Agris Scholarships kick off 21st year with over $400,000 in grants
given to Greek American journalism students from across the nation
~ Deadline for 2013 applications is March 1 ~
BOSTON – Hellenes across America tuning in for the latest on air news, searching cutting edge web publications, tapping online resources for travel tips or just perusing a magazine feature article have most definitely come across the name or face of a former recipient of the Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarships.
This two-decade strong collaboration of the Alpha Omega Council of New England and the family of its founder, has provided over $400,000 in grants to 81 Greek Americans seeking to present their Hellenic heritage and their Orthodox faith to our nation through careers in journalism and related communications fields.
Since its inception in 1976, The Alpha Omega Council has united Americans of Hellenic ancestry in fellowship and philanthropy, having donated more than $1,500,000 to charitable and educational causes, including the Agris Journalism Scholarships. The grants honor the organization’s late founder, Peter Agris, also the founder and publisher of The Hellenic Chronicle, for fifty years the premier Greek American national English-language weekly newspaper in this country.
Agris, who died in 1989, was also an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Church, a trustee of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, Anatolia College, The American College of Greece and an Ahepan.
The six $5,000 non-renewable scholarships will be presented on June 8, 2013, at the Alpha Omega Council’s Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner, during which time the National Philoptochos Society, the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the regional Metropolis of Boston Philoptochos will be honored for their eight decades of dedicated service to improve the quality of life for those in need across America, in Greece and beyond.
“I’m fortunate enough to have met Mr. Agris when I first got to Boston 20+ years ago. I’m glad that he is remembered in this way,” volunteered Manny Paraschos, professor of journalism/mass communication at Emerson College, Boston . “He was a pioneer in Greek journalism in America. Over the years, several of my students have been fortunate enough to have won this scholarship.”
After serving as press assistant to AL Rep. Bobby Bright, 2007 recipient Calliope (Callie) Corley landed a position as news content specialist at the 4th ranked NBC affiliate WSFA 12 News in Montgomery, AL. “I owe a lot of thanks to the Peter Agris Memorial Scholarship and the Alpha Omega Council for their encouragement and support of aspiring Greek-American journalists. I am very proud to be a past recipient.”
Ohio native and 2008 recipient Lauren Gunias said recently: “Thanks to the Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarship, I was able to receive my master’s in broadcast journalism from the University of the Arts London; London College of Communication. Since graduation, I have worked in a journalistic capacity for CNN International, BBC Newsnight and Press TV.”
Crediting the Peter Agris Scholarships for critical support during his undergraduate work, 2009 recipient and Worcester, MA area native Jack Nicas recently headed to Chicago to write for The Wall Street Journal after stints at The Boston Globe and The St. Petersburg Times.
Prerequisites for the scholarship include: Greek American heritage; U.S. citizenship; current full-time enrollment as a journalism or related communications major at the graduate or undergraduate level in an accredited college or university in the United States; active participation in school, community, church organizations; a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
Interested candidates may visit the scholarship’s Facebook page, download an application at www.alphaomegacouncil.com or write to: The Peter Agris Memorial Scholarships Committee, c/o Nancy Agris Savage, 9 Nonesuch Drive, Natick, MA 01760. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
Applications, transcripts, a required essay and any published work that might enhance the application must be returned by email to [email protected], or by mail to the above address, no later than March 1, 2013.
