Theodore "Ted" Leonsis, one of the country’s premier businessmen and currently vice chairman emeritus of AOL will receive The 2008 Annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Alpha Omega Council of Boston on May 31 at the Westin Hotel, Boston. Mr. Leonsis is a professional sports team owner, a film producer, a private-angel investor, and a philanthropist. He was born to Greek American parents of modest means in Brooklyn, NY, and spent his early years there. After skipping 8th grade, Ted attended Brooklyn Tech but before graduation, his family moved back to their hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1973 and attended Georgetown University. After graduation, he moved back to his parents’ home in Lowell and began working for Wang Laboratories. His career with AOL started in 1993 when AOL (Then America Online) purchased his marketing company, Redgate Communications Corp and ended with his retirement in 2006. He held numerous positions at AOL during his years there, completing his tenure as the audience group’s president and vice-chairman. He now serves as vice chairman emeritus of AOL. Ted Leonsis is also the founder, chairman, and majority owner of Lincoln Holdings LLC, a sports and entertainment company. Ted is a major philanthropist and is very involved with numerous charities, including Best Buddies, Hoop Dreams, See Forever Foundation, Youth Aids and others through the work of the Leonsis Foundation. Among his many honors, Ted Leonis has been named Washington’s Businessman of the Year, a Washingtonian of the Year, one of the 20 most influential people in sports, one of America’s most creative executives and a top 10 entrepreneur of the year. Mr. Leonsis, his wife, and their two children reside in McLean, VA, and Vero Beach, FL.

Irene Raissis Alton of Amherst, NH has been crowned Mrs. New Hampshire International 2008. She was also voted the Most Photogenic. "It will forever be one of the most humbling, exciting and memorable moments of my life. It is both an honor and a privilege to represent today’s married women of New Hampshire." Irene, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rider university and an MBA from Saint Peter’s College, is employed as a human Resources Specialist for Brookstone Corp. She serves her community through her affiliation with Saint Philips Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua, NH, as a member of the Amherst Junior Women’s Club, as Founder of the MOMS Club of Milford Area, as a Daisy Girl Scouts Leader and Amherst Patriots Cheerleading Coach. She is involved with the Amherst PTA and is currently in the production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Her goal is to promote and encourage volunteerism and community involvement thru various organizations including the March of Dimes, March for Babies campaign, National PTA and the Greek Orthodox Youth Association. Irene and her husband Scott are the parents of two daughters. In July, she will represent the granite state nationally at the Mrs. International Competition in Chicago, IL. Her platform motto will remain the same: "Get Informed, Get Involved, Make a Difference."

Nicholas S. Zeppos was named chancellor of Vanderbilt University on March 1, 2008, after serving in increasingly prominent positions since being hired as an assistant professor of law in 1987. A distinguished legal scholar, teacher and executive, Prof. Zeppos served from 2002 to February 2008 as Vanderbilt’s chief academic officer, overseeing the university’s undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs and research in liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education, business, law, and divinity. As provost and vice chancellor, he chaired Vanderbilt’s budgeting and capital planning council and led all fundraising and alumni relations efforts across the institution, as well as overseeing the dean of students and dean of admissions. He was recognized with five teaching awards at the law school before serving as an associate dean and then as associate provost before being named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2002. He served for seven months as Vanderbilt’s interim chancellor before the Board of Trust voted to elevate him permanently to the position. From 1982-1987, Prof. Zeppos practiced law in Washington, D.C., at the United States Department of Justice and Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. He has also served as a consultant to government agencies, major corporations, and trade associations on complex litigation, policy design, and strategy. Nicholas Zeppos was born in Milwaukee, WI. He is a 1979 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School where he served as editor in chief of the Wisconsin Law Review and was selected as the outstanding graduate of his class, and a 1976 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he studied history. He and his wife Lydia are the parents of two sons, Benjamin, a junior at Princeton University, and Nicholas, a senior at the University School of Nashville.

