Remembering Dionissis (Dennis) Minetos – by Petro Yuanidis

We lost a very special friend this week… Dionissis (Denis) Minetos. His untimely departure was a shock to all of us who knew him. It is difficult to part with such a dear friend whom I have known for more than thirty years. He was a person with a positive disposition, full of kindness, expressed in his ever-smiling face. Dionissis and Valarie were part of our small circle of friends. We have plenty of memories of spending time together, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, partying, going camping, and playing soccer and basketball, among many other things. I used to at times affectionately call him “Dennis the menace” because of his passion and competitiveness at basketball, soccer, backgammon and pictionary (his drawings were legendary, causing us to die of laughter!…). 

Remembering Chris Floudas – by Jason Souvaliotis and Stella Korre

We were all shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely death of Prof. Chris (Χρίστος) Floudas  of Texas A&M and Princeton University. Both institutions published obituaries with his biography and the impact of his remarkable career (see here and here). Prof. Nicholas Peppas announced the sad news on our Facebook page, relaying personal pictures and keeping our community informed. In this tribute we would like to offer a personal angle into what made Chris special, since Texas sadly did not get enough opportunity to know him.

Scholarship Dinner 2016 – Closing Remarks by Event MC Dr. Alex Kalamarides

Having been in your shoes as a recipient of a Scholarship from the Hellenic Professional Society of Texas almost twenty-nine years ago, I feel it is useful to share with you some thoughts from mine and my generation’s experiences over the last few decades. To that end, I have three messages for you.

Firstly, focus on what you do best so as to enjoy and master it, but also challenge yourselves with confronting your weaknesses because they are necessary for your maturity as persons, and as a source of goal-setting and fulfillment.

Getting to know Houston and the HPST – by Lena Patsidou

Where would you see a bar sharing space with an in-house tailor? Or a former prison with windows overlooking a beautiful skyline? Or the hotel where President Kennedy had his last meal before heading to Dallas in November of 1963? We saw all these places in downtown Houston! We also heard wonderful anecdotes about our hometown by a knowledgeable guide who lead us through the downtown streets in a beautiful November day.

Favorite Memories from my Nine Years on the Board – by George Zombakis

As my nine years on the Hellenic Professional Society of Texas Board comes to a close, it has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as president, corresponding secretary and counselor.  I have learned so much from our dynamic members:  Maro & Petro Yuanidis, Anna Mavromatis, Costas Caracostis, Lena Patsidou, George & Margo Kalfoglou and the list goes on and on. Our Society is one of the great treasures of Houston. Not only do we organize events that promote Greek culture to the community, but we welcome the many Greek professionals relocating to our city from the U.S and abroad.

HPST 38th Scholarship Dinner (February 22nd, 2015) – by Andreas Matzakos

It was a glorious evening to behold when we awarded nine scholarship awards to high school and graduate students. We are accustomed to many memorable past scholarship dinners, but this year’s event did not fail to inspire and impress us. Here are some of the highlights that make it one of a kind. 

HPST@Forty: The 40-yr Celebration – by Lena Patsidou

On Sunday, April 26, 2015, the Society celebrated its forty-year anniversary. The Board decided to mark this occasion with a casual celebration, to allow old friends and new members to mingle, share stories and get to know each other better. Present were more than a hundred guests, including five of the HPST founders: George Blytas, George Kalfoglou, John Vogiatzis, Gus Michalopoulos and Pericles Ktonas. Mr. George Papanikolaou, the General Consul of Greece to Houston, also honored us with his presence.