there are plenty of women who go to film school. I do believe women have to work harder to get noticed and respected. My advice to young women who want to work in film is, figure out what you love to do, work very hard and ask for what you want. Working hard isn’t enough if you want to advance. You have to make your goals clear to the people who can help you get there.

NEWS & NOTES

APRIL/MAY 2017

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President and Chairman of AHC Dr. Menas Kafatos

Honoree, Congresswoman Karen Bass

Honoree Dean Spanos

From left to right, Susie Spanos, Dr. Susan Yang, and AHC Vice President Eleftheria Polychronis

From left, Mike Manatos, Dr. Menas Kafatos, and Hon. Consul General Andreas Kyprianides

From left, Siamak Kordestani, Assistant Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee - Los Angeles, Niloufar Esfandi, Dr. Menas Kafatos, Dr. Susan Yang, Andreas Kyprianides, Hon. Consul General of Cyprus and Mika Kyprianides

From left, Greek Consul General Gregory Karahalios, Dr. Menas Kafatos, AJC-LA Regional Director Siamak Kordestani, and Niloufar Esfandi

The American Hellenic Council Holds Annual Awards Gala The American Hellenic Council (AHC) of California held its Annual Awards Gala this past April, honoring three distinguished individuals for their service to Hellenism and their excellence in their respective fields of expertise. This year’s honorees included Owner and Chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles Chargers, Dean Spanos who received the Aristeion Award in Business and Sports.

Congresswoman Karen Bass who was honored with the Pericles Award, and Professor Stephen Miller who received the Theodore Saloutos Award for his exemplary work at Ancient Nemea.

The event, which attracted over 320 attendees, was held at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.

Demetrios Boutris, the President and CEO of Boutris Group, a Real Estate, Business & Policy Consulting Firm, was the Master of Ceremonies. The 42

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night’s entertainment was provided by the Takis current labor agreement. Through 2015, Spanos Kokotas Band. served as chairman of the NFL’s Business Ventures Committee, which has oversight regarding various Dean Spanos, who received the Aristeion Award is league commercial activities, including consumer the Owner and Chairman of the Board of the Los products, sponsorship, events, marketing, and new Angeles Chargers, as well as President of the A.G. business initiatives. To this day, Spanos continues to Spanos Companies. Under Spanos’ leadership, the serve on both committees. His previous committee Chargers have broken numerous franchise records. work included membership on the NFL’s During 11 seasons from 2004-14, the team won 113 International and Legislative Committees. games (playoffs included) – five of which were AFC West championships (2004, 2006-09) – and four The night’s second honoree, Congresswoman playoff games. Only three teams in the NFL won Karen Bass, is a Democrat serving as the U.S. more games during that time span.

Representative of California’s 37 district. She was first elected to Congress in 2010, prior to her Dean’s leadership is also present throughout the election she represented the 47th district in the National Football League. As a member of the NFL’s California State Assembly (2004-10), and was the Management Council Executive Committee (CEC), first African-American woman to serve as Speaker of he played an integral role in negotiating the NFL’s the California State Assembly (2008-2010).

Aris J. Anagnos, Aris Anagnos, and Assemblyman Matt Dababneh

Dean and Susie Spanos

From Left to right: Mihran Toumajan, Western Region Director of the Armenian Assembly of America Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region Ashod Mooradian, Esq., Treasurer of the Armenian National Committee of America- Western Region

PHOTO: ALLEN ALTCHECH

Currently, Representative Bass serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa as well as the House Judiciary Committee.

The evening’s third honoree, Professor Stephen Miller is a former Professor of Archaeology at UC Berkeley (1973-2004), and the former Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (1982-1987). Since 1973, Professor Miller has been the Director of Excavations at the site of Ancient Nemea. In 1994, after more than 20 years of archaeological excavations, Professor Miller’s love and passion for Hellenism led to the founding of The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games. The first contemporary Nemean games were held in 1996.

In 2009, Professor Miller was one of 374 Classical Scholars from 20 different countries who sent a letter to President Barack Obama petitioning him to help preserve the historical integrity of Alexander the Great. It asked that U.S. diplomacy be used to stop the theft of history through fabricated truths and historic figures.