A Celebration in honor of Michael G. Contompasis of West Roxbury, MA, was hosted by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston School Committee last month. Mr. Contompasis waw honored for 42 years of dedicated service to the Boston Public Schools where he began his career as a biology teacher at East Boston High School, Hyde Park High School, and Boston Latin School, his alma mater. He served as Headmaster of Boston Latin School from 1977 to 1998, when he became the district’s first Chief Operating Officer. The Boston School Committee appointed Mr. Contompasis as Superintendent in October 2006, after having appointed him Interim Superintendent in July 2006. In 1997, Mr. Contompasis was awarded the distinguished National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. The Council of the Great City Schools presented him with the Distinguished Service Award for excellence in operational management in 2006.

Pauline C. Pappas, MD of Squantum, MA, a practicing Orthodox Christian, will be the guest speaker this month, at DOXA Parents - Teacher Conference of the Metropolis of Boston, at the St. Catherine Parish in Braintree, MA. "Gifting Children with Faith & Values Through the Complexities of Modern Life: Perspectives of a Pediatrician" will be the topic of the conference. Dr. Pappas’ presentation will focus on sharing her experience as both an Orthodox parent and a pediatrician and what she sees far too frequently in her practice which is contrary to general Christian values and how she believes that our Orthodox faith and values are so very needed by today’s youth for healthy living. Dr. Pappas was born in Quincy, MA. In her more than 14 years in private practice, she has served as president of the new England Hellenic Medical and Dental Society, among many other boards. A recipient of many awards, she most recently was honored with the Boston University Alumni Association Award and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Excellence in Primary Care Award. She and her husband, Dr. George Theodore, are the parents of two young children, Harry and Maria.

John Papajohn of Des Moines, IA, a businessman and philanthropist, will be awarded the Humanitarian Leadership Award during The Hellenic Times Gala Scholarship Dinner this month. Mr. Papajohn emigrated from Greece at 9 months old, and today is one of the most successful businessmen in the country. Through college, he alternated working and attending school with his brothers, taking six years to get his degree from the University of Iowa. Following graduation, he established an insurance agency and organized and became Chairman of Guardsman Insurance Investors. In 1969, Mr. Pappajohn organized equity Dynamics, Inc., a financial consulting entity and Pappajohn Capital Resources, a venture capital firm in Des Moines, Iowa, and has since been involved in over 100 start ups and served as a Director in over 40 public companies. The recipient of countless awards, Mr. Pappajohn and his wife, Mary, have gifted more than $25 million, including to the John Pappajohn Business Building at University of Iowa Business School, the Pappajohn Pavilion at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, the John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center, and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at five different universities and colleges in the state of Iowa for more than $10 million, which have helped create and launch over 1000 new companies. In 1997, he and his wife funded a $5 million John and Mary Pappajohn Scholarship Fund and financed the new John and Mary Pappajohn Higher Education Center, a collaborative of seven universities and colleges in Iowa. Mr. & Mrs. Pappajohn are the parents of one daughter, Ann Vassiliou.

Frank Dicopoulos, an actor best known for playing the role of "Frank Achilles Cooper Jr." on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light, a role which he originated in 1987, will be presented the Artistic Achievement Award this month during the The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund dinner in New York City. Frank majored in psychology and minored in art and drama at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He was active in football, basketball, and lacrosse, and he also set a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III track record in high hurdles. At first he thought of becoming an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. But then he enrolled in drama courses – and became hooked. Following college graduation, Frank moved to Texas. After managing a tire store in Houston and working as an auto mechanic, he began posing for print photography ads and doing television commercials. He was discovered during a nationwide talent search for a role on the television series Chips. He is currently host and program director for Marlboro Cable Television, Channel 77. He also volunteers time and support to many organizations and charities including: Wildlife Rehabilitators, Monmouth Land Conservation Foundation, Skin Cancer Foundation, "Hands On" Project with fellow cast members from "Guiding Light," Monmouth County S.P.C.A., Young Women’s Breast Cancer Foundation, Duke University Children’s Hospital, Marlboro Educational Foundation and The Jimmy V Foundation. He recently became the spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation. Frank married Teja Anderson in 1990 and they have two children, Jaden and Olivia.

