HSF Recipients. (Photo by Harry Barba)
Beneath the ornate ceilings and glowing chandeliers of the McGill University Faculty Club, a profound sense of cultural pride filled the room as the community gathered to celebrate the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring vitality of the Greek language. The thirty-seventh annual awards ceremony of the Hellenic Scholarships Foundation honored 16 university students, intertwining the ancient Greek ideal of excellence with a modern commitment to preserving Hellenic heritage through higher education. The event on February 27, 2026, brought together academic leaders, dignitaries, and families to recognize the achievements of the diaspora youth, underscoring the critical role of civic engagement in maintaining cultural identity abroad.
Officials sat at a long table draped in burgundy cloth on a raised platform, overlooking an audience deeply invested in the intellectual future of the community. The Hellenic Scholarships Foundation was established in 1987 by university academics of Hellenic origin together with the student associations of McGill and Concordia Universities to encourage students attending institutions of higher learning in the province of Quebec. Recognizing that educational support is a vital tool for preserving regional Greek culture for future generations, the organization aims to inspire a healthy academic drive and create role models who will carry forward the values of their ancestors.
The foundation operates on the core philosophy of “aristeia”, the ancient Greek concept of excellence. Professor George Demopoulos, a member of the academic committee, explained that the selection process was highly rigorous, reflecting the high standards of the Greek-Canadian student body. He stated that “whatever the Greeks have done, they have tried to do it in the best way,” adding that they always strive “to reach excellence” and that the event was a true celebration of that pursuit. The committee received 35 applications for the 16 available scholarships, resulting in a 45 percent success rate. Demopoulos noted that “it was very difficult work, because almost all the candidacies were of equal merit,” forcing the committee to apply their criteria quite strictly with excellence as the fundamental baseline.
Doctor Evangelia Lila Amirali co-hosted the evening alongside Professor Eva Kehayia, stepping in for her husband, foundation president Doctor John Hadjinicolaou, who was unable to attend. Reading his prepared remarks from the official event program, Amirali shared the extensive history of the organization and its ongoing mission. She relayed his message stating that “for the thirty-seventh consecutive year, the Hellenic Scholarships Foundation devotes this special evening to the university students of the Hellenic community of Quebec”. The statement further emphasized that the community must “celebrate those who will hopefully be the successful pioneers of the scientific, academic and professional world of tomorrow,” serving as “able representatives, leaders and ambassadors of the Hellenic heritage”. Including this year, the foundation has awarded 297 scholarships to 133 men and 164 women, representing a total of 504,100 dollars distributed over the decades.
The impact of the foundation extends deeply into the personal lives of the community, as evidenced by conversations held during the gathering. Eleni Drakopoulou, a retired teacher, expressed her immense pride in seeing children she once taught now standing as university scholars. She stated that she attends the ceremony every year because she has “the great joy and emotion to see my old students being awarded”. Drakopoulou added that “the joy and pride I feel for these children is indescribable,” noting that educators truly feel these students are their own children. Antonia Macris, a committee member who received a scholarship in 2020, spoke about her motivation to give back to the organization. Macris mentioned that “it is a great honor” to return, explaining that seeing what the foundation gave her and other students made her want to continue to give back and do more each year for the new candidates.
The ceremony prominently featured the personal experiences of past recipients who have since built successful careers. Katerina Lagopati, who received a certificate of academic excellence from the foundation in 1998 for her graduate studies in music performance, delivered a moving keynote address. Lagopati described her return to the podium 28 years later as a deeply emotional experience. She recalled that receiving the award “was a validation, a public acknowledgement, a realization of my effort, my efforts and my hard work”. She urged the new recipients to “remember your roots,” stating that “Hellenism laid essential foundations for Western civilization, creating a cosmopolitan, interconnected world”. She reminded the audience of the ancient maxim inscribed at Delphi to know thyself, calling self-awareness the foundation of true wisdom.
Before the formal distribution of the awards, the proceedings paused for a musical interlude that further highlighted the cultural richness of the evening. Pianist Janette Wolff took to the grand piano to play an adagio by Marcello transcribed by Johann Sebastian Bach, a waltz by Frederic Chopin, and a prelude by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Following the musical presentation, the foundation officially awarded the scholarships to the meritorious graduates. The 16 recipients represented a wide array of academic disciplines across universities in the province of Quebec. The students recognized included scholars specializing in occupational therapy, psychology, pediatrics, mechanical engineering, and history. Polychronia Aretakis, a graduate student in music at McGill University, received an award sponsored by the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal for her passion for Greek musical traditions. Anthony Georgaros, studying history and classics, was recognized for his research into the historical movement of the Kollyvades and his active involvement in Byzantine music. Peter Nikoletopoulos, a second-year medical student at McGill University, received the Doctor Peter Varvarikos Scholarship and was recognized for his leadership of an exploratory medical team comprising 50 volunteer assistants. These diverse fields of study reflect the multifaceted ways in which the diaspora youth are contributing to both Canadian society and the preservation of Greek cultural heritage.
The financial and emotional support provided by these awards has left lasting impressions on previous recipients, as documented in the organization’s records. Georgia-Maria Kalogirou, a previous scholarship recipient from McGill University, stated that the award contributed significantly to covering her tuition fees as an international graduate student, relieving her from a great amount of stress. Kalogirou emphasized that the foundation made her feel like part of a huge and valuable network, making her feel that she is “part of another family” despite being so many kilometers away from home. Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, who received the Pink in the City scholarship, shared that the financial support enabled her to publish her thesis work on pediatric cancer and present at an international clinical conference. Rahimzadeh noted that she gained lifelong friendships and expanded her network of mentors who share her commitment to promoting Hellenism in spheres of higher education.
Community leaders emphasized the reciprocal relationship between the scholars and the society that supports them, urging the youth to remain engaged with their roots. Basile Angelopoulos, the president of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, addressed the students directly with a message of civic responsibility. He expressed the immense pride felt by the entire community, telling the students that “you are our children,” “you are our future,” and “you are our hope”. Angelopoulos referenced the Athenian leader Pericles, who believed that citizens must serve the public good. He told the students that they “have an obligation of service to the community,” explaining that “community is me, community is you, community is all of us together”. He instructed the scholars to “have it always in your mind that this community will always need you” and that they will have, sooner or later, the feeling that it is time to give back.
Various organizations sponsored specific awards, demonstrating a broad network of support across different professional sectors. Doctor Marietta Varvarikos, president of the Hellenic Medical Association of Quebec, presented three scholarships to medical students. She assured the recipients that the medical association exists to be a pillar of support for them throughout their careers. Varvarikos also honored the legacy of past presidents, including Doctor Peter Varvarikos, describing them as essential role models who led with a deep love for the youth. Member of the National Assembly for Chomedey-Laval Sona Lakhoyan Olivier and Member of Parliament Annie Koutrakis also attended the event to present an award, praising the new generation and the exceptional quality of the students recognized.
Amidst the celebration of academic triumph, the gathering observed a moment of deep solemnity to honor lives lost and demonstrate solidarity with the homeland. Kyriaki Speri, a reporter covering the event, addressed the room and requested a minute of silence. The audience stood in quiet reflection for the 57 victims, many of them university students, who died in the Tempi train crash in Greece on the same date in previous years.
After the final expressions of gratitude to the academic committee, volunteers, and media were delivered by the hosts, the formal proceedings concluded. The evening then moved directly into a reception, allowing students, families, and organizers to gather and converse.
