Great Moment Education - Kerkyra

On Thursday, 29 September 2005, the best students of the island of Kerkyra received their awards from EFG Eurobank during a special ceremony at the premises of the Kerkyra Reading Society.  This ceremony was the fourth in a series of 30 events organized by EFG Eurobank in the various Greek regions, as part of its “The great moment for Education” sponsorship programme.

The sponsorship programme, “The great moment for Education”, which was launched by EFG Eurobank in 2003, represents a major educational initiative that further enhances the group’s already strong sponsoring activity in the field of Education, in addition to the fields of Culture, Environment and Sports.

The main aim of this programme is to support and reward school students in their “struggle” for knowledge.  Eurobank wishes in this way to make a valuable contribution to the community in which it operates by helping the young generation achieve its high objectives.

The sponsorship programme, “The great moment for Education” is supported by the Ministry of Education and it concerns over 230,000 pupils graduating from senior high school throughout Greece.  In the context of the programme, EFG Eurobank rewards each year the pupil who achieved the highest marks for admission to tertiary education.  The programme includes all 1,300 high schools in Greece, public and private, daily or evening.  The award is accompanied by the amount of  € 1,000, which is deposited in a savings account at an EFG Eurobank’s branch in the relevant city.

The following dignitaries honoured the event with their presence: the Regional Governor of Kerkyra Efstathios Koulouridis, the Deputy Mayor of Kerkyra Elias Bouzoukis, Municipal Councillors Telemachos Gavalas and Ioannis Mamalos, together with many local government officials. Were also present the Vice-Consul of the United Kingdom Ms. Julia Tziaka, the representative of the Metropolitan of Kerkyra, Paxoi and Neighbouring Islands, the President of the Kerkyra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vasilis Kontos, the President of the Kerkyra Technical Chamber Nicolaos Spingos, the Library Curator Georgios Chrysicopoulos as well as members of the region’s economic and social life.

The representative of the Metropolitan of Kerkyra, Paxoi and Neighbouring Islands conveyed the Bishop’s warm congratulations and wishes, without failing to also commend the parents and the teachers who too have worked hard for this achievement.  His Grace underlined the importance of this programme in encouraging fair competition among students.

The Deputy Regional Governor of Kerkyra Efstathios Koulouridis, the second speaker, congratulated EFG Eurobank, in the name of the Regional Governor and the Regional Council for this important programme, which has become established as an institution. Mr. Koulouridis also referred to the meaningful choice of the Reading Society’s hall for the event, which as a symbol of the letters welcomes the city’s best pupils.

The Deputy Mayor of Kerkyra Elias Bouzoukis welcomed on behalf of the Mayor EFG Eurobank’s initiative, now in its third year. He congratulated the pupils who saw their efforts being rewarded and can now deservingly move ahead taking over as parents, teachers, public administration representatives.  Mr. Bouzoukis hoped that this initiative might be followed by other private organizations bringing them thus closer to the grassroots of society.

In his message Kerkyra MP Nicos Georgiadis expressed his warm congratulations to the “architects” of this success, the pupils, their parents and teachers and commended EFG Eurobank for its active social contribution.

On behalf of EFG Eurobank, Antonis Antonopoulos, Regional Manager for Western Greece, stressed that “our Bank is implementing its sponsorship programme “The great moment for Education ”, which is now in its third successful year. Responding to the challenges of the new era it has chosen to encourage our youth to focus on learning and progress by introducing a new institution. At a time when many of the traditional values, which underpinned the development of our societies are being questioned, we must recognize and reward the best, those who work hardest and who invest actively in learning and culture”. He then went on to say, “The great moment for Education” programme is part of EFG Eurobank Group’s broader social contribution, which includes major sponsorship programmes in the fields of Culture, Sport and Education”.-

The recipients of the EGF Eurobank awards for the island of Kerkyra are:

1. Irini Lavranou, Kerkyra 1^st Comprehensive School
2. Georgios Panaretos, Kerkyra 2^nd Comprehensive School
3. Heleni Kaloudi, Kerkyra 3d Comprehensive School
4. Epaminondas Kontos, Kerkyra 4^th Comprehensive School
5. Thomais Rarri, Kerkyra 5^th Comprehensive School
6. Magdalene Thymi, “Alkinoos” Comprehensive School
7. Edmond Festas, Agros Comprehensive School 
8. Maria Grammenou, Kastellanoi Comprehensive School
9. Olga Halikia, Skripteros Comprehensive School
10. Haroula Revi, Senior Classes, Argyrades Junior High School
11. Aristidis Elias, Senior Classes, Cassiope Junior High School