Celebrating Greek Independence Day with Maryland Parade

by Joanne Trikoulis

On a beautiful sunny Sunday proud GreekAmericans and spectators from all over Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and even as south as North Carolina gathered along the streets of Baltimore's Greektown to celebrate their ancestor’s sacrifices in preserving the ideals of Freedom and Democracy, and witness the pride of so many of the Greek youth marching to showcase their Greek Heritage in the Maryland Greek Independence Day Parade.

Washingt on DC a n d Vi r g i n i a w e r e dressed in their ethnic costumes and the coveted colors, blue and white, waving Greek flags. Representatives of chapters of the AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope along with many societies representing various regions and islands of Greece also participated in Celebrations began with a reverent Doxology at the displaying their pride in their heritage.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Baltimore in the presence of the Evzones, the honorary guests Especially beautiful were the floats which included and dignitaries of both the Greek and Cypriot the “ΚΡΥΦΟ ΣΧΟΛΙΟ” reenacting the Embassies, as well as local and state officials, underground secret schools that the Greek followed by a beautiful lunch reception hosted by children, enslaved under Ottoman rule, attended, as Ikaros Restaurant. well as the float of "Aµαρτολοι & Κλέφτες" paying homage to the hidden and heroic soldiers who The ceremonies began with prayer by Archimandrite provided “insider” information to the Greek armies, Nektarios Cottros, followed by the Greek National which led to the victory in 1821 and Greek Anthem and the National Anthem of the United Independence. Following close behind, George States of America sung by Stefanos Niktas and Maria Lagadinos, dressed as the iconic heroic figure of Pearce, respectively. With the beautiful melodious 1821, General Thodoros Kolokotronis, turned to sounds of the Hellenic Philharmonic Society Band of salute the clergy, military attaches and dignitaries, as New York under the direction of Spiros Svolakos in did the coveted white horse he gallantly rode on, the background the parade began making its way compliments of the great patrons of the parade. through the streets of Greektown led by this year’s Grand Marshal, Former Baltimore City Councilman There were also the living history groups such as the and Maryland State Senator Perry Sfikas.

"Myrmidons" from Pennsylvania illustrated the revered skills of the mighty warriors of Achilles as The groups, which included the Greek Schools, well as the "Epilektoi Hoplitai" who portrayed and Dance Troupes and parish members from over a reconstructed with historical accuracy the clothing, dozen Greek Orthodox Churches of Maryland, equipment and fighting skills of the ancient Greeks Hoplitai.

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The epilogue of the Parade was the somber march of a group of young men from Maryland, who trained for many months under the supervision of Stavros Katsas, who was a Sergeant of the Hellenic Presidential Guard to offer the spectators a depiction of the ceremonies performed by the historical elite light infantry, also known as the Evzones. The ceremony concluded with the Laying of the Wreaths by Christina Vasilatou, First Secretary of the Embassy of Greece and Konstantinos Polykarpou, Consul of the Embassy of Cyprus, and by the Military, Naval and Air Attachés of the Embassy of Greece, Baltimore City Mayor Catherine E. Pugh as well a members of the Greek Orthodox Clergy and the Parade Committee.

Just before thanking all of this years participants and inviting all the spectators back next year, father and son, Former US Senator Paul Sarbanes and Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes presented the "Paul Sarbanes Public Service Award,” to this year's parade committee recipient, Panagiota "Pitsa" Balomas for all her tireless efforts, as fellow Parade Committee member, Co-Chair and Masters of Ceremonies, George A. Stakias bid everyone farewell until next year.

P HOTO: KO NSTANT INO S & M IC HAEL FRANG O S

Short-sighted, corrupt or just plain stupid?

Have the Greek companies learned anything from the economic crisis of the recent years? What are their plans for the future and how do they function under the new devastating circumstances? The past ten years of working within have led me to some interesting? - conclusions.

by Nikki Frangiadaki termination, preferably in writing: “We are not obligated by law to tell you” is the cowardly answer. They are not even worthy of that simple courtesy.

