And they’re off! Every year, the National Hellenic Society sponsors Greek American college students on a two-week educational and cultural immersion experience at the American College of Greece to discover their heritage and culture through the Heritage Greece Program. This year, we are proud to sponsor 65 participants, joined by 13 peer students from ACG.

Meeting in Washington, DC before heading to Greece tonight, the group visited the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies, where they heard from several classicist and fellows, and the Greek Embassy where His Excellency Ambassador Lalacos and his diplomatic corps welcomed the participants and provided an overview of Greece’s challenges. They then visited Capitol Hill, where they met with Congressman John Sarbanes, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and the staffs of Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congressman Charlie Crist, and Congresswoman Dina Titus! This is just the beginning of a life-long commitment to these Greek American ambassadors of Hellenic heritage!

Safe travels and καλό ταξίδι παιδιά!

 
This is America & the World is a series hosted by Dennis Wholey, a journalist and best-selling author with over 40 years of broadcast experience. The weekly series covers international affairs and is produced in Washington, D.C., featuring countries around the world. The series is broadcast nationally on public television and PBS stations, and it is distributed internationally by Voice of America Television. Dennis explores the cultural, social and political lives of people around the world.
 
The 3-part series of This is America Visits Greece was shot in Greece and airs as follows: Part I on Sunday, July 9; Part II on Sunday, July 16; and Part Episode III on Sunday, July 23.  
 
Thanks to the George & Judy Marcus Family Foundation, the National Hellenic Society (NHS), American College of Greece (ACG), and the Heritage Greece Program will be highlighted in Part II on Sunday, July 16 at 10:00. The episode will feature interviews of several Heritage Greece Program participants and the American College of Greece President, David Horner.

With the help of member John Stratakis with Poles, Tublin, Stratakis, Gonzales, & Weichert, LLC and Clay Maitland with International Registries, the NHS hosted a reception for Heritage Greece students at the Yacht Club of Greece. Distinguished guests included HRH Princess Tatiana Blatnik, former Minister of Health and current Member of Parliament, Adonis Georgiadis, Dr. Dimitrios Andreou, Vice President of Enrollment and Administration of Deree, Peter Poulos, Director of Development for the Hellenic Initiative.

The NHS would like to thank the event's sponsors for offering Heritage Greece students this once in a lifetime experience!

Heritage Greece 2017 has officially begun! Sixty-two students will share a two-and-a-half week cultural and educational immersion experience at the American College of Greece in Athens. It is a cultural, educational, and inspirational odyssey, and participants are accompanied by 20 students from the American College of Greece. It is a trip that alumni have described as a life-changing experience. The group met on Thursday, June 8 for orientation in Washington, DC, and a reception was graciously hosted at AHEPA Headquarters with the Heritage Greece 2017 class, NHS members, and Greek American mentors in attendance. The students will leave the following day.

Heritage Greece is about “connections”– connecting the students to their respective Greek roots, heritage, identity, and to one another as they forge life-long relationships.  This year marks the eighth year of NHS’ empirical studies of the Heritage Greece Program, and we’ve compiled enough data to support a broader study of the positive impact the Program has on these students and their families. It is truly remarkable! This year’s Heritage Greece trip includes taking a Greek language class at the American College of Greece, touring the Parthenon and Delphi, taking a weekend trip to the Peloponnesus, and more!

Heritage Greece 2016 has officially begun! Fifty students will share a two-and-a-half week cultural and educational immersion experience at the American College of Greece in Athens. It is a cultural, educational, and inspirational odyssey, and participants are accompanied by 20 students from the American College of Greece. It is a trip that alumni have described as a life-changing experience. The group met on Thursday, June 9 for orientation
in Washington, DC, and a reception was graciously hosted at AHEPA Headquarters with the Heritage Greece 2017 class, NHS members, and Greek American mentors in attendance. The students will leave the following day.

Heritage Greece is about "connections"-- connecting the students to their respective Greek roots, heritage, identity, and to one another as they forge life-long relationships.  This year marks the seventh year of NHS' empirical studies of the Heritage Greece Program, and we've compiled enough data to
support a broader study of the positive impact the Program has on these students and their families. It is truly remarkable! This year's Heritage Greece trip includes taking a Greek language class at the American College of Greece, touring the Parthenon and Delphi, taking a weekend trip to Crete,
and more!

The Heritage Greece 2016 program application deadline is now closed. We look forward to welcoming the 2016 cohort this June!

Watch the February 22, 2016 episode of The Greek Program with Eleni Vidalis where she and guest host Mr. Costas Sideridis of the National Hellenic Society spoke with Alexi and Noelle about their experience with the Heritage Greece program they participated in. CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Heritage Greece (HG) is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore Greek heritage, culture and identity. The HG experience continues beyond Greece as HG alumni avail themselves of opportunities to develop professionally as part of the HG Alumni Network.

Heritage Greece 2016 is an unforgettable journey to Greece tailored to connect students with their Greek identity and roots through a cultural immersion experience! The program was developed by the National Hellenic Society and is hosted by The American College of Greece (ACG).