A WIDE LENCE VIEW AROUND THE COUNTRY

NICK AND CHRIS HOUVARDAS, two brothers and their mom, Nitsa, have opened a new restaurant in the old A&W location on Yucaipa Boulevard in Yucaipa, CA, and called it The Fat Greek. The restaurant offers a version of the popular and healthy Mediterranean diet which includes olive oils, feta cheese, grape leaves, and fresh vegetables. The restaurant offers Greek, American and Mexican cuisine. "Eat Greek and live longer" says nick Houvardas who plans to offer more Greek cuisine on the weekends.

SPIRO KOUVLIS has opened a new, 35-seat UBerger on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston on the site of the former Grille Zone. Spiro who with his partner, Nick Sesaris, owns and operates holding company K&K Restaurants Inc., got the idea for Uberger during a trip to Las Vegas in 2000, when they went to In-N-Out Burger. UBurger is a quick-serve restaurant which focuses on freshly ground burgers, hand-cut fires and other treats.

DEAN PAPADEMETRIOUS, ESQ. is the publisher of Somerset Press in Boston, MA. Its latest publication Pomegranate Seeds: An Anthology of Greek-American Poetry. The volume is the first ever collection of poems in English by 49 prominent Greek-American poets from throughout the United States. The tome is edited by Dean Kostos of New York City, author of many books, who has taught poetry writing at the Gallatin School of New York University. He is the recipient of a Yaddo fellowship, and has served as literary judge for Columbia University’s Gold Crown and Gold Circle Awards. Somerset Hall Press publishes scholarly, literary, and general-interest books. Focus areas include culture, history, theology, philosophy, literature, poetry, Greek studies, and impact of war.

VIKKI POULOS, a billing supervisor at GTG-Rhode Island where she has worked for 13 years, was honored with the GTECH President’s Award for being "a person who could find a needle in a haystack, who crunches numbers and deciphers data with a razor-like focus." Vikki is a steward of the Annunciation Parish in Cranston, RI.

JOHN & MARY PERGANTIS, owners of the popular Party Favors establishment in Brookline, MA were featured in a recent issue of the BostonNow publication. Party Favors offers an impressive array of pastries that satisfy any sweet tooth!

DENNIS A. PSILOPOULO has opened an internet card making company for personalized cards as well as gift ordering. Changing Lives…One card at a time is the slogan of the company.

DEBBIE DALEY has been named secretary to the Interior Redesign Industry Specialist (IRIS) board of directors, a national professional organization for business individuals who specialize in interior redesign and home staging. Debbie, a steward at the Transfiguration Church in Lowell, MA, is the owner and founder of Daley Designs. She also teaches and speaks on the practice of her design services at Middlesex Community College, Littleton Community Education, and conducts workshops and seminars privately and for local businesses.

NICK LARIGAKIS, the Executive Director of AHI Headquarters in DC, conducted a seminar in Boston last month on how to effectively approach and inform our legislators of our Hellenic issues and to keep them aware of the Greek-American presence and engagement in these matters. Hosted by The New England Chapter of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) the seminar was titled, "Grassroots Lobbying 101".

THE HELLENIC SOCIETY PAIDEIA sponsored a special ceremony last month, presided by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, placing the cornerstone for the construction of the "Rodos" Cultural Center and a Greek amphitheater on the grounds of the University of Rhode Island. The "Rodos" Center will occupy more than 27,000 sq. ft. and will provide facilities for the Hellenic Studies Programs as well as the Center of Humanities programs of the University. It will also include the "Ayios Loukas" chapel.

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