Saint Photios National Shrine Essay Contest Results

St. Photios National Shrine reported the results of the 2022 Essay Program during the St. Photios Foundation Annual Meeting.

 

In the Senior Division, the judges chose the essay of Vasilia Boukis of LaGrange, KY as the winner whose essay met the criteria most fully as she compared her family immigration history with the immigration story of the early Greek settlers of the New Smyrna Colony. In the Junior Division, the winner was of Emily Gougousis of Wayne, NJ. The winner of each division is awarded $1,000.00 through the Kathie D’Anna Charitable Foundation.

 

Additional Senior Division participants were Eleni Armatas of Fort Collins, CO; Irene Papakanakis, of Yonkers, NY; Mariam Kouyoumjian of Alachua, FL; Mary Katherine Saratsiotis of Americus, GA; Arianna Ng of Egg Harbor, NJ; Yorgos Vassiliou of Franklin Lakes, NJ; and Stylianna Mantzouris of Albany, NY.

 

Junior Division participants were Panagiotis Ermidis of North Olmstead, OH; Ava Savvis of Clark, NJ; Michael Maris of Tuxedo Park, NY; and Alexandra Dana of Staten Island, NY.

Committee member and judge Dianna Christakos wrote, “Please praise the young people on their research of their family history. I am certain they found it empowering and informative. It is always good to know that the fine life we now enjoy came at a great price to those founding members – be they the 500 original settlers or our relatives. I very much enjoyed reading their sagas.”

The St. Photios Foundation expresses gratitude to the committee members and judges of this Shrine legacy program. The annual essay contest is launched in July with essays due early December. This opportunity is open to all teenagers 13-19 with two divisions.

Photo left: Vasilia Boukis, Senior Division

Photo right: Emily Gougousis, Junior Division