Heritage America PROGRAM 2017 : July 13-16

Last year, the Heritage America Program ran from July 13 - 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. This program distills the salient features of the study abroad experience and delivers it on the local/regional level. This unique and proprietary program reconnects college-aged Greek American students with their roots, heritage, culture and Hellenic identity through the prism of the American experience. Students learn little-known information about the rise of Greeks in America over the last 100 years.

This program better enables these students to glean the elements contributed to our amalgamated Greek American culture that came from their Hellenic background and which came from the “American Way.”

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Heritage America 2017 Photo Galleries

Heritage America Day 1Photos
Heritage America Day 2 Photos
Heritage America Day 3 Photos
Heritage America Day 4 Photos

2017 Heritage America Who's Who

The NHS and Manatos & Manatos, a leading government relations and advocacy firm, collaborated to develop the NHS Heritage America Program -- an experiential odyssey connecting Greek American college students to their Hellenic roots, heritage and culture within the context and resources Washington, DC has to offer.  Candidates selected for this program have the opportunity to meet  a who's-who of Greek American decision makers, business leaders and other important contacts who will serve as future mentors and career guides for Heritage America alumni.

Cabinet Secretaries and Party Heads: 

• The first US Director of National Intelligence and former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte
• Former Nominee for President of the United States and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis (via Telephone)

 
Members of the US Congress:

• Former Senate Banking Committee Chairman, Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD)
• Congressman Charlie Crist (FL)
• Congressman John Sarbanes (MD)
• Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV)
• Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA)

 
Senior White House and Administration Officials:

• Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Global Forces Admiral James Stavridis (Skype)
• White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios
• Deputy Counsel to the President Greg Katsas
• State Department Director for European and Eurasian Public Affairs Athena Katsoulos
• Former Military Psychiatrist and Consultant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Brigadier General Stephen Xenakis
• FDA’s Associate Commissioner for External Affairs Jack Kalavritrinos
• Commerce Department Press Secretary & Deputy Director of Public Affairs James Rockas
• Former Special Assistant to the Chairman, Republican National Committee Alex Angelson
• White House Office of Public Liaison Staff Assistant Alexandra Veletsis

 
Senior US Congress Staff:

• Superintendent of the United States Senate Office Buildings, Takis Tzamaras
• Chief of Staff for Congressman David Cicilline, Peter Karafotas
• President of the Greek-American Congressional Staffers Association, Helena Mastrogiannis

 

Prominent Lobbyists and Attorneys:

• Lobbyist and attorney Manny Rouvelas
• Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce and lobbyist Andy Manatos
• Manatos & Manatos President, Mike Manatos
• Spotify’s Vice President of Government Relations, Tom Manatos

 
Ambassadors:

• Ambassador of Greece to the United States Haris Lalacos

 
 Media:

• Fox News Channel Chief Congressional Correspondent Mike Emanuel
• WTOP Radio Sports Director George Wallace
• Former Fox 5 News Anchor and Reporter Laura Evans Manatos
  

Prominent Businessmen:

• WWII Veteran and businessman Steve Yeonas and his son Steve Yeonas, Jr.
• Baltimore Orioles COO, EVP and Partner John Angelos
• New Atlantic Ventures Managing Partner Thanassis Delisthathis

 
Academicians:

• One of the country’s best experts on the history of Greek-America, Haverford Professor Alexander Kitroeff

 
Heads of National Greek-American Organizations

• National Hellenic Society (NHS) Executive Director, Art Dimopoulos
• AHEPA Executive Director, Basil Mossaidis
• American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President, Nick Larigakis