Inspirational Partners Awards Honor Exceptional Corporate Contributions to Students’ Career Success
In a memorable evening of celebration and gratitude, the Inspirational Partners Awards brought together representatives from 46 outstanding companies, faculty, staff, and students at the Aghia Paraskevi campus of The American College of Greece on Tuesday, November 26. This exclusive, invitation-only event honored corporate partners whose invaluable support has significantly shaped the career journeys of ACG students and alumni.
Welcoming attendees to the inaugural event, Haris Daskalothanassis, Executive Director of Outreach and Retention at Deree, and Anastasia Andrikou, a senior year student, set the stage for an evening that highlighted the power of collaboration. “Tonight’s awards honor your dedication to our students’ success,” said Andrikou. “The beneficiaries of these partnerships measure in the thousands. Though not all can join us tonight, their experiences speak volumes about the profound impact of your support.”
The evening commenced with inspiring remarks by Dr. David G. Horner, President of The American College of Greece, who emphasized the transformative role of partnerships in bridging academic excellence with professional success. “You are not just external collaborators; you are integral to the process of education itself. Your partnership fuels the aspirations of our students and empowers their future. For this, we are profoundly grateful,” Dr. Horner declared, underscoring the vital connection between education and industry. His powerful words set the tone for an evening of celebration and gratitude.
Daskalothanassis shared with the audience the impressive milestones from the ACG Career Services Office, the oldest of its kind in Greece. “Founded in 1976, our Career Services Office celebrates nearly 50 years of service. With over 2,500 companies and organizations registered in our Career Portal, more than 590 companies engaged with us in the past three years alone,” he noted. “This past academic year, our partners posted over 4,000 positions, a testament to their commitment to student success.”
Recognizing Excellence
The awards program of the evening highlighted corporate contributions across multiple categories. President Horner presented the honors, beginning with the Career Event Engagement Champion Award. Recipients included Adecco, Coca-Cola 3E, EY Greece, Randstad, and Sportswear Market (Intersport & Foot Locker), recognized for their consistent co-organization of career events that enhance student preparedness for the job market.
The Most Committed Career Fair Participant Award celebrated companies such as Aegean, Dialectica, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, KPMG, and Melissa-Kikizas for their unwavering participation in career fairs, fostering networking and career exploration for students.
The Leading Internship Provider Award honored partners like Kaizen Gaming, Ogilvy, OPAP, Rodicare, and Sarantis Group for hosting numerous students as interns, showcasing the life-changing impact of such experiences. Sustained Internship Commitment Awards recognized Adidas Hellas, Henkel, PwC Greece, Qualco Group, and Unilever for their long-term dedication to internship programs.
Celebrating Industry Leadership
As the evening progressed, the focus turned to industry-specific contributions. The Leading Career Partner in Tourism Award was presented to Aldemar Resorts, Costa Navarino – TEMES, Elounda Hotels, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, and Lampsa Hellenic Hotels. Similarly, the Leading Career Partner in Shipping Award honored Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (Hellas), Danaos Shipping, Laskaridis Shipping Company, Seaven Tanker and Dry Management, and Trafigura Maritime Ventures.
Acknowledging academic collaboration, the Career Academic Advisory Board Award went to Aegis IT Research, Deloitte Greece, IKNOWHOW, Just One, and Vianex for their role in aligning ACG’s curriculum with industry needs.
New partnerships were also celebrated with the Rising Star Partnership Award, presented to A.M.S. Archiving Services, The Estee Lauder Companies, and One & Only Aesthesis Athens for their exceptional engagement in their first year of collaboration.
The Strategic Partnership Award recognized The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), The Libra Group, and The United States Embassy in Athens for their enduring support of ACG initiatives. Finally, the Leading Supporter of Student Career Development Award honored Nestle, OTE Group of Companies, Titan Cement, The V+O Group, and Apivita for their extraordinary contributions to workshops, mock interviews, networking events, internships, and job placements.
Voices of Gratitude
The Inspirational Partners Awards marked a milestone in celebrating the power of collaboration between The American College of Greece and its esteemed corporate partners. Dimitris Megremis, Director of ACG Career Services, encapsulated the spirit of the evening: “Last night, at the Inspirational Partners Awards, we proudly recognized 46 outstanding companies for their invaluable contribution and collaboration. It is through such partnerships that we empower students and alumni to achieve their career aspirations. Honored to lead this initiative.”
Building on this, Marina Perantonaki, Senior Manager, ACG Career Services, highlighted the profound impact of these alliances: “We are deeply grateful to our industry partners for their unwavering collaboration, which enables Deree’s undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain real-world experience and build meaningful careers. Thanks to this strong partnership, led by the Career Services team, students benefit from transformative opportunities such as career fairs, networking events, site visits, and internships, seamlessly bridging education with professional success.”
Effrosyni (Effie) Zachara, Director of Career Services at Alba Graduate Business School, further celebrated the evening’s achievements: “We proudly celebrated organizations that go above and beyond in their collaboration with Career Services, directly supporting Alba Graduate Business students and alumni. At Career Services, we focus on equipping our students with the confidence, competence, and business ethos to thrive in today’s competitive world. These partnerships embody a shared commitment to excellence, investing in the future professionals who will lead tomorrow’s successes. Thank you for being a key part of their professional journey and nurturing the talent shaping the future!”
The gratitude extended beyond the institution, resonating with ACG students whose lives have been transformed by these opportunities. George Christoulas, a student in the Alba MBA program, shared, “I feel empowered, connected, and ready to take on the challenges for my career path.” Similarly, Stavros Chairetas, a Deree BSc. in Marketing student, emphasized, “All these opportunities that are offered by employers with the help of Career Services are key to our professional success.”
Through the steadfast collaboration of ACG’s corporate partners, we continue to bridge the gap between academic excellence and professional achievement, empowering students to realize their aspirations. Together, we are not just preparing leaders for tomorrow but shaping the world they will lead.
