The first cohort of Greek-American college students has just returned from an extraordinary two-week cultural and educational immersion in Greece, marking the successful completion of the National Hellenic Society’s (NHS) acclaimed Heritage Greece Program.
Far more than a simple trip, this “odyssey” allowed participants to deeply connect with their Hellenic heritage through a rich tapestry of experiences across their ancestral homeland.
The students share their experiences with a peer group of exceptional students from the American College of Greece (ACG) in Athens. The program’s goal is to reconnect the participants with their heritage, roots, language, traditions and Greek identity.
They have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore their culture, as well as to identify and learn about the ancient past within the prism and context of modern Greece.
It was developed by the NHS as part of its mission to celebrate and preserve Greek heritage in the United States. The Heritage Greece Program started at ACG, located on a 65-acre beautiful campus in the suburb of Aghia Paraskevi in Athens.
In 2022, the NHS reached a milestone with the addition of the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), giving over 100+ students, including 9 Greek Canadian students, the opportunity to experience Greece in all its nuances. Last year, College Year in Athens (CYA), based in the heart of Athens, joined the program with a two-week learning adventure focusing on Democracy through the ages.
The National Hellenic Society (NHS), an association of Greek American leaders, visionaries, and philanthropists, is at the forefront of efforts to keep the next generation of Greek Americans engaged with Greece and their heritage.
NHS Chairman Drake G. Behrakis, a second-generation Greek, recently told Greek Reporter that “our focus is to maintain Greek culture for the next generation.”
He added, “Many of the students have never been to Greece. We offer them the experience of going to Greece and connecting with Greek students.”
Greek-American students bear a portion of the airfare costs to and from Athens, while expenses including tuition, transportation, meals, and other related costs are borne by the NHS. Students learn language skills within the context of modern Greece and travel to important archaeological locations and museums.
“There is something special about going to the country and experiencing what the country has to offer. The ancient sites, the history, the cuisine, the landscape, a lot of things that people at a young age may find appealing when they go to Greece,” Behrakis said recently.
The National Hellenic Society is now also accepting applications for Heritage America 2025, an educational and cultural program for college students and young professionals in their 20s, developed and hosted by the NHS in collaboration with Manatos & Manatos. This year, the Heritage America Program will run from July 29 – 31, 2025.
Up to 20 participants will be accepted and invited to Washington, DC to join in all activities in person beginning on Tuesday, July 29 in the afternoon and culminating on Thursday, July 31 in the afternoon. The NHS will cover all expenses while students are in town, including lodging, transportation, and meals.
