Historical Greek Society Honors Stella Kokolis

NEO’s Margarita Vartholomeou, Member of Parliament Asimina Skondra and Stella Kokolis, PHOTO: GOGO THANASAKI

The Athens Andros Society honored shipowner Adamantios Polemis, Greek-American educator and community leader Stella Kokolis and the local newspaper “Andriaki” for their devotion and longterm contribution to the island of Andros.
The historical Andros Society was established in Athens with the aim to preserve and promote the cultural values, the historical traditions and the social character of the Andros island. For its work, the Society received the prestigious Athens Academy Prize, a recognition that confirmed its contribution and importance as a vibrant entity.

Shipowner Adamantios Polemis was honored by the Society for his support in activities to preserve the unique cultural environment if his native island. Also, for his devotion to the long term development of the Greek Merchant Marine Industry, the biggest in the world. The event took place at the historic Grand Bretagne Hotel at the center of Athens, with a numerous presence of dignitaries, shipowners, politicians, businessmen and artists in attendance.

Honoree Stella Kokolis with the President of the Athens Andros Society Antonios Diapoulis, PHOTO: GOGO THANASAKI

Stella Kokolis, “the mother of the Omogenia”, president of the Federation of the Greek-American Educators and former president of the Education Committee for the SAE (US territory), was also honored for her work in preserving the Greek language and heritage in the US. Mrs. Kokolis is widely known as a prominent community leader, educator and humanitarian. She has received numerous awards for her professional, charitable and political work by major organizations and political leaders both in the United States and abroad. She has founded various organizations and political institutions, such as the Greek American Teachers Organization – Prometheus, the Hellenic Community Council and the National Hellenic Women’s Council (H.A.W.C.), establishing the Aristeon Award. She also organized the “Celebration of 2500 Years of the Birth of Democracy” with the participation of Greek and American political leaders, she has chaired the Greek Letters and Heritage Committee of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for 15 Years and she has also been appointed by the Brooklyn Borough president to the Community Board 10.

Mrs. Kokolis has been awarded in various occasions and by various institutions, such as the Medal of the “Order of St. Paul” by Archbishop Iakovos in 1994, the Prometheus Award – Educator of the Year, the Certificate of Recognition by the Fort Lee Civics Association for establishing modern Greek Culture and Languages at Fort Lee and Teaneck High Schools, and to Farleigh Dickenson University. She also received the Woman of the Year Award – 1989 from the National Democratic Party, and of Educator of the Year by The National Herald newspaper in 2005.

Stella Kokolis also established an intensive cultural/educational summer program for American high school students traveling through Europe. In addition, she has helped several gifted students to obtain college scholarships.