24 Mar Awarding of Student Competition Prizes
In a packed hall at the National Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” in Halepa, the awards ceremony for the Panhellenic Student Essay Competition for 3rd-year Lyceum students took place on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The theme of this year’s competition was: “The significance of the revolutionary mobilization of Therisos in the emergence of Eleftherios Venizelos as a national leader.” The competition was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.
In his opening address, the Foundation’s General Director, Mr. Nikos Papadakis, highlighted the completion of 25 years since the Foundation’s establishment in 2000, under the visionary leadership of the late Hierarch of Crete, Irineos Galanakis. A brief presentation on the Foundation’s educational initiatives was delivered by Deputy Director Ms. Argyro Vatsaki.
The first three prizes were awarded to the following students: Maria Toka (1st General Lyceum of Igoumenitsa), Maria-Zoi Parouti (American Farm School, Thessaloniki), Varvara Papadopoulou (E. Mantoulidis Schools, Thessaloniki). The prizes were accompanied by monetary awards, offered in memory of Captain Yannis Kalogeris (1st Prize, donation by the Kalogeris Family), Iosif Smyrlakis (2nd Prize, donation by Argyro Haniotaki-Smyrlaki), Georgios Vogiatzakis (3rd Prize, donation by Fali Vogiatzaki)
In addition, commendations were awarded to students from the following schools for their participation: the General Lyceums of Souda, Akrotiri, and Voukolies.
The event concluded with the announcement of Mr. Aris Gerontas and Mr. Georgios Pampoukis as new partners of the Foundation, in recognition of their generous contributions.
The ceremony was attended by: Member of Parliament for Chania Ms. Dora Bakoyannis, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Ms. Sevi Voloudaki, Chania MP Mr. Alexandros Markogiannakis and MP Mr. Evangelos Apostolakis, Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino, Amfilochios, Regional Governor of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, Deputy Regional Governor of Chania, Mr. Nikos Kalogeris, Mayor of Chania, Mr. Panagiotis Simandirakis, representatives of political, military, and security forces, as well as local institutions and organizations.