This is all happening on the ground floor of the building. At the higher levels the big executives have huge plans: “We want, when people think of the food and beverage industry to automatically think of us. We want innovation, ideas and effort.

However, the company does not want to spend any more money.

We want cutbacks. All employees are expected to do everything.

The workload is going to increase and we are working on bringing in new and fresh people, wellknown to the industry and the general public to make a change”.

It is the end of the month again and, as we have come to expect during the last years, people are being fired left and right. No one is leaving their desk.

They're waiting for THE phone call. Two rings and it's an outside call. One ring and it may be the head of the Human Relations department inviting you to his office in order to fire you. Apparently, contrary to what is expected in the United States, and other developed countries, his duties are confined to payroll, accounting and, lately, firing people.

Those who have been hired during the past decade are lucky for they do not have to worry as much, nor do those who have a monthly salary of less than 900 euros. It is the ones who are not “hireable” anymore, who are older, who have spent 20 – 30 years of their lives working for the company who are at a disadvantage, who are terminated in just one afternoon. The paper work is already waiting for them. One signature and it's done. An employee demands to know the reason behind her

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purpose to keep their small, low-paying job, a job obtained by close personal ties to people in power.

Yes, this plague is a characteristic of the private sector too. The “dimosio” (public sector) isn't the only demon here.

And, if you're wondering, the purpose of this article is not for me to rant about my job, even though, I admit, it is very therapeutic, but rather, to discuss why the Greek professional world is light years behind all advanced countries. It is not that the employees are lazy, privileged, disinterested or because they have less knowledge and capabilities.

On the contrary, almost everyone is highly educated, speak many foreign languages fluently and most now have lived (studied or worked), in other countries. They know from personal experience how things are done abroad and how self respecting companies function. It is just that they're trapped in a system that is as backwards, retarded and unfair as the people in charge of it. I have worked now close to 10 years in various Greek companies and under different circumstances and think I have an idea of what is wrong with them.

New, apparently only to them They were the same before the crisis, they are the who have taken over ver y same now. recently. Because for me, these new entries are very old and very out-dated. They are exactly the same First of all, there are no Human Resource people I found when I was first hired, ten years ago. departments. Even in big companies like mine. No, Innovation according to top Greek executives is to speak more correctly, there are no HR looking back ten years and doing the same thing departments whose duties comprise more things again hoping for a different result and a small profit. than merely giving out the monthly salary or helping out with the accounting (and, as mentioned before, One, of the people returning, the biggest name of firing people). If your supervisor, for example, all, had abandoned the company, along with his harasses you, treats you disrespectfully, demotes whole team to work for the competition. Those left you unfairly, hires friends and relatives with a lot behind were forced to plan the next day. And they more money and less obligations than you, there is did. Successfully. The big shot failed at his new no one to complain to. Employees are so used to attempt. His sales dropped dramatically. Three years nepotism, mistreatment at work and general later and he's back. Along with his team. Those who disorderly conduct, that no one raises an eyebrow. were left behind are stripped of their duties, titles, Even as I am writing these words, we are finding out without even a word, and are forced to work that our new supervisor has decided to hire his wife alongside him as his obedient subordinates. His at a position just under him. This means that if we salary 20 times larger than theirs. This is what it have a problem with her, the person to talk to is her means today to be loyal to a Greek company. husband. And worst of all, most think that concepts like a descent HR department, employees speaking This is also what it means to bring people who are out, or seeking legal advise are “amerikanies” (a clueless, who have no experience, ideas or stupid American creation or habit devoid of inspiration to high ranking positions. Their sole substance), not worthy of their time.

Furthermore, there is no room to grow. A typical American employee's professional life goes like this: intern at a small company, promotion to high rank, moving on to a medium sized company, than a larger one, than becoming partner. Everyone expects and applauds this. One person's success is a reflection on the whole company because everyone understands that people evolve and that remaining in one position for their whole life is not a badge of honor, but mere stagnation. In Greece on the contrary, individuals with aspirations, who are driven and who pursue personal success are opportunists and when they leave the company, traitors. This is why jobs at the public sector are in such high demand. You get your measly salary until the day you retire without anyone being able to fire you, regardless of how you fulfill your duties. And that mentality has spilled over to the private sector as well. And while employees are expected to be loyal to their companies during their entire professional life, companies on the other hand, may throw them out on the street at any given time without even a decent explanation.

