Students and professor honored in Greece

5/24/2024

A group of students hold an SPC sign in front of a beautiful backdrop of ancient Greek ruins.

Led by Professor Basil Moutsatsos, nine SPC students were honored guests this week for the Twinning Ceremony on the Island of Aegina, Greece. The group has been enjoying a unique experience in Greece for the last two weeks.

Led by Professor Basil Moutsatsos, nine SPC students were honored guests this week for the Twinning Ceremony on the Island of Aegina, Greece. The group has been enjoying a unique experience in Greece for the last two weeks.

This study abroad program had been in the planning stages for years with the SPC Tarpon Springs Campus Provost, Dr. Rodrigo Davis, the city of Tarpon Springs, and the SPC International Programs Office. This collaboration highlights the connection that is kept alive by the Sister Cities agreements, which the City of Tarpon Springs holds with various cities/islands in Greece.

Students toured some of the Sister Cities such as Kalymnos, Halki and Symi. In addition, the Sister Cities organization and Tarpon Springs City Commission awarded $15,000 in scholarships for all the SPC students traveling.

At the Twinning Ceremony, they were also joined by the Mayor of Tarpon Springs and the Mayor of Aegina, Greece. View the ceremony on YouTube (SPC is recognized at the 27:00 minute mark).

They walked up the Sacred Way, past the Treasuries, the Temple of Apollo, the Theater of Dionysus, and the Stadium where the Pythian Games were once held.

They visited amazing sites like the Sacred Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael the Panormitis, the medieval site of Chrysocheria Castle, and the Monastery at Agios Savva, one of the main monasteries on each of the islands in Greece.

The program ends May 26 and students are excited to share their experiences through our blog when they return.