Highlights from the 2025–2026 Fulbright Awards Ceremony – Honoring U.S. & Greek Scholarship Recipients and Donors:
It was a wonderful fall evening when the 2025–2026 Fulbright Awards Ceremony brought together distinguished guests from academia, government, and diplomacy, alongside Fulbright donors, alumni, and friends of the program.
The ceremony opened with remarks by Artemis A. Zenetou, Executive Director of Fulbright Greece, who presided over the event, followed by addresses from Nikolaos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister of Education; the U.S. Embassy in Athens; and Bonna D. Wescoat, Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) and ex officio member of the Fulbright Board. Each speaker underscored the enduring value of international education and cultural exchange.
The event concluded with a garden reception at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, where guests, donors, and scholars connected, sharing insights on their upcoming research and exchanging experiences.
Artemis A. Zenetou, Fulbright Executive Director, opening the ceremony:
“…It is especially meaningful that we gather here at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, an institution that played key role in establishing the Fulbright Program in Greece in 1948. These strong ties remind us how deeply education and cultural exchange are woven into the friendship between our two nations. Since 1948, Fulbright’s mission—to foster mutual understanding through education and dialogue—has guided our work and kept it relevant in a changing world. At the heart of this work lies the unique binational character of Fulbright Greece, grounded in the enduring partnership between Greece and the United States….
As we approach the 80th anniversary of the binational treaty that established Fulbright, we are reminded that our greatest strength lies in our alumni—a vibrant, engaged, and influential community here in Greece, the United States, and around the world. They are educators, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their respective fields who continue to shape societies, bridge cultures, and uphold democratic values. This dynamic global network demonstrates the lasting impact of Fulbright far beyond any single grant year—sustaining a lifelong exchange of ideas, growth, friendship, and collaboration…
We are proud to award 60 scholarships to U.S. and Greek citizens—supporting graduate students, PhD candidates, university faculty, researchers, artists, and educators. They represent an impressive diversity of disciplines and academic institutions across Greece and the United States. We are grateful for the support of the United States and Greek governments and the Fulbright Binational Board for their steady leadership and guidance, which have helped us navigate with clarity and purpose. ….We are also pleased to see more U.S. students choosing Greece as their study abroad destination, placing Greece among the top ten countries worldwide. At the same time, Greek scholars continue to pursue studies and research in the United States in growing numbers. These exchanges enrich both societies, fostering mutual understanding, collaboration, and innovation…. Fulbright flourishes through the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Greek governments and the generous support of our donors. This combination of public and private support continues to strengthen Fulbright’s mission of advancing education, fostering cultural exchange, and promoting mutual understanding.”
Remarks from Dr. Papaioannou, Deputy Minister for Higher Education:
“It is a great pleasure to be here with you today in this inspiring event, on behalf of the Minister Sofia Zacharaki, as a Deputy Minister for Higher Education of the Greek Government but also as a former Rector of the country’s largest University.
This is an important ceremony, dedicated to the Fulbright Scholarship Award. An award that highlights the values of internationalization and openness, regarding research and innovation within our higher education institutions.
These values are fundamental to the strategic vision we hold in the Ministry of Education for the future. We believe that by enabling our students and scientists to visit Universities and research centers in the United States, we are not only empowering individual careers but also promoting the standing of Greek higher education on the world stage. In an era where knowledge knows no borders, the engagement of our people with the international scientific community is not just desirable, it is essential. Moreover, it is an opportunity to launch new collaborations among the two countries on the matter of science and innovation, to drive academic excellence, to promote diversity of thought and to accelerate the production of impactful and high-quality research.
At the Ministry of Education, we are proud to support the Fulbright Scholarship Award Program. It reflects our shared commitment to education, research, and the promotion of international collaboration. We remain firmly committed to continuing our support, and deeply value the long-standing and fruitful cooperation between our two countries, sealed by such a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation. It is a partnership that continues to grow stronger through initiatives such as this one.
I also want to express our appreciation for the valuable activity of Fulbright Greece throughout all these years. Since 1948, its role has been instrumental in managing thousands of scholarships awarded and in creating opportunities and building bridges between the two countries.
Finally, let me express my sincere congratulations to all the scholarship awardees!
May this award be the beginning of a long and impactful path in research, innovation and collaboration! Thank you very much."
Remarks from Dr. Wescoat, Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens:
“ ..It is an honor to serve, ex officio, on the Fulbright Board because the American School has deep connections with the Fulbright in Greece, which was founded in 1948, and is thereby the oldest Fulbright program in Europe and the second in the world. The first unofficial Executive Director was M. Alison Frantz, a renowned archaeologist and photographer, and member of the American School. By 1949, the Fulbright had appointed the first professor to the Chair of American Civilization at the University of Athens, Arnold Whitridge. And for 77 years, Fulbright Scholars have enriched all aspects of our understanding of Greece in its long historical arc and its vibrant present trajectory. The same, I think, can be said for Greek scholars who spend the year in America.
I am therefore very happy to welcome the new class of Fulbright Scholars. The questions you Fulbrighters pose, the research methods you pursue, and your engagement with colleagues and students here in Greece deepen our understanding and forge common ties in this land that we deeply value and draw strength from. We wish you every success in your pursuits this coming year. For those of you who are headed to or returning from America, thank you for all that you have given of your time, energy, and expertise to America. We hope you have a wonderful time and that you bring back a little of America with you, to share here in Greece.
It is impossible to quantify the exponential effect of the Fulbright program, as you scholars in turn lead and share with others, who lead and share with others. It is one of the world’s most successful scientific, intellectual, cultural, and artistic exchanges. May it remain robust and generative.”
U.S. and Greek Program Coordinators, Nicholas Tourides and Els Hanappe, announcing the names of the 2025-2026 U.S. and Greek Fulbright scholarship recipients:
For a complete list of the 2025–2026 scholarship recipients, please visit the following links: Greek and U.S. citizens. To learn more about this year’s grantees, visit the Greek and U.S. Grantees Profiles.
2025-2026 Greek and U.S. Scholarship Recipients on the stage of Cotsen Hall Auditorium
Greek Grantees in front of the Gennadius Library
U.S. Grantees in front of the Gennadius Library
Convivial Reception at the ASCSA Cotsen Hall Courtyard
Alumni Association Board Nikos Tzafleris, Antonios Apostolou, Jenny Arsenis, Thanasis Speliotis
Christos Michalakelis, Dora Gota, Panagiotis Passas, Artemis Zenetou. Orestis Kalogirou, Apostolis Dimitropoulos
Haris Lalacos, Thomas W. Gallant, Emmanuel Stefanakis
Pantelis Panos, Symeon Tsomokos, Ioannis Sarakakis, Artemis Zenetou, Lefteris Bacharopoulos
Photo credits: Elias Cosindas