On March 30, Saint Demetrios held ceremonies to honor the academic achievements of its students for 2016. The Sixth Grade Pinning Ceremony and the Induction of 9th and 11th Grade to the Athenian Chapter of the National Honor Society was held at the Patrides Cultural Center of the Saint Demetrios School. Dean of Saint Demetrios Cathedral Reverend Father Nektarios Papazafiropoulos, Chairman of the School Board Nick A. Andriotis, Parish Council President Emmanuel Dritsas, joined faculty, staff members, students, and parents to celebrate another successful year at the school. Among the 34 sixth graders marking the transition from elementary to junior high school were Katerina Padula and Ilias Rondos who read essays in Greek about the true meaning of their education at Saint Demetrios. Dimitrios Giannopoulos and Nicole-Katerina Tilakos read the Sixth Grade Creed, affirming, along with their classmates, the dedication to their school with the proclamation that they are Saint Demetrios. Icons of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine, and the pins for the students’ blazers were distributed to the sixth graders. PTA President, Dr. Maria Asprogerakas presented two students with icons for their participation in the highly competitive Scripps Citywide Spelling Bee. Out of the 70 top spellers from all of New York City, Nicoletta Baltzis finished in 3rd place and Evgenia Katehis finished 15th in the competition.
Supervising Principal, Dr. Anastasios Koularmanis, and College Advisor Ms. Helen Karagiorgios presented the Class of 2016 Valedictorian Christina Katehis, Salutatorian Julia Kokkosis, and Outstanding Female Student Vasiliki Yokovon. The students are all looking forward to bright futures as they plan to start college in the fall. All three maintained academic excellence while volunteering in the community. Valedictorian Christina Katehis was accepted at a number of top colleges and plans on studying science with dentistry as her chosen field. Salutatorian Julia Kokkosis heads to Long Island University College of Pharmacy in the fall. Also planning to study pharmacy, outstanding female student for 2016 and student council president Vasiliki Yokovon will attend Saint John’s University College of Pharmacy this fall.
The Induction into the Athenian Chapter of the National Honor Society for 26 students in the 9th and 11th grades honors their academic achievement as well as their commitment to good citizenship, moral conduct, and community service. The oath was administered by the Class of 2016 Valedictorian Christina Katehis. The students join the hundreds of alumni of Saint Demetrios who have been inducted into the Athenian Chapter of the National Honor Society, founded in 1984 at Saint Demetrios High School. The goal of the society is to recognize scholarly efforts and success while also encouraging moral values and a positive engagement with the community through service. The National Honor Society was established in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Saint Demetrios School opened for grades kindergarten through 8 in 1957 with just 267 students and continues to thrive. Through the expansion of the community and continued dedication and hard work, there are now over 700 students attending. Saint Demetrios remains the only Greek-American school with grades pre-school through 12 in the United States.