Another big restraint for ambitious professionals is the unfair concept of treating everyone the same.

Contradictory? I will explain. Our salary is not a result of our specific talents, education, merits or hard work. Rather, it is determined by the State, politicians and trade unionists in the form of collective agreements. Everyone gets the basic salary according to how many years they've been in the field. A fake notion of fairness or social justice, regardless of individual effort. An employee who works harder or is better at her job rarely gets

compensated for that. Rather, more work is piled on hopeful part of our population that is worth due to her competency. I guess hard work and mentioning; our young entrepreneurs. The main efficiency is a punishable crime in Greece. characters of our success stories that leave us with some small hope and anticipation for the future.

All of the above, however stem from one specific Mainly, educated professionals leaving their jobs in thing; there is no greater plan for the future. Nobody big companies in order to put their talent into has a vision, a way of functioning that takes into something new, something that is completely their consideration the long term effects. Short- own. Countless people who are moving back to sightedness is the common, debilitating their villages, that are cultivating the land and characteristic. The main purpose and goal, making a exporting Greek products of quality to European quick buck (αρπαχτή), without offering the and American cities (i.e. olive oil and tomato paste appropriate services. This leads to the same people that is sold at Harrods, little jars of honey or soap in doing the same thing over and over again, with airports all over the world, herbs and mastic shops in temporary gain and then it's back to the drawing New York, the examples are many). These board. No one is brave enough to leap with both legs individuals are taking advantage of their studies (in into the future, to change the landscape of an ever Greece and abroad), and are trying to find, or rather failing system. Even after a devastating economic create, opportunities in the middle of the crisis. And crisis that should have led everyone to an outside it is only individuals that are taking the initiative to the box way of thinking, to studying the way move on to greater things, while the big companies successful countries and companies do business, to are putting all their efforts into maintaining the wanting to start over again, we are sticking to our failed status quo. And it is through this vital and guns like a desperate southern belle trying to keep healthy part of our population that some change on to her plantation and slaves (the only thing may be brought forward. remaining is to pull down our curtains in order to make the perfect dress).

Until then, Greeks will be divided into four categories: the unemployed, the ones working The mentality of sticking to the beaten path and towards their personal growth and gain through holding on to the few things acquired hasn't helped entrepreneurship, the ones migrating to more us in the past. And if the business world, typically economically stable countries and finally, the ones considered the most forward thinking of any other at their office in a big company waiting for that one group in a society, is not willing to take the leap, who phone call that will change their lives. And as the are we left with? song says “Τίποτα δεν έχει αλλάξει, τίποτα δεν είναι όπως παλιά” (Nothing has changed, nothing is Leaving things on a positive note is not my forte. as it used to be).

However, by not doing so I would be ignoring a very

FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence Application

FAITH Founder and Scholarship Review Committee Chair Dr. P. Roy Vagelos hosted the first Scholars Luncheon in New York City “FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism” announced the 2017 FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence application period has opened. Each year, FAITH sponsors a series of meritbased scholarships for high school seniors entering college in the fall through this prestigious scholarship series. In the past, awards have ranged from $1,000 to $20,000 in value. The application, along with applicant criteria and instructions, can be downloaded from the FAITH website at: thefaithendowment.org/scholarships. All applications must be submitted by June 30, 2017.

Scholarship winners will be announced August 2017. Applicants are encouraged to follow facebook.com/faithendowment for timeline updates.

leaders within our community and their professional fields. Furthermore, a background in STEM subjects will be critical for obtaining graduate training and jobs in science, technology and engineering in the future. Our nation needs, and will need, people well-trained in these fields in order to remain globally competitive. Successful students who excel in these fields will receive a premium along with their award.”

Since 2004, FAITH has funded over 235 merit-based scholarships to some of the brightest young members in the Greek and Hellenic American community who rank within the top of their class.

