First Recipient of Hellenic Legacy Scholarship for Study Abroad at DEREE – The American College of Greece Announced

The Greek America Foundation has awarded Deborah Cunningham the first Hellenic Legacy Scholarship announced Gregory Pappas, president of the Foundation.  Cunningham, a student at Wheaton College in suburban Chicago, Illinois, is using the tuition scholarship to finance her fall 2010 study abroad semester at DEREE – The American College of Greece.

“The Hellenic Legacy Scholarship will mean a great deal to our study abroad students,” said Dr. Kathleen M. Cross, dean of studies abroad at DEREE. “It will provide opportunities for transformative experiences in Greece to outstanding students who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

“We are particularly happy that Deborah was selected as the first recipient,” Cross continued. “With her excellent academic record and her interest in developing a deeper understanding of Hellenic culture she is an outstanding candidate for the award.”

The purpose of the Hellenic Legacy Scholarship is to foster a love for Greece and Hellenism in students who are passionate about making a difference in the world around them. The scholarship aims to accomplish more than making a semester in Greece affordable; it is about how Greece and Hellenic heritage inspires the recipient to transform his/her community.

“The Greek America Foundation is delighted to award our first Hellenic Legacy Scholarship to Deborah Cunningham,” said Gregory Pappas, president of the Foundation. “Our scholarship selection committee was very impressed with her application, essay, and recommendations. Deborah was the strongest candidate from among the many students who applied for our first award. The Greek America Foundation is looking forward to following Deborah on her journey of personal discovery in Greece and upon her return to the US.”

Cunningham, from Kingwood, Texas, is a senior at Wheaton College in Illinois with a double major in Ancient Languages and English. She said she chose to study abroad at DEREE in order to “gain a deeper, more personal understanding of Greek culture.” Having studied Ancient Greek, Cunningham is now looking forward to immersing herself in modern Greek language and culture. At DEREE, she plans to study Modern Greek, Greek Folklore and Anthropology and the Archaeology of Greece.

Deborah Cunningham, recipient of the Hellenic Legacy Scholarship, meets Mayor Vassilis Giannakopoulos of Aghia Paraskevi, Greece, during a orientation tour of the neighborhood.

"It is already evident to me that Greece is a country full of genuine people with generous hearts,” said Cunningham. “Since our arrival, the other study abroad students and I have been showered with gifts, and assisted in every way with the acclimation process. The citizens are matched by a breathtaking landscape and a rich cultural heritage, which I feel blessed to be experiencing firsthand. I am very grateful to the Greek America Foundation for supporting me during my time here, and I plan to take advantage of every opportunity to immerse myself in this nation's people, language and culture."

The Greek America Foundation is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of Greek culture, history, heritage and ideals in contemporary America. Although currently raising money for an endowment with an ultimate goal to send between 50 and 60 students annually, the Foundation will award scholarships concurrently while building the endowment fund.

For more information about the Hellenic Legacy Scholarship, contact Jenny Kellogg at jkellogg@greekamerica.org.  For more information about the study abroad program at DEREE – The American College of Greece, contact Kathleen M. Cross at kcross@acg.edu.