Scholarships remain a priority for AHEPA Chapter No. 61

 ANTONIA DIKOS AWARDED AHEPA DISTRICT NO. 4 SCHOLARSHIP

 Congratulations to Antonia 'Toni' Dikos, who was a recipient of a 2022 AHEPA Pennsylvania Power District No. 4 scholarship.  Antonia is the daughter of Chris and Valerie Dikos.  She is currently in her third year attending Clemson University in South Carolina majoring in political science.  The AHEPA family congratulates Antonia for having achieved the splendid academic and personal accomplishments which earn her this 2022 prestigious award! 

READING AHEPA SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC

 The 13th Annual Ernie Orphanos Memorial Golf Classic was held on Saturday, August 20^th, concluding another successful year for the Reading AHEPA chapter.  Congratulations to the 2022 tournament foursome champions – Bernie Donahue, Jason Arnold, Bern Donahue and David Waligurski.  The second place tournament winners were Gus Kotsakis, Vaz Kotsakis, Dino Kotsakis and Matt McDonald.  We were truly blessed with beautiful weather and all participants had a most enjoyable day of golf, fellowship and good food. In addition to the 72 golf participants, 45 individual and business sponsors helped bring in $15,158 in revenue, resulting in a net profit of $8,270 for this year’s tournament. The proceeds from this annual event provide scholarships for our Berks County youth to continue their education following high school graduation. These young men and women have gone on to successful academic and professional careers that give back to our same community that supported them with these AHEPA scholarships.  This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the International Orthodox Christian Charities for the Ukraine Relief Effort.  IOCC offers emergency relief to those in need worldwide. 

Previous Reading AHEPA Chapter Scholarship Award Recipients

• 2011 – Jonathan Thompson and Evangelia Shunk
• 2012 – Alexandra Dikos, Grayson S. Helm and Maria Phyrillas
• 2013 – Olivia Damore and Bern Donahue
• 2014 – Stergios Dikos, Stephen Lambriodes and Andrew J. Lountzis
• 2015 – Jessica Craciun, Stavanna C. Donahue and Anastasis S. Phyrillas
• 2016 – Michelle Craciun, Jocelyn Dialectos, Alexander Lountzis and James Phyrillas
• 2017 – Guerino D. Caloiero, Nicholas Lecatsas, Alexander Midouhas and

  Chrisovalantis A. Siozos

• 2018 – Karissa A. Dialectos, Patrick A. Phyrillas, Vasilis S. Phyrillas and Chris C. Sterious
• 2019 – Anthony Futrick, Angeliki Miranda-Ganas, Joanna Lee Helm, Eleni Sterious and Zoe Thompson.          

• 2020 – Anna Caloiero, Antonia Dikos, Alan Futrick, Jr., Gabe Koumaras, Mackenzie Kraras, Peyton Kraras, Amara Midouhas and Dante Porcary   

• 2021 – Stephen 'Stevie' Mitchell
• 2022 – Carly Futrick, Nick Lountzis, Demetrios P. Scantzos, Amanda Tilley and Alexander 'Aleko' G. Zeppos

                    

Photo highlights from 2022 AHEPA Chapter 61 Scholarship Banquet

 Four of the 2022 Scholarship recipients. From left, Carly Futrick, Amanda Tilley, Nick Lountzis and Demetri Scantzos. The fifth recipient, Aleko Zeppos, could not attend.

Carly Futrick with her parents and grandparents.

Amanda Tilley with her family.

Demetri Scantzos with his parents.

Nick Lountzis with his Mom, Sharon.

Master of Ceremonies Christ Kraras.

Chapter Scholarship Chairman Athan Dialectos.

Chapter President George Giovanis.

Father Theodore Petrides and Deacon Jim Elliker were guests at the banquet.

'The Governors' from Governor Mifflin High School provided entertainment.

AHEPAN Tony Phyrillas receives 2022 St. Photios Award

Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh presents Tony Phyrillas with the 2022 St. Photios Award for service to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church during a recent banquet.

AHEPAN Tony Phyrillas was recognized for service to his church by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh at the St. Photios Awards Banquet held April 30, 2022, at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Cranberry, Pa.

With more than 400 in attendance, Metropolitan Savas presented awards to 58 church volunteers from 31 different parishes in the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, which covers Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

“Our awardees have given a lifetime of service, skill and love to the Greek Orthodox Church,” Metropolitan Savas said during his remarks. “Their service has borne much fruit in the Lord’s vineyard, and we offer this recognition as an expression of our deep and abiding gratitude.”

Metropolitan Savas presented each honoree with a framed certificate and a pin depicting St. Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople.

This was the seventh year the banquet was held to recognize “unsung church volunteers" and raise money for the Metropolitan’s Benevolence Fund.

Tony Phyrillas was nominated by Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa., along with fellow nominee Marian Cheri, currently serving as President of the St. Xenia Philoptochos Society.

Tony Phyrillas has been attending Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church since his family arrived from Cyprus in 1969. He has served on the Parish Council for 27 consecutive years, including two terms as President and 18 terms as Secretary. He has served on and chaired numerous church committees over the past 30 years. Tony has taught Sunday School for 17 years, the last 13 as Head Teacher for Grades 10-12. He was a charter member and treasurer of the church's Greek School PTO. Tony has served as chairman of the popular Gyro Room at the church's annual Greek Food Festival for the past 30 years. He also oversees an ongoing fundraiser for the church that sells gift cards to parishioners.

Tony has been a member of the Gust C. Kraras AHEPA Chapter No. 61 for 35 years and has held all chapter offices, including 11 terms as president.

The son of Paraskevi Phyrillas and the late Anastasis Phyrillas, Tony is married to Chrysoula (Happas) Phyrillas and they have two sons, James and Patrick.

Members of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa., attended the St. Photios Awards Banquet, where two parishioners - Tony Phyrillas and Marian Cheri - were recognized as their church's 2022 volunteers of the year.

Honorees Tony Phyrillas and Marian Cheri with Rev. Father Theodore Petrides, pastor of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, Pa.