FAITH Scholars represent all Metropolises across the nation and enroll in universities ranging from UCLA to Columbia University to pursue a diverse set of career paths including Neuroscience, Education, Government and Aerospace Engineering. These exceptional young people have played, and continue to play, an integral role inside and outside the classroom as leaders in their churches, communities and schools and garner high recommendation and praise from their mentors and teachers for displaying the scholarly intellect lauded by their Hellenic ancestors and a strong spirit of community service and good citizenship in line with their Greek Orthodox Christian values.

In addition, applicants majoring in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) are eligible to receive support for all four years of their undergraduate studies through the “FAITH Scholarship for Excellence in STEM.” To renew the award, students must major in a STEM field, maintain a 3.6 minimum GPA and continue to actively participate in organizations related to the Greek and Hellenic Orthodox community throughout their college career. FAITH Founder and Scholarship Review Committee Chair Dr. P. Roy Vagelos spoke on behalf of the FAITH Founders saying, “The Founders of FAITH are proud to Demetri Maxim, a two-time first place winner at the support this important initiative to inspire the best Intel Science and Engineering Fair, was awarded one and brightest young people to become future of the FAITH Scholarships for Academic Excellence

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APRIL/MAY 2017 NEWS & NOTES

in STEM in 2016 and said, “Being able to attend Stanford is something that wouldn’t be possible without FAITH. I greatly appreciate FAITH’s generosity in making this possible.” Maxim is majoring in biology at Stanford University.

“I know the core mission of the FAITH Endowment is to promote an understanding of the Greek Orthodox faith and Hellenism. I am honored to be seen as a promising young leader in my community and will strive to continue to fulfill my responsibility in this endeavor as I enter my college years and after,” said Eleni Kohalikis, a 2016 recipient of the FAITH Scholarship and student at Cornell University.

In January, Dr. Vagelos hosted the first FAITH Scholars Luncheon at Estiatorio Milos in New York City. Past and present recipients of the FAITH Scholarships for Academic Excellence were celebrated at the luncheon and were given the opportunity to meet Dr. Vagelos, share their career and academic goals and connect with fellow scholars.

Through this initiative, FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism celebrates excellence in education for the future generations of the community while promoting Hellenism and supporting the Greek Orthodox faith. For more information, their website is thefaithendowment.org

You will graduate with a combined architecture and shadowing shifts in the Emergency Department at the sustainable development degree. What inspired you to Stanford Hospital to gain exposure to real-life pursue this field? I have always been interested in the emergency medicine. On one of my shifts for this class, process of building and creating. The idea of bringing the Attending Physician (AP) on the shift was struggling something to life that was not there before you, but will to communicate with a trauma patient who had just last long past you, is such a fascinating concept to me. gotten into a terrible car crash with her son in the car.

While travelling throughout Greece and other parts of The doctor didn't know what language the patient was Europe during my semester abroad, I realized just how speaking, but after looking at the patient's chart they deeply architecture connects people across centuries realized it was Greek, a language that they had no and throughout the world. I want to be a part of that interpreters on staff for at that time. The AP was process, especially by building structures that benefit frantically running around the ED looking for anyone the communities they are a part of by providing people that spoke Greek that could communicate with this with affordable homes, convenient transportation, and patient and attain consent for the surgery the doctor means of connecting and interacting with one another. was about to conduct. I volunteered immediately and My studies of architecture and urbanism have taught was able to communicate with both the patient and her Kristina Tougas, 2013 me just what a city can do to bring together the people son to let them know what was going on and translate F A I T H S c h o l a r s h i p who inhabit it, and I want to give back to the cities that I how they were feeling back to the doctor. It was so love with infrastructure that makes their lives better awesome to see that my language skills had helped save Recipient and more interconnected. a patient's life, and for this reason, I will remember this class for the rest of my life.

Sustainable Development a n d A r c h i t e c t u r e , How do you plan to use this degree post-graduation?

