The AHEPAN Fall 2022 - 20

SP Kokotas is flanked by (l-r) Past Supreme Presidents Horiates, Frangos, Zachariades, Kouzounis,
Loucas, and Gulas after a special pin presentation.
has meant more to me, " he said. " Not because of the prestigious
nature of the organization, the award, or the previous recipients,
but because this honor is so close to my heart as a Greek. "
Panay credited his wife, Mary, and family, especially his parents,
for being the foundation upon which he built his life and
career.
" Both of my parents were born and raised in Cyprus, " he said.
" The truth is this award belongs to them. I would not be here
without them, literally of course, but also because the risks they
took and the choices they made gave me opportunities I never
would have had otherwise. "
Like a master storyteller, Panay detailed his father, Costa's, journey
from Cyprus to America. The narrative befitted the moment.
It is a journey reflected in the essence of AHEPA, an organization
credited for helping countless Greek immigrants who took the
same risks as Costa to pursue and fulfill the American Dream.
" My own path was not always clear or easy, " he explained. " ...but
taking what I learned from my parents and their journey kept me
focused on the things that mattered, empowering me to push towards
my goal of creating innovative products that would make a difference
in the world. Like my father, every step on my journey taught me
something about myself and what I wanted to do with my life. "
His father's path also included a familiar experience for many
immigrants-a name change, going from Costa Patatkos to Costa
Panayotis and eventually, Gus Panay.
However, Panay remarked, " But in the words of Shakespeare,
'what's in a name?' It turns out, not much. What matters is what
is in the heart. The mind. The soul. "
The banquet program's guest speakers included U.S. Rep.
Gus Bilirakis, who co-chairs the Congressional Hellenic Caucus,
Greece's Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos,
and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
" You should take such great pride in the founding principles
of this sacred brotherhood; for you uphold the traditions of
what is best in Hellas, and what is best in America, " Archbishop
Elpidophoros said, adding that it is impossible to list what
AHEPA means for the Omogeneia in the time allotted.
Congressman Bilirakis and Defense Minister Panagiotopoulos
shared pride in their AHEPA membership.
Ambassador of Greece to the U.S. Alexandra Papadopoulos,
Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. Marios Lysiotis, and Leadership
20 | THE AHEPAN · Fall 2022
Greek Defense Minister Panagiotopoulos presents a gift to
SP Kokotas.
100 Executive Director Paulette Poulos
delivered congratulatory remarks.
Ambassador Papadopoulos cited
AHEPA's " valuable contributions " as
the " brainchild of visionary Greek
Americans. "
Poulos stated the country owes
AHEPA a " profound debt of gratitude. "
Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief
Mike Emanuel
Washington correspondent, served as
an excellent Master of Ceremonies.
Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas
delivered a passionate response, attributing his efforts in memory
of his father, Pareskavas, an Ahepan who passed at the beginning
of Kokotas' term. Then-Daughters of Penelope Grand President
Kathy Bizoukas,
then-Sons of Pericles Supreme President
Timothy Noitsis, Maids of Athena Grand President Maria
Ana Pantelous, Board of Trustees Vice Chair George Horiates,
PSP; and newly elected AHEPA National Housing Corporation
President Ike Gulas, PSP, also addressed the audience.
Special presentations included a commemorative 100-year pinning
ceremony to Supreme Presidents in the audience by Executive
Director Basil Mossaidis, the AHEPA Lifetime Achievement Award
to Past Supreme President
Anthony Kouzounis and to former
Board of Trustees Officer Lee
Millas; an Appreciation Award
to Grand President Bizoukas,
Ahepan of the Year Award to
Brother Dimitrios Matthaiou,
Chapter HJ-33, Rhodes, Greece;
and a commemorative 100-year
pin presentation to Disney's
George Kalogridis in appreciation
of his hospitality.
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney,
co-chair and co-founder of the
Congressional Hellenic Caucus; and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, submitted
video presentations commemorating AHEPA's centennial
anniversary and lauding its works.
Special audience guests included former NBA Player and
SP Kokotas and Disney's
Kalogridis.
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The AHEPAN Fall 2022

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