Pictured from left to right HBAF Chairwoman and Officers: Themistocles P. Frangos, Dimitra A. Anderson, Katerina Alexopoulos, Hon. Frank J. Andreou, Eleni Katsoulis, Pamela Visvardis Savvides, Athena Farmakis, Georgia Loukas Demeros, Spyridon J. Demakis. Photo credit: Lex Alexander Photography.
CHICAGO, IL, November 2022 – The Hellenic Bar Association Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois, hosted its 72nd Annual Scholarship Ball on October 29, 2022 at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont. Welcoming nearly 350 guests, the annual celebration raised $80,000 to further advance its mission of supporting legal education for deserving law students of Hellenic descent and providing access to legal services to those in need.
The theme of the evening was Honoring Spirit and Knowledge, in honor of Greece’s Oxi Day, and in celebration of the educational and professional accomplishments of our scholarship recipients and honorees.
Eleni Kouimelis, past Hellenic Bar Association president, and Winston & Strawn Chair of the Environmental Law Practice, served as Mistress of Ceremonies. “It was truly an honor and privilege to serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the HBA Foundation’s 72 Annual Scholarship Ball honoring spirit and knowledge,” said Kouimelis, “the night was a celebration of both the HBA’s past and its bright future.” Kouimelis further expressed “To Eleni Katsoulis, you are incredible! You and your amazing committee deserve many thanks for your hard work and commitment to the HBA!”
Eleni Katsoulis, President of the Hellenic Bar Association and its Foundation, thanked guests, scholarship benefactors, sponsors, and silent auction donors for their generous contributions.
“Δείξε μου τους φίλους σου να σου πω ποιος είσαι. As the 72nd President of the Hellenic Bar Association and its Foundation, I am proud to celebrate brilliant honorees and scholarship recipients, friends of the Hellenic Bar,” Eleni Katsoulis expressed. Each year the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation highlights distinguished members of the Hellenic community of Illinois. Katsoulis continued on, “This year we chose honorees who embody spirit and also excel in their respective careers while making significant contributions to our community.”
Georgia Loukas Demeros, immediate Past President of the Hellenic Bar Association, accepted an award for her 14 years of service to the organization. “The hard work and vision of our past Presidents, Board of Directors and countless volunteers have made the Hellenic Bar Association a premier bar association in Chicago’s legal community,” shared Demeros, “and through the efforts of our Hellenic Bar Association Foundation we have the opportunity to support to the future leaders of our Hellenic legal community.”
At the Scholarship Ball, the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation awarded $60,000 in scholarships to seven law students of Hellenic descent, totaling $400,000 in scholarship awards in the last seven years alone.
Pictured from left to right: Christina Faklis Adair, Kali Alexakos, Lambros Anastasopoulos, Sabrina O’Connor, Penelope Pentzas, Eleni Katsoulis, Isabella Sabri, Christophilos Theodosis, Ioanna Varra, and Efie M. Vainikos. Photo credit: Lex Alexander Photography.
The seven 2022 HBA Scholarship recipients include: Kali Alexakos, a third-year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law; Lampros Anastasopoulos, an LLM student at the University of Chicago; Sabrina O’Connor, a second-year law student at DePaul University College of Law; Penelope Pentzas, second-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law; Isabella Sabri, second-year law student at New York University School of Law; Christophilos Theodosis, second-year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law; and Ioanna Varra an LLM student at the University of Chicago.
Pictured: Hellene of the Year, Dr. Leonidas Platanias and Eleni
Katsoulis. Photo credit: Lex Alexander Photography
The award ceremony continued with honoring individuals whose professional achievements and contributions to the Hellenic community inspire the next generation of leaders. Dr. Leonidas Platanias, Director, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, was awarded the “Hellene of the Year Award” Hellene of the Year Award; Honorable Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Cook County Circuit Court Judge, founding member of Hellenic Legal Assistance Services, and Board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Hellenic Foundation, and Order of Themis, was awarded the “Service Award”; Maria Tabrizi, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Technology Officer of First Women’s Bank received the “Professional Achievement Award”; and Harry Secaras, partner at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., received the “Lawyer of the Year Award.”
Pictured from left to right: Hon. Tom Sianis, Hon. Pamela Stratigakes, Hon. Peggy Chiampas, Hon. Frank J. Andreou, Justice Jesse G. Reyes, Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Hon. Stephanie Saltouros, Hon. Anna Demacopoulos, Hon. Diann K. Marsalek, Hon. George Canellis, Hon. Lorraine Murphy, Hon. Jeffery G. Chrones. Photo credit: Lex Alexander Photography.
Save the date for the 73rd Annual Scholarship Ball on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
About the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation
In 2001, the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois formed its charitable arm, the Hellenic Bar Association Foundation (HBAF) whose mission is to support legal education for students of Hellenic descent and provide access to legal services to those who otherwise would be denied such access. Through the HBAF, members organize programming for students and award scholarships to law students of Hellenic descent at its annual Scholarship Ball. In 2016, the HBAF formed Hel.LAS, its pro bono legal clinic, which to date has provided legal assistance to 400 families of Hellenic descent in the Chicagoland area. For more information, please visit: www.hellenicbar.org.
For More Information
Eleni Katsoulis, President
Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois
Hellenic Bar Association Foundation