[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 21 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING GREEK AMERICAN EDUCATORS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 2016

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three remarkable 
and distinguished members of the Greek Orthodox community in the Tampa 
Bay area. These three Greek American educators continually demonstrate 
excellence in transmitting the value of Hellenic education to the next 
generation of scholars, tying historic Hellenic values and culture to 
today's contemporary policy and cultural discussions in the United 
States. Together, these scholars promote and enhance the teaching of 
our incredible culture and affect a change that enhances Hellenism 
throughout the world.
  The V. Rev. Fr. James Rousakis, Vicar for Western Florida, is a dear 
friend from Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, 
Florida, who demonstrates a tireless effort to preserve the Greek-
American Orthodox values and instill the Hellenic culture to the next 
generation of Greek-Americans. He has served the Orthodox faithful in 
Rochester, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Portland, Maine; Indianapolis, 
Indiana; Clearwater and now Tarpon Springs, Florida. With his boundless 
energy, Father James has helped to foster incredible growth in the 
membership and ministries at Holy Trinity.
  The Honorable Steve Christopoulos is a remarkable educator and 
coordinator who continually puts forth a dynamic effort to organize 
almost a dozen charter schools in the Florida community. Born in 
Akovos, Greece, Christopoulos moved to the United States at the age of 
twelve and his family settled in Lynn, Massachusetts. After a rewarding 
career in commercial real estate, Christopoulos began his current 
leadership of Superior Schools, which operates numerous schools of 
choice throughout the Tampa area. His unwavering commitment to 
excellence sets him apart in the world of challenging and supportive 
educational environments. His dedication to Hellenic values and the 
superior learning environments he has created consistently produces 
outstanding citizens and Philhellenes.
  Mrs. Catherine Diacogianni is a heralded educator who has contributed 
to our local Tampa Greek communities by teaching the Greek language and 
cultural history for over thirty years. After studying and working for 
the Red Cross in Athens early in her life, Diacogianni moved to Florida 
in 1977 and dedicated her life to teaching the Greek language to future 
generations as well as her peers. Despite a consistent tenure at Holy 
Trinity Greek School, Diacogianni also established the St. Stephanos 
Greek School in St. Petersburg where she worked tirelessly as teacher 
and director for 14 years. I am constantly in awe of Diacogianni's 
untiring efforts and passion to educate everyone she comes in contact 
with about the significance of Hellenic history and language so that it 
may live on in our community.
  I commend the Federation of Hellenic American Educators and the Greek 
Teacher Association of Florida for highlighting these three pillars of 
our community, and I hope every American can learn from and emulate the 
determined efforts of these extraordinary educators.

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