Beginning this June, I will be working as a project How else have you maintained community Columbia University engineer for Skanska USA Building in Manhattan, New connections away from home? I've connected with In a few months, you will York. I will be managing construction projects in the other Greek and Cypriot undergrads at Stanford receive your diploma from City, particularly that of high-rise buildings and through various religious organizations such as the Chi C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y. transportation infrastructure. One of the most exciting Alpha Christian Fellowship.

Kristina Tougas Looking back on these four aspects of working for Skanska is its exchange program, years, what was your most Skanska Unlimited, which allows employees to work College introduces us to many new ideas. How have rewarding college experience? The most rewarding on a project for 4-6 months at a Skanska office in a you been challenged? This past summer, I was experience of my college career was studying abroad in country of their choice. I plan to take advantage of this mentored by an amazing genetics professor in Boston Athens, Greece, during the spring semester of my program in the near future, as an opportunity to merge named Dr. George Church, and George told me before junior year. I had not travelled much previously, and my passion for architecture and building with my I left for school that if I wasn't failing, then I probably certainly not alone, so to make the decision to put newfound love for traveling, and impact communities wasn't trying hard enough. I took this advice to heart myself that far outside of my comfort zone was across the world with the structures I help create. and immediately signed up for difficult classes that simultaneously terrifying and so exciting. Studying my were one or two levels above the classes that I was major, architecture, in the place that it all began greatly Demetri Maxim, 2016 placing into. I had to work really hard all fall to enriched my education and opened my mind. I met so FA I T H S c h o l a r s h i p stay afloat, but it was super rewarding in the end many people from all over the U.S. and the globe who I Recipient and I learned so much more than I would have if I keep in touch with to this day. Studying abroad was a just took the easy way out. My hardest class was growing experience both intellectually and personally, B i o l o g y , S t a n f o r d Programming Abstractions, which is the second and it formed me into a more open, cultured, and University level introductory programming course at adventurous version of myself.

Stanford that is primarily taken by students in What inspired you to computer science and related majors. I routinely What was your favorite experience you had while pursue Biology? I've been spent 20+ hours a week on the assignments for studying abroad in Greece? My favorite, and most hugely interested in this class because I didn't have the previous rewarding, class that I’ve taken would be the Ancient biology ever since I started programming background that the other Greek Architecture class taken during my semester in doing biomedical research students had, but I learned a lot about Athens. My professor, Tasos Tanoulos, is the director of around kidney disease programming and am hoping to continue taking the restoration of the Propylaea at the Acropolis, and during the summer after courses in this field over the next four years. took us to areas of the Acropolis most people never get my freshman year of high to see, including inside and underneath it! To have school. My family has been What about challenges outside the classroom? class at the Parthenon every Monday and Wednesday affected by the genetic Demetri Maxim One of the most rewarding experiences that I've morning remains one of my favorite experiences of my kidney ailment, polycystic had at Stanford occurred just after I arrived on college education, not to mention an extremely kidney disease (PKD), for four generations, and I've campus. I was participating in a 6-day backpacking trip decided to dedicate my undergraduate education to as part of one of Stanford's Pre-Orientation Trips influential one for my architectural studies. continue working towards a cure for the disease (SPOT). I had done a lot of hiking and backpacking In addition to contributing to Columbia’s whether I'm in the classroom learning about the growing up and during high school, so I was feeling unprecedented 7-0 record as a member of the women’s intricate biology of the kidney or in the research lab pretty good about the trip, but I hadn't realized that we varsity swim team, you interned for architecture building off of my previous research in the field. I hope would be hiking at elevations above 7000 feet for the firms and served as director for the Environmental to continue past my undergraduate degree to pursue entire trip. Over the next six days, we summited several Stewardship Fund. Between class and your extensive an MD-PhD and eventually a life-long career as a mountains with 50 pound packs on, I got to explore a campus involvement, how did you stay connected to physician-scientist in the kidney field. I'm really completely different part of the country, and I became your Hellenic-American community on campus? At passionate about this area of research and know that I really close with my fellow classmates. It was super Columbia, I have been a member of OCF, the Orthodox will be able to give back to my family and the millions of rewarding to struggle through the trip and I was so Christian Fellowship, for 3 years, serving a semester as other patients suffering from PKD all over the country happy that I made it!

