St. Basil Academy Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary

The Academy of St. Basil cele
brated its fiftieth anniversary
with a jubilee luncheon at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York
City on Sunday, December 18, 1994.
This auspicious event commemorated
a half-century of dedicated service by
the Academy to the children of the Archdiocese
of North and South America,
who have been educated, nurtured and
loved. "The Academy has inspired these
thousands of children to live their lives
honorably, and has imparted to them,
the rich and fulfilling teachings of our
Orthodox Christian faith" said Academy
President, Maria Logus.
The Academy of St. Basil has been
St. Basil Academy Celebrates
Fiftieth Anniversary
Left to right; Mrs. Callie Condiles, Luncheon Co-Chairman,
Mrs. Beatrice Marks, Nat'l Philoptochos President, Mrs. Irene
Philip, Luncheon Co-Chairman, Mr. Demetrios Costaras,
Master of Ceremonies, Pres. ofArch. Cathedral, Mrs Efthalia
Katos, Luncheon Co-Chairman, Mr. N. Andriopoulos,
representing the G. Papaeleas Estate, Great Benefactor, Mr.
Chas Georgeson, AHEPA, Supreme President, Great
Benefactor, Ms. Maria Logus, Academy President, His
FEBRUARY, 1995
BY IRENE PHILIP
the beneficiary of many great and selfless
benefactors and during this jubilee
luncheon, these Great Benefactors were
honored for their generosity. Greek Orthodox
Ladies Philoptochos Society -
represented by Mimi Skandalakis, National
President, AHEPA (American
Hellenic Education Progressive Association)
— represented by Supreme President
Charles Georgeson, Daughters of
Penelope — represented by Cornelia Pappas,
Pan Arcadian Federation — represented
by George Toubekis, President,
His Grace Bishop Germanos of Costantia,
Mr. and Mrs. George Chimples, Mr.
and Mrs. William Chirgotis, Mr. Nickolas
Sumas — represented by nephew
James Saitas, The Estate of Maria and
Achilles Stefopoulos, The Estate of Gregory
Thompas, The Estate of Leonidas
Lantzounis, The Estate of Xanthippi
Stavros, The Estate of George Spyropoulos
— represented by Peggy Labbares.
The Estate of George Papaeleas
— represented by Nicholas Andriopoulos.
Also present at this special luncheon
were many of the graduates of the
Teachers Training College who came to
be a part of this fiftieth year celebration.
The Archdiocesan Department of Education
was also represented, West Point
Academy was represented by Cadet Alexander
Brazko, a third year student and
Eminence Archbishop lakovos, Mrs. Mimi Skandalakis, Nat'l
Philoptochos President, Great Benefactor, Mrs. Cornelia
Pappas, representing the Daughters of Penelope, Great
Benefactor, Mrs. George Chimplis, Great Benefactor, Mr.
William Chirgotis, Great Benefactor, Mr. George Toubekis, rep.
Pan Arcadian Federation, Great Benefactor, Mr. James Saitas,
nephew ofMr. Nicholas Sumas, Great Benefactor, Mr. George
Chimples, Great Benefactor Photos by Dimitris Panagos
17

