How George Karlaftis found his way to football between Greece and Indiana

Before 2014, George Karlaftis never had football on his radar.

Growing up in Athens, Greece, his sporting plate overflowed with swimming, soccer, tennis, basketball, track and field, judo and water polo, in which Karlaftis fast-tracked as a young teen. Karlaftis fit in every arena. He has a confluence of gifts -- size, speed, confidence and drive -- that allowed him to pick any athletic endeavor and excel. But Karlaftis ultimately pivoted away from all of those sports, and toward one that rarely, if ever, came up during his childhood.

"[Football] was perceived as very dangerous, barbaric," he recalled. "A little bit of fear tactics for us not to play."

His father, Matt, an accomplished athlete in Greece who competed in track and field at the University of Miami, hoped Karlaftis and his two brothers would never participate in football. Matt's only brush with the sport had led to a traumatic head injury and surgery.

"I was scared, I never really wanted to play growing up, you know, and [in Greece], it's not really an issue," Karlaftis said.

Paul Alivisatos named next president of the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago’s Board of Trustees has named Paul Alivisatos as the University’s 14th president.

An accomplished leader in higher education and a world-renowned scientist, Alivisatos, 61, is currently executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a professor and the Samsung Distinguished Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research in the Department of Chemistry and the former director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Following an extensive international search, Alivisatos was elected president at a meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees on Feb. 25 and will assume his role on Sept. 1. He will succeed Robert J. Zimmer, who has served as president since 2006. Zimmer will transition into a new role as chancellor of the University on Sept. 1.

“Throughout his distinguished academic career, Paul has demonstrated the skills and imagination needed to be an inspirational leader, confront the challenges of our time and guide the University of Chicago during a period of enormous opportunity,” said Joseph Neubauer, MBA’65, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, who led the search for a new president. “He has the vision to further elevate the University’s eminence, uphold its rich traditions and enduring values, and make an impact on higher education and the lives of University students, faculty and staff, as well as enrich the South Side community.”

Dimitri Neonakis: the pilot making wishes of Canadian children come true

Dimitri Neonakis, a Greek-Canadian from Messinia who lives and works in Nova Scotia, Canada, impresses all in the local community with his inspiring way of expressing his solidarity with his fellow citizens — especially the younger ones.

Following the terrorist attacks of April, 2020 in Nova Scotia, where 22 people tragically lost their lives, Neonakis wanted to find a unique way to express his solidarity with his community.

So he decided to begin creating figures in the sky with his airplane as a way to transmit symbols and messages of solidarity in the air. After these routes are depicted on a map, they show what he says are uplifting images of hope.

Following this unusual gesture, Neonakis decided to take a further step and introduce the "Dream Wings" initiative, which gives children with mobility issues and serious health conditions the opportunity to take a once-in-a-lifetime ride on his plane.

"Staellinika" platform reconnects Greeks around the world with their heritage language and culture

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University and the General Secretariat for Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the full release of Staellinika, a new online platform which reconnects Greeks abroad with the homeland of their ancestors.

Now, Staellinika users will be able to experience the full version of the web application, which has been available for several months in pilot form, according to the online tool’s developers.

Since its inception, Staellinika, an online platform and suite of apps developed by the SNF New Media Lab at the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies, has sought to provide individuals ranging from preschool-aged children to young adults with an innovative and engaging product designed to re-connect Greeks around the world with their heritage language and culture.

The platform’s creators have now realized their goal with the launch of a full course curriculum for beginner heritage learners in schools and for individuals at home. The platform can be used either as a stand-alone program to assist schools or to supplement their existing curriculum. It is offered for free thanks to very generous funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos, scientist who saved thousands of infants, dies at 90

Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos, an internationally known scientist in the field of neonatal medicine who helped save thousands of infants through her groundbreaking research, died Friday, Sept. 11, of endometrial cancer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

During a 50-year career, Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos was a professor of pediatrics, physiology, and obstetrics/gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine, and director of neonatal intensive care at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Both are in Philadelphia.

She was regarded as the “mother of neonatology” and “a legend in the field," Greece’s Neonatal Society said in an online tribute.

“She remains alive in the hearts and memories of the hundreds of doctors she trained and inspired to have a love for sick children, of the hundreds of Greek doctors she opened the way for, and of the thousands of Greek patients who found treatment at specialized centers with her help,” the society said on Sept. 14.

Born in Athens, she was the daughter of Constantine and Kalliopi Delivoria. She earned a medical degree from Athens University.

She came to the United States in 1957 to pursue postdoctoral study in physiology at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the faculty and created the neonatal unit at Penn, which she ran before leaving as professor emeritus in 2000.

She was on the Drexel faculty from 2000 to 2006, when she was given the Ralph Brenner Endowed Chair in Pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital.

She was honored globally for her achievements and continued research in neonatal medicine throughout her life. Her most important contribution was taking the iron lung used to treat polio victims in the 1950s and adapting it to support the breathing of premature babies. Another was the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess the infants' brains.

She was the first doctor to place an infant on a respirator to help with respiratory distress syndrome, her family said in a statement. She was also the first woman and doctor to demonstrate the effective use of mechanical ventilation to treat lung disease in premature infants, the family said.

John Mavroudis is the artist behind the powerful new TIME Magazine cover

John Mavroudis’ cover for the latest issue of TIME magazine pays tribute to all 200,000 Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 this year.

Mavroudis’ concluding ellipses serve as a stark reminder of what will only continue during the pandemic in the absence of true leadership at the highest levels.

“I really hope this cover awakens the consciences of those who stand apathetically in the face of this catastrophe. Science and common sense are the answer to this crisis,” the Greek artist told local Greek media.

The good side of Greece radiates

Elona Angoli sewed 600 masks in Grevena. The Saabo family is doing the same in Trikala.

In every corner of Greece an "outbreak" of donations and volunteering and a strong mobilization in the battle against the coronavirus is manifesting.

Residents of Nea Filadelfeia donated more than 200 units of blood. In Agia Paraskevi, 114 units were collected. In Petrana and Kroko Kozanis, 15 and 21 units respectively.

A network of Emergency Seamstresses is created in 37 prefectures to arm the front line with 40,000 reusable masks. The volunteers of Covid-19 Response Greece design and manufacture more than 25,000 face shields. And they keep going.

Greek-American scientist Dr. George Scangos heads global campaign for coronavirus treatment

As the entire world appears to be experiencing a new pandemic caused by the infamous Covid19 coronavirus, scientists have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to find a potential treatment which could save thousands — or even millions — of lives.

The key individual currently leading the world’s desperate efforts in this field is Dr. George Scangos, a Greek-American researcher from Massachusetts who was just tasked by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) to coordinate the scientific community towards a cure.

Dr. Scangos is currently the chief executive of the infectious disease biotechnology company Vir.

The hoped-for treatment could offer massive relief to the entirety of humankind, as the consequences of this sudden global public health emergency have already been complex and dramatic.

Before leading Vir, Scangos was the former CEO of Biogen, a pioneering American multinational biotechnology company based in Massachusetts.

Just a few days ago BIO tapped Scangos to lead the response to this global emergency because of his years of expertise and demonstrated excellence in his field.

Fans around the world wish Giannis Antetokounmpo a happy 25th birthday! (videos)

Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his 25th birthday on December 6th and fans from around the world - including Greece, Malaysia, Russia, the Philippines, China, Malawi, Australia and the US - took time to send him their wishes.

Χρόνια Πολλά Γκρικ Φρικ!

MoMA opens applications for four 12-month internships for Greek nationals

As a sponsor of the J-1 visa program, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is committed to providing opportunities for international students and emerging professionals to learn about the practices and organizational systems of an American museum. To this end, with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, MoMA is accepting applications for four 12-month internships for Greek nationals.

Stamatis Krimigis Earns Top Honor from International Academy of Astronautics

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has presented its premier honor — the von Karman Award — to Stamatis 'Tom' Krimigis, eminent space scientist and head emeritus of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.

Named for aerodynamics pioneer Theodore von Karman, founder and first president of the IAA, the annual award recognizes outstanding lifetime scientific achievement. In presenting the award on Sept. 24 during its annual Academy Day celebration in Adelaide, Australia, the IAA cited Krimigis for his leadership and scholarship in the space sciences and astronautics, including his discovery and promotion of the physics of energetic particles throughout the solar system and into near-interstellar space; his development of scientific instruments to explore the environments where those particles exist; and his articulation and application of policy-shifting paradigms in robotic space exploration that led to fundamental advances across astronautics.

Krimigis is the only scientist in the world to lead or participate in space physics experiments on all nine classical planets. He has served as a principal investigator on five NASA missions — including the legendary Voyagers and the Cassini Saturn orbiter — and as a co-investigator on many others.

Kevin Durant thinks Giannis Antetokounmpo could become the "best ever" to play in NBA (video)

Kevin Durant might just be Giannis Antetokounmpo's biggest fan, at least among NBA players.

Going back to June, when Antetokounmpo won most improved player at the 2017 NBA awards ceremony, KD took to his YouTube channel to congratulate the young player, saying "it's guaranteed" that the Bucks' star will be the NBA MVP someday.

More recently, in a video posted on Friday on his YouTube channel, KD gave Antetokounmpo another huge compliment.

In the video, KD takes questions from fans as part of a Q&A for readers of Fast Company, a magazine that will be featuring Durant on the cover of its next issue. One of the questions is, "Who are your favorite players in the NBA to watch?"

MoMA's Katerina Stathopoulou is Life Framer's judge for August

Life Framer is a photography award that sources and showcases outstanding work from amateur to established artists. The award is made up of 12 monthly calls for entries – each judged by an industry leader with a wealth of experience and expertise. You can use your entry to submit to one or more of the open themes.

Each month winning photographers receive online exposure, $2000 in cash prizes, and at the end of the year the winners are exhibited in shows in New York, Paris, Rome and Tokyo. This is the third month Life Framer is running and for this edition there's no clear lead as yet.

Participants are free to investigate everything, and to capture anything: landscapes, portraits, reportage, conceptual, personal documentary, travel; from spontaneous street moments to meticulous studio set-ups and everything in between.

August's judge was Katerina Stathopoulou, a curator at the Musuem of Modern Art (MoMA), having previously worked for the International Center of Photography.

With a focus on contemporary photography, she curates MoMA's challenging and varied collection of renowned artwork, as well as sitting on award panels, and running portfolio reviews.

After four decades on bench, Greek-American judge who shuns publicity ready to retire

A Virginia federal judge who upheld Miranda rights, loosened campaign finance strictures and sent both a Romanian hacker and a high-ranking CIA agent to prison will retire this fall.

James Cacheris, the first Republican to become a judge in Northern Virginia since Reconstruction, is also the longest-serving federal judge currently on the bench in Virginia. Before he took the bench in the Eastern District of Virginia in 1981, he served on the Fairfax County Circuit Court bench.

For the past two decades, Cacheris has served as a senior justice, meaning that he does not work a full caseload. Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, who is also retiring this fall, replaced Cacheris on the active bench.

At 84, Cacheris, who is married and has four children, does not plan to fully retire. He says he will likely do mediation work — to “get me out of the house.” But first, he says, he’d like to take another trip to Greece.

Takes a village: ‘Greek Freak’ got many assists growing up

He was just a scrawny, hungry kid, the son of migrants from Nigeria, trying to survive in Sepolia, a modest Athens neighborhood.

The club coach who spotted 13-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother kicking a soccer ball around a neighborhood field says the NBA All-Star grew up in constant fear of the police, and of being deported.

At that time, Antetokounmpo had only dabbled in basketball and was mostly interested in soccer. "He could not make a layup and he could not dribble," Spiros Velliniatis said.

But the teenager's character impressed Velliniatis, with a determination and toughness that showed through. "He was a champion before he was a basketball player," Velliniatis said.

Greek filmmakers Matziaraki, Filippou and Lanthimos headed to the 2017 Oscars! (videos)

Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian drama “The Lobster,” co-written with Efthymis Filippou, was nominated on Tuesday in the Best Original Screenplay category of the 89th Oscars, making it the second time the 43-year-old filmmaker looks forward to bringing home one of the coveted gold statuettes.

The award-winning filmmaker is joined in the ranks of Oscar hopefuls by another Greek, Daphne Matziaraki, whose “4.1 Miles” was selected for the Best Short Documentary category.

“The Lobster” stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz as two people looking for love in a world where you are turned into an animal if you fail to make a romantic attachment.

George Stathopoulos: Introducing Greek artists to an international audience

In a recent trip to Athens, I had the pleasure to meet with George Stathopoulos, a leading tax and corporate attorney whose true passion is collecting and curating art. George Stathopoulos has spent over 30 years organizing exhibitions globally as a way of promoting Greek art and introducing Greek artists to an international audience. His curatorial work includes exhibitions at The Musée d’Art NaÏf Max Fourny (Paris, France), Princeton University, The National Arts Club (New York, NY), the Bank of America (Athens, Greece), and seven exhibitions at Belgravia Gallery (London, UK). A totally different project and one of his major achievements is the 2014 installation of the George Zongolopoulos sculpture “Poseidon” on the George Washington University campus. His passion and commitment in promoting Greek art was palpable throughout our conversation.

Antetokounmpo ties career scoring high, Bucks rout NBA Champions Cavaliers (video)

After building a big third-quarter lead against the defending NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks poured it on in the fourth. And when the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled their starters, including LeBron James, midway through the final period, the young Bucks still didn't let up.

"We didn't let them off the hook. We were attacking," said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who tied a career high with 34 points while the Bucks stunned the Cavaliers 118-101 on Tuesday night. "They are the champs, but this is a great win."

Bucks coach Jason Kidd had high praise for Antetokounmpo, who was often matched up against James. "He's getting better with hard work," Kidd said. "He was going against the best player in the world."

Greek conductor Teodor Currentzis is classical music breaking the four-minute mile (videos)

Eighteen months ago, I discovered someone who changed my life forever.

His name is Teodor Currentzis. He’s a conductor who has recorded three operas for Sony music that are the single greatest albums that I have ever heard. And I don’t say that lightly.

The problem is, they’re opera. I know. The art form that’s apparently been dying for decades and that has a reputation for snobbishness, inaccessibility and general wankiness. Truth be told, I have always loathed it – but stay with me. These three are by Mozart, which helps. Opera’s biggest deterrent for me is Wagner. Chubby women shrieking at you in German for six hours simply cannot be described as entertainment – unless you like being bound, gagged and whipped in basement flats in Mayfair.

But Mozart is a different kettle of musical fish altogether. The guy, dead at 35, composed music that came straight from God’s mouth. And his three greatest operas are The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Così fan Tutte and Don Giovanni. Operas with ridiculous plots and even more intricate and ludicrous subplots. But underneath the farcical stories are important, powerful messages about the nature of love, humanity and our capacity for forgiveness. And Mozart sets these stories to the most profound music imaginable.

Watch Greek ‘Kings of Fireworks’ Take First Prize With Jaw-Dropping Show (video)

Pavlos and Philippos Nanos have created the jaw-dropping firework show, “Explosion,” that recently lit up the skies over Cincinnati.

The show took place at the International Fireworks Competition where the two took first place.

Pavlos told ANA-MPA that winning the competition was “a great pleasure and honor to obtain an international distinction in art that we love.”

“Some Greeks from Ohio came to congratulate us personally and meet us after our victory,” he said.