Vice President during my Junior year. Being a part of through my work.

OCF has been extremely rewarding and beneficial as a And finally, what are your goals for the future? I am means of connecting with my fellow Orthodox You started college with a diverse range of experience hoping to take a gap-year between college and Christians and coming together for prayer and in your field. How has this been useful as a freshman graduate school to work in a research lab in Greece or activities at a level of comfort that only comes with at Stanford? My favorite experience at Stanford so far Cyprus, while preparing my applications for MD-PhD those with whom you share your faith. I’ve made great occurred during my Introduction to Emergency programs. I hope to become a nephrologist and work friends through OCF and look forward to maintaining Medicine class this fall. This class involved two weekly on research as a physician-scientist to treat other lectures, which were supplemented by several people that are also affected by kidney disease. those relationships after graduation.

FAITH is thrilled to launch its FAITH Scholar Spotlight series. Each month, we will highlight recipients of the FAITH Scholarship for Academic Excellence award on our blog at www.thefaithendowment.org/blog. These young people represent some of the brightest young members in the Greek and Hellenic American community who display the scholarly intellect lauded by their Hellenic ancestors and a strong spirit of community service and good citizenship in line with their Greek Orthodox Christian values. We are kickingoff this special FAITH Scholar Spotlight series with Kristina Tougas (2013 FAITH Scholarship recipient) and Demetri Maxim (2016 FAITH scholarship recipient).

NEWS & NOTES

APRIL/MAY 2017

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It's true, this issue came out after the Sunday of Pascha but not after Pascha as some thought and pointed out in phone calls and emails. In the Greek Orthodox tradition Pascha lasts 40 days after the Resurection night and people still say each other Christos Anesti. So, we are on time with our Paschal issue, in fact we are kind of early if we take the tradition seriously. I don't wanna hear any complains about it, besides it's better to be late and noticed than early and lost in the pile of the wishing material that accompanies the holiday.

We have put together another beautiful publication with all kinds of stories and reports and of course your Paschal wishes that have formed

Christos Anesti to all! Happiness and health to your lives, strength and sensitivity to drive us through the turbulent times our world is finding itself in once more. Let us all look for our place in this community of ours and draw strength from each other's weaknesses in order to reaffirm our humanity. And let our fragility as humans be our defining strength in facing the brutality of political correctness and institutional sensitivity that threatens to convert otherwise normal people into extraordinary domesticated savages.

As we crack our Paschal eggs we are also cracking the wall of stupidity that surrounds us, letting the sun come in to enlighten and warm ...

by Demetrios Rhompotis

dondemetrio@neomagazine.com

Maria Petridis Crowned 'Chopped' Champion on Food Network Show

by Markos Papadatos the outcome on which chef was going to get "chopped" from the show.

PHOTO: MARKOS PAPADATOS

Christos Anesti!

another tradition for the 12 years we've been publishing. Big and many thanks to all of you who showed up this year as well, to support this publication that has no hidden backers and plays nobody's games in the community. And many and beautiful wishes to those who couldn't make it this time. We understand and we always appreciate your good will and help that goes beyond any monetary value.

Maria Petridis

M a r i a Pe t r i d i s w a s c r o w n e d "Chopped" champion after triumphing in the competition show on the Food Network. She is the owner of the family restaurant Maria's Mediterranean Seafood & Grill on Bell Boulevard in Bayside, and on Chopped she bested some stiff and intense competition for the $10,000 prize, where she donated the proceeds to the charitable organization, Make-AWish Foundation. The show was televised on December 28 on the Food Network.

Maria Petridis was announced as the winner, and rightfully so. Following the show, where everybody was gathered at Maria's on Bell Boulevard, to watch the outcome live, Petridis made some warm remarks. "Thank you so much.

Thank you for being here. All of you here are so special to me. You are always there when I need you, and I hope that someday I can repay you all back," the culinary queen said, fighting back tears. She went on to tell everybody what a beautiful organization the Make-A-Wish Foundation is, and hopes other people check it out.

