With the holiday season upon us, it’s a wonderful time to think back on the chapter that is coming to a close before opening the next one. Looking back on 2016, we see a journey full of exciting events and new faces on campus, inspiring experiences, and many more colorful memories!
Winter
We started off the year by welcoming many new international students who chose to study abroad at ACG and experience education in the land where learning began! Lots of our students headed off for an internship with leading companies worldwide, gaining tremendous work experience while others blended education with cultural immersion, studying abroad at esteemed institutions such as Cornell University, Emory University, Tilburg and many more.
Spring
This year’s Business Week tickled our brains with the theme “From Brain Drain to Brain Gain” and the Arts Festival inspired us and filled the campus with sound and color! On April, we welcomed on campus student-athletes from various universities for the 2016 International Sports Festival, a celebration of sports that took place at ACG’s amazing athletic facilities.
The Annual Student Symposium was once again a surprise of academic excellence and creativity; students presented their research posters, organized musical and theatrical performances, as well as art exhibitions while the International Honors Program students presented their creatives projects, spanning art installations, literature, and innovative apps!
Summer
Late June: A week of achievement and pride. On June 22 we honored over 100 students for their academic and student-life achievements at the 18th Deree Student Awards Ceremony. Just a few days later, we proudly stood by as 300 undergraduate and graduate Deree students from 18 different countries were awarded their degrees at the Commencement Ceremony, cheering on the Class of 2016 as they threw their caps in the air!
Fall
President Dr. David G. Horner gave a hopeful and inspiring speech at TEDx Academy 2016, unfolding his vision for the future of education in Greece of 2030, saying, “You do not need a spectacular economy or a perfect political system to develop world-class universities.”
We were honored to welcome back on campus George M. Logothetis, Chairman and CEO of the Libra Group, to discuss youth empowerment with our students. Since 2012, over 70 Deree students have had the opportunity to complete an internship with the Libra Internship Program, an initiative that reflects George Logothetis’ philosophy that, “If you believe in people, you give them the oxygen of possibility!”
During US President Barack Obama’s trip to Greece in November, several ACG students and members of staff were fortunate to be present for the inspiring speech at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, in which he stressed the importance of being a true citizen and the strength of democracy.
This fall also saw the exciting release of a special issue of the No.1 Free Press in Greece: Athens Voice, powered by Deree! Our students experienced life as journalists, photographers, and marketers, making us proud of their professionalism and the outcome: a one-of-a-kind Athens Voice anniversary issue that was brimming with fascinating stories and stunning photos of Athens!
Last but certainly not least, 2016 was the year we started sharing Deree stories with the world: stories of alumni and their personal take on the Deree experience! Reconnecting with so many of our graduates and welcoming them back on campus to share their story with us was heartwarming! What’s even more exciting is that there are many more stories to come, of alumni, students, and faculty… Stay tuned!
Happy New Year!
With a brand new year just ahead, we each have the opportunity to set new goals, and write our own story in 2017. Happy New Year!!!