Celebrating-the-Anthony-&-Elizabeth-Mitarachis-Scholarship
Anastasios Xykis, Notis Mitarachi, and ACG President David G. Horner

Noted alumnus Notis Mitarachi (DEREE ’95) met with the 2014-2015 Anthony & Elizabeth Mitarachi Scholarship recipient Anastasios Xykis (DEREE ‘15, BA in Economics) on June 17th at DEREE in order to get to know Anastasios better and find out about his goals.

The scholarship award is named after Mr. Mitarachi’s parents, and is awarded to an outstanding student every year.

Joining Mr. Mitarachi were American College of Greece officials, President David G. Horner, Vice President of Public Affairs Claudia Carydis (DEREE ‘84) and Executive Director of Development Mary-Irene Triantafillou (DEREE ’89), who met with the Greek-Australian student.

Mr. Mitarachi, who began his career as an investment executive in London, and has served as Chairman of the Hellenic Bankers Association, UK, has since entered public life in the arena of politics.

He has also had the distinction of being awarded Grand Commander of the Order of the Apostle & Evangelist Mark by the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.

Since 2015, Mr. Mitarachi, has been a Member of Parliament for Chios with the New Democracy (ND) party, serving as Shadow Minister for Shipping & the Aegean.

In the period 2012-2015, while serving as Member of Parliament for Athens with the ND Party, he also took on the role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Competitiveness.

Mr. Mitarachi graduated with distinction from DEREE in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and was very active in student activities and societies, including as President of the DEREE Student Union (’93 – ’95), and as a member of the Debating Club. He also received the President’s Award in 1995. Mr. Mitarachi also earned his MBA from INSEAD and his MSc in Industrial Relations from Oxford University.

Anastasios Xykis began his studies in the fall of 2010 and received a merit scholarship for 2010 and 2011. He received the Anthony & Elizabeth Mitarachi Scholarship award for 2014-2105 and was also a work-study student in the Admissions office from 2011 to 2013.

Anastasios has also been very active in societies at DEREE, taking on the demanding role of DEREE Ambassador, serving as Vice President and now as President (3 years) of the DEREE Ambassadors, as Vice President of the Economics Society, as a member of the Finance Society, as a Coordinator of Activities and Special Events, and as a member of the DEREE Football Team.

He will be going to the Greek Navy in September 2016, but has already mapped out his immediate future steps. Anastasios has begun the renovation of a hotel in Corfu with a fellow DEREE classmate and plans to open the hotel in April 2016. He also aims at pursuing his MBA in the US in September 2018, and says he regrets never applying for an internship at the US Embassy in Athens.

Anastasios enjoys travelling, sports, politics, and entrepreneurship (tourism focused), and hails from the island of Lemnos.

Anastasios, who also attended the London School of Economics Summer School, says he chose DEREE because it offered a good US education within Greece.

Following is a Q & A with Anastasios Xykis:
Q: What are three enduring lessons you learned during your studies at DEREE?

A: Professionalism – Ethos – Excellence

Q: Describe DEREE in three words:

A: Life Changer – Experience of a Life Time – Holistic Education

Q: One of your favorite DEREE memories?

A: Being present at previous graduations and anticipating my own!

Q: What will you miss most from your days at DEREE?

A: Economics classes and debating with professors

Q: Where was/is your favorite spot on campus?

A: The Library

Q: What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?

A: Do not stop dreaming

Q: What (or who) inspires you most?

A: My father