Guests were treated to traditional home-made Greek food, which is the motto of her restaurant that everything is "truly home-made." It was following by a celebration that included traditional Greek dancing.

Her concluding thoughts for the local The cooking competition Chopped community are that she hopes to consisted of four chefs being timed to inspire other people to get involved in create three meals: an appetizer in 20 cooking. minutes, a main course in 30 minutes, as well as a dessert in another 30 To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t M a r i a ' s minutes, and they were given specific Mediterranean Seafood & Grill on Bell ingredients for each. After each meal Boulevard in Bayside, Queens, visit was prepared, they had to present it in h e r o f f i c i a l w e b s i t e : front of the judges who determined mariasonbell.com.

Angelos Family & Baltimore Orioles host ‘‘Nashville’s Music Row Comes to the Ballpark’’ Benefit in Sarasota, FL nominated co-writer, and one of the top songwriters in Nashville; Jimmy Robbins, award-winning country radio hit songwriter, Ryan Beaver, one of the “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” according to Rolling Stone; and emerging Nashville writer M a r g a r e t Va l e n t i n e .

Country singer and songwriter, Jenae Cherry, whose husband is Orioles pitcher Brad Brach, performed a special guest.

artists and athletes playing for their community through our ‘Nashville’s Music Row Comes to the Ballpark’ charity cocktail and concert event. This intimate evening on the diamond, hosted by Orioles players and hit Nashville songwriters performing and telling stories about their radio hits and newly-created hits of tomorrow, capitalizes on America’s love affair with country music and the game of baseball and unites our many friends in the Sarasota, Baltimore, and Nashville civic, arts and culture, and charitable communities in raising awareness and financial support for local charities and those they serve.”

Several Leadership 100 Members attended and/or sponsored the evening, including George Tsunis of Chartwell Hotels, George Anderson of Anderson Pete Koroneos, Leslie DiPiero, John P. Angelos, George Petrocheilos Benson, George Petrocheilos of Camden Partners “At the intersection of and Roula Paterakis – wife of the late H&S Bakery For the second consecutive year, the Angelos family and the Baltimore Orioles hosted “Nashville’s Music Sarasota's community values and the Orioles’ magnate, John Paterakis, Sr. Row Comes to the Ballpark” – an exclusive, on-field organizational mission is a shared passion for performance at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, supporting music and the arts, youth education, In the seven years since the Orioles moved Major League Spring Training to Sarasota, more than Florida. Every dollar raised at the charity 765,000 fans have enjoyed Orioles games at Ed event will benefit the Library Foundation Smith Stadium. A recent independent analysis for Sarasota County’s early childhood commissioned by Sarasota County Government literacy programs and the Music Health concluded that the Orioles generate approximately Alliance. $89 million in annual economic impact back to taxpayers and residents. By marketing Sarasota to The event begun with a meet & greet fans in the Mid-Atlantic region, operating a yearreception with Nashville songwriters and round athletic training facility, producing Orioles players. A country-style songwriter entertainment and sporting events, partnering with round performance followed - a concept charitable causes, and hosting and often subsidizing made famous in Nashville and seen on the youth sports tournaments and activities, the Orioles hit television show Nashville. Performers Lee Ann & George Anderson, Roula Paterakis demonstrate an abiding commitment to their included Liz Rose, Grammy Award and Florida home that goes far beyond baseball.

American Country Music Award- winning (wife of H&S Bakery magnate John Paterakis, Sr.) songwriter; Laura Veltz, Grammy and John Henry Iucker and affordable health care to those most in need,” said John P. Angelos, COO & Executive Vice President of the Baltimore Orioles. He is also the President of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and the eldest son of Orioles owner, Peter G. Angelos.

Liz Rose performs “White Horse,” which she co-wrote with Taylor Swift, with songwriters Margaret Valentine and Laura Veltz overlooking

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APRIL/MAY 2017 NEWS & NOTES

Angelos also added that “Through the special relationship shared by the Orioles Baseball and Nashville Music Row communities, we are proud to annually bring together world-class

Louis, Taryn and Peter Angelos

PHOTOS: YOUROBSERVER.COM