of the orthodox faith.
This successful anniversary luncheon
at the Waldorf-Astoria, with approximately
five hundred guests in the Grand
Ballroom, was adorned with Christmas
decorations and was festive, in all its
splendor.
The Co-Chairmen for this event were:
Mrs. Callie Condiles, Mrs. Efthalia
Katos and Mrs. Irene Philip, Trustees
of the Academy. The newly appointed
President, Ms. Maria Logus, conveyed
her message. Mr. Demetrios Costaras,
former Academy President and President
of the Archdiocesan Cathedral
Board of Trustees was Master of Ceremonies.
United States Senator, Olympia
Snowe of Maine, a former student
and graduate of the Academy was unable
to attend the luncheon, sent a letter
congratulating the Academy on its fiftieth
year.
The keynote speaker was Reverend
Spencer T. Kezios, pastor of the St.
Nicholas Church in Northridge, California,
who offered a moving speech. His
Eminence spoke and reflected on the
Academy's fifty years.
His message stated: "As I contemplate
the jubilee luncheon honoring fifty
years of care to God's children, I know
that the loving hearts of thousands of
faithful people, Clergy and Laity, who
have supported the mission of St. Basil's
Academy are filled with joy". The
Academy's children's choir sang a medley
of songs. Niko Zaharopoulos'
Christman music and old favorites were
enjoyed by everyone.
18
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Left to right; Luncheon Co-Chairmen & Committee Chairmen; Front Mrs. Irene
Philip, Ms. Maria Logus, Mrs. Efthalia Katos; Rear Mrs. Eva Vardakis, Mrs. Sylvia
Vellios, Mrs. Algeria Logus and Mrs. Maria Makedon-Fountas
THE HISTORY
OF THE ACADEMY
Saint Basil Academy was founded in
1944 by the late Patriarch Athenagoras
on property purchased by the National
Philoptochos Society. Initially the Academy
was established as a safe haven for
orphaned children. In responding to
parish needs, Saint Basil Academy
founded and instituted a Teachers'
Training College which would provide
teachers of Modern Greek for the educational
system of the Greek Orthodox
MOTOR LODGE
& RESTAURANT
r
Photos by Dimitris Panagos
Archdiocese of North and South America.
Located fifty miles north of New
York City on 250 scenic acres along the
Hudson River, the Academy takes its
name from Saint Basil the Great, a Father
of the Christian Orthodox Church,
who established the unique city of Basilic
which served as a center of faith and
career preparation. Following the teaching
example of St. Basil, the Academy
offers its students a well developed academic
program and an environment
conducive to learning and living important
aspects of Hellenic culture grounded
in Christian Orthodox values and
precepts.
Primarily a school and residential
center for children who are either orphaned,
abandoned, from a broken family,
poor or indigent with a present population
of approximately sixtyfive children.
Special programs have been designed
to accommodate the emotional
needs of the students, and to help correct
any psychological problems. Many
organizations throughout the Archdiocese
support the Academy, not only
monetarily and with commodities, but
also with love and concern for the Academy.
Annual visits average between six
to seven thousand people.
Saint Basil Academy is chartered by
FEBRUARY, 1995

Academy of St. Basil Choir at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
during services preceeding Luncheon Photos by Dimitris Panagos
His Eminence Archbishop lakovos, Mrs. Lily Katos, Mr. Demetrios Costaras, Ms.
Maria Logus Photos by Dimitris Panagos
the New York State Board of Educa- Basil Academy from other similar cam-
tion. The present scope of the education- puses and schools. ❑
al program is grades K-8. The Academy
assigns each student to a spiritual
father with whom the student interacts
during the school year. Considerable
attention is paid to the emotional development
of the student. The resident child
care staff persons are sensitive to these
needs and provide the necessary support,
guidance and provide a role model for
the children This distinguishes Saint
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Universities
Should Divest
Financial Holdings
in Turkey
The American Hellenic Institute
(AHI), The American Hellenic Educational
Progressive Association (AH-
EPA), the Hellenic American National
Council (HANC), the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA),
and the Kurdish National Congress of
North America (KNC) have sent a letter
to over 200 university Presidents in
all 50 states of the United States calling
on them and their Board of Trustees to
divest all of their holdings in companies
that do business in or with Turkey because
of the government of Turkeyos
horrendous and continuing human
rights violations in Turkey and Cyprus
and its illegal embargo of Armenia.
Citing the case of South Africa during
the anti-apartheid movement, AHI,
AHEPA, HANC, ANCA and the KNC,
ask that the international community,
led by the United States, stand up to
Turkey's violations of international law
and its disregard for the most essential
of human rights.
The letter cites numerous documented
violations of international law and
human rights by Turkey, including
Amnesty International Reports, Helsinki
Watch Reports, Freedom House Reports,
Humanitarian Law Project Report,
Report of the Association of the
Bar of the City of New York„ European
Commission on Human Rights Reports,
newspaper articles, and op-ed
page articles.
Eugene T. Rossides, AHI Chairman
stated: "It is important that grass roots
America apply pressure on the Government
of Turkey by calling on our universities
to divest all of their financial
holdings in companies that do business
in or with Turkey until Turkey stops its
violations of international law and of the
human rights of its Kurdish minority,
its citizens generally, and the Greek Cypriots,
and lifts its illegal embargo of Armenia.
We will follow up our letter with
a joint grass roots effort in every state
and with student groups on each campus."
FEBRUARY, 1995 19