AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip Launches 18th Year with Washington, D.C., Program
AHI President Nick Larigakis and Maria Wills, Secretary of the American Hellenic Institute Foundation's Board of Directors, accompany the students during a briefing at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
No. 46
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) College Student Foreign Policy Trip to Greece and Cyprus began its 18th year as students from across the United States gathered in Washington, D.C., June 22-24, 2026, for briefings and educational activities before departing for Cyprus. The program concludes July 10 upon the students' return from Athens.
“For 18 years, this program has helped students develop a deeper understanding of the foreign policy issues shaping the Eastern Mediterranean and advancing U.S. interests in the region,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “Through meetings with diplomats, government officials, academics, and policy experts in Washington, Cyprus, and Greece, participants gain a firsthand perspective that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. We are pleased to provide another outstanding group of students with this unique educational opportunity.”
The Washington program began with briefings at AHI’s Hellenic House by President Larigakis and Legislative Assistant Will Martin.
Students also met with the chief diplomatic representatives of Greece and Cyprus in the United States, Ambassador of Greece to the United States Antonis Alexandridis and Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States Evangelos Savva, at their respective embassies.
The student group also participated in a briefing at the U.S. Department of State with Daniel Lawton, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, followed by discussions with Christine Lawson, director of the Office of Southern European Affairs, and Claire Zimmerman, unit chief for Greece, Cyprus, and Malta.
The delegation received foreign policy and national security briefings from John Sitilides, Senior Fellow for Global Risks, Center for the National Interest; Dr. Andrew Novo, professor of strategic studies at the National Defense University and adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies; Dr. Dimitris Tsarouhas, Washington representative of ELIAMEP; Gregory Graves of The George Washington University; and national security analyst Jack Dulgarian, an AHIF foreign policy trip alumnus.
The group also met with Lena Argiri, Washington correspondent for ERT and Kathimerini, who provided insights into journalism and media coverage of developments in Greece, Cyprus, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Washington portion of the program included a White House tour and attendance at a Philadelphia Phillies-Washington Nationals baseball game, providing participants with additional opportunities to experience the nation's capital.
Looking ahead, during the two-week program in Greece and Cyprus, the students will receive firsthand experience about U.S. foreign policy issues involving Greece and Cyprus. There will be meetings and briefings at American embassies, officials from various ministries of each country, including Foreign Affairs and Defense; military officers and parliament members, religious leaders, think-tank organizations, and members of academia and the private sector.
In Greece, the students will also take a daytrip to visit Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete, the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), and NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC), as well as Salamis Naval Base, and receive briefings.
In Cyprus, students will visit occupied Cyprus, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, and the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas and Port Security (CYCLOPS).
STUDENT BIOGRAPHIES
Spyridon Kass is a sophomore at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland, studying Politics and International Relations. He has been involved in Model United Nations for several years and recently began writing for his university's newspaper. Spyridon plans to pursue a career in government, foreign policy, journalism, or writing, viewing each as a pathway to serve the interests of the United States. He sees the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of U.S.-Greece and U.S.-Cyprus relations across the fields of diplomacy, security, business, policymaking, and academia, helping him strengthen these alliances in service of U.S. interests.
Marilena Kifnidis is a rising sophomore at Lehigh University majoring in International Relations and Economics. She is actively involved on campus as a member of the United Nations Club, World Affairs Club, and Hellenic Club, and serves as a Campus Ambassador for The Women's Network. Through these experiences, Marilena has developed a strong interest in global affairs and public policy, particularly at the intersection of economic policy and international diplomacy. She hopes to pursue a career in international business with a specialization in global strategy and economic development. Marilena believes the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will provide a deeper understanding of the diplomatic and economic relationships among the United States, Greece, and Cyprus, as well as how those relationships help shape global affairs.
Lukas Koutsoukos is a junior at Yale University double majoring in History and Ethics, Politics, & Economics (EP&E). He serves as president of the Yale Hellenic Society and incoming president of Yale Model Congress and is actively involved with Yale Model United Nations and the Yale Review of International Studies. Lukas hopes to pursue a career in international relations and law. He plans to earn a master's degree in classics with a focus on political thought before attending law school. Through the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip, he hopes to gain valuable insight into U.S. foreign policy in Greece and Cyprus, providing an important framework for understanding how the United States engages with Europe amid recent developments in the Middle East.
Maria Kyriacou is a rising junior at the University of Virginia. She is pursuing a major in Global Development Studies, which she expects to complete by the end of her junior year, and a master's degree in Public Policy and Leadership, which she plans to earn by the end of her senior year. Maria serves as a lawyer and counselor representing students before the University Judiciary Committee, a student government body that adjudicates violations of the university's Standards of Conduct. She is also a Division I Women's Rugby player on the university's club team and a PanHellenic Young Leader in the Chicago PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation. Maria plans to pursue a career in international law and hopes to apply her work to international development. She believes the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will strengthen her diplomacy and leadership skills through a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances of Greece and Cyprus while supporting her goal of practicing law internationally.
Demetrios Lahiri is a junior at Southern Methodist University majoring in Finance at the Cox School of Business and History at the Dedman School of Humanities. He is an active member of the Hellenic Cultural Society of Dallas, treasurer of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and a participant in the Eta Sigma Phi Classical Honