The Next Generation Initiative

11/04/2016

Get out and VOTE. It’s the Greek thing to do.

Learn more at: https://goo.gl/nxYCnL

03/26/2016

From all of us at the Next Generation Initiative on this Greek Independence Day, “THANK YOU,” to everyone who says “I’VE GOT GREEK!”

11/03/2015

AN IMPORTANT ELECTION DAY REMINDER: HECK YEAH! We Invented Democracy. Watch the whole tongue-in-cheek, video at http://goo.gl/jEInv5, and make sure you get out and !

09/02/2015

YEORGIA KAFKOULIS WINS ARCHIMEDES AWARD — A Florida high school senior who is taking her passion for particle physics and theoretical mathematics to Caltech this fall, Yeorgia Kafkoulis is the very first winner of the Archimedes Award, the Next Generation Initiative’s new scholarship for outstanding Hellenic American students pursuing studies and careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields.

How many AP classes do you have to ace to stand out in an impressive field of young scholars that included four other finalists and 15 national semifinalists? More than just a few, it seems. “Able, accomplished, and intelligent—an astonishing group,” says Dr. Andrew Economos, the scientist/entrepreneur who founded the Award. “We were amazed by the sheer quality of the applicants,” says the Initiative’s Leon Stavrou. “It’s just incredible how many bright and talented young men and women we have in our community.”

Read more at https://www.hellenext.org/launchpad_1/meet-yeorgia-kafkoulis-winner-of-the-first-archimedes-award/

Meet Yeorgia Kafkoulis, winner of the first Archimedes Award May 29, 2015 by Bill Was it all those straight “A”s in high school? The “5”s on her AP exams? The multiple Science Olympiad medals? Her passion for theoretical mathematics and particle physics? Or her impressive work ethic? It was all of t…

09/02/2015

MARINA HATSOPOULOS ON HELPING GREECE RECOVER—ONE START-UP AT A TIME In this fascinating article in MIT News, our own Next Generation Initiative Master Class leader Marina Hatsopoulos talks about helping a group of young Greek entrepreneurs attend an international technology startup bootcamp this summer at MIT — and pitch their business ideas to 50 Boston-based Greek and Greek-American investors and business leaders. “We didn’t know each other at all,” says Hatsopoulos, “but one thing about the Greeks — we can become best friends overnight.”

Her experience with this group of emerging entrepreneurs has left her optimistic. “They are so totally different in spirit,” she says. “They have this amazing excitement and energy. They see only upside.”

From our latest story on the NextGen Launchpad, at: https://www.hellenext.org/career-res…/the-nextgen-launchpad/.

Read more at: https://www.hellenext.org/launchpad_1/marina-hatsopoulos-on-helping-greece-recover-one-start-up-at-a-time/

Marina Hatsopoulos on helping Greece recover, one start-up at a time August 23, 2015 by Bill Marina Hatsopoulos at MIT In a fascinating article in MIT News, NextGen Master Class leader Marina Hatsopoulos talks about her role in bringing young Greek entrepreneurs this summer to an international techn…

09/02/2015

YOUNG GREEK SCIENTIST CRACKS THE CODE THAT CONTROLS OBESITY — AND WHAT ELSE? You may not have heard of Manolis Kellis — or computational biology — before this, but the announcement that his MIT/Harvard research team has uncovered a genetic “master switch” which determines whether the human body stores fat, or burns it, is making news in science, big time. The implications his research has for the fight against obesity — and its potential as a model to understand other diseases — are, in fact, profound.

Of course, here at hellenext.org we’re particularly proud of this 38-year-old, Athens-born, France- and U.S.-raised, MIT-trained scientist, because Manolis was one of our very first NextGen Master Class students. Congrats, Manolis!

From our latest story on the NextGen Launchpad, at: https://www.hellenext.org/career-res…/the-nextgen-launchpad/.
Read more at: https://www.hellenext.org/…/nextgen-alum-manolis-kellis-le…/

NextGen alum Manolis Kellis co-leads MIT/Harvard team that’s discovered a metabolic “master switch” that controls obesity August 25, 2015 by Bill MIT professor (and NextGen alum) Manolis Kellis A research team co-led by MIT professor (and NextGen alum) Manolis Kellis Kamvysselis and Harvard instruct…

09/02/2015

DO YOU KNOW A TECH-SAVVY GREEK-AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT? The Next Generation Initiative is helping JPMorgan Chase find smart college students interested in participating in their “Code for Good” challenge — a competition that gives small student teams (of 4 to 6 members each) the chance to work side by side with mentors from JPMorgan Chase as they compete over the course of 24 hours to creatively solve real-world problems faced by a charity assigned to each team — and come up with cutting-edge ideas that could make a real difference to the people who need it most.

This is one of the most exciting opportunities for Greek American students opened up by the Next Generation Initiative’s Internship & Mentoring Launch Team ( https://www.hellenext.org/nextgen-launch-team/ )

This year’s Code for Good challenge will be held in New York on October 16 – 17, and the application deadline is September 18th, so if you know a Greek American college student who’d be interested, please share this with them today!

You can find more opportunities for Greek American students and recent grads made possible by our Launch Team listed at https://www.hellenext.org/internships/

Read more at about the Code for Good challenge at https://www.hellenext.org/…/calling-for-students-young-cod…/

Calling for young coders to compete in JPMorgan Chase’s Code for Good Challenge September 1, 2015 by Bill Our Launch Team is looking for some tech-savvy Greek American college students to join JPMorgan Chase’s Code for Good Challenge — where student teams compete to develop a technology solution for…

03/26/2015

HECK, YEAH, I’VE GOT GREEK Every March 25th, we celebrate freedom, democracy — and the beginning of Greece's fight for independence in 1821. This is the day every Greek should be proud to say “I’ve got Greek!”

March 25th is also the day the Next Generation Initiative was founded. We don’t wave our own flag very often, but today we want to say “thank you” to our founders — including Sec. Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Gov. Michael Dukakis, Sen. Paul Sarbanes, Sen. Olympia Snowe, George Stephanopoulos and George Tenet — whose leadership has helped us open up opportunities for thousands of young Greek Americans.

So, Happy Birthday, Greece... and Happy Birthday, Hellenext!

(And thanks to our friends Bob Costas, Tina Fey, Nick Galifianakis, Arianna Huffington, Maria Menounos, Chris Sarandon, and Betty White who helped us tell the world “Heck, Yeah, We Invented Democracy!” -- you can watch them say it at
http://www.hellenext.org/leadership-programs/civic-engagement/heck-yeah-we-invented-democracy/