Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) celebrated the accomplishments of the Higher VCE achievers of the Greek heritage on Tuesday, December 19 The atmosphere at the Greek Centre was buzzing as families, friends, community members, and a GCM Board of Directors delegation gathered to applaud the excellence of the young achievers and to honour their outstanding accomplishments.
The event showcased these talented individuals’ dedication and hard work.
Odysseas Kripotos delivering welcoming remarks while hosting the night proceedings then GCM president Bill Papastergiadis, OAM, opened his speech by quoting parts from Prof. Nick Papastergiadis’ piece in Neos Kosmos, On not being an idiot.
He encouraged the students to continue pursuing excellence and emphasised the importance of education in shaping a brighter future.
“Let us now look over the school fence and see what the rest of the world can offer. Education begins by asking why, and learning is about how you learn to follow those blind leads.
“These little moments can seem trivial, obscure, and idle, but they are turning points. Staying connected to people who share your values and turning thoughts inside out has been the most valuable lesson in my life.”
Papastergiadis then directed his comments to the students, “These awards are a momentous occasion, highlighting not only the individual accomplishments of the students but also the collaborative efforts of educators and parents, who play pivotal roles in shaping the educational landscape. Continue to engage with the Greek Community, become members, attend our events, and volunteer for projects. Your achievements reflect not only your personal dedication but also the strength of our community.
“You are the ambassadors of Hellenic excellence, our future educators, and the future of the Greek community. You are the people who will drive change, continue to regenerate our community, and contribute to this great multicultural city that we live in. Become a citizen of the world”.
Consul General Emmanuel Kakavelakis then urged students to persist in their pursuit of excellence. He congratulated all the students for their achievements, underscoring the significance of education in safeguarding cultural heritage.
“This is the beginning of a journey for life. Set goals with persistence and patience to achieve them. Navigate with ‘philotimo,’ a code to respect yourself and others and defend what you love.
“The democracy in which you were born and raised is not a given nor eternal.
Read the classical authors and explore poetry and theatre.
“Find a quote that inspires you. After all, it’s cool to be Greek!”
GCM board members presented certificates of excellence to the young scholars after the speeches. GCM head of education, Dr. Nick Dallas, called it a “moving event.”
“Let’s hope this recognition catalyses these students to develop closer ties with the GCM as they are the successor generation,” Dr Dallas said.
The GCM awarded 15 students with a score above 40 and sat the lesson on Modern Greek. A raw score of 35 in Classical Greek was achieved only by one student, and more than 80 students who had a score above 47 in any of their unit 3+4 subjects received an excellence award.
A highlight was the recognition of the student, Alexander Petro Georgiou from Melbourne Grammar School, who scored perfectly in three of his unit 3+4 subjects.
He was presented with a special award, a round ticket to Greece, sponsored by the GCM Vice President, Micheal Karamitos.
“It is inspiring to witness the passion and determination of these young minds,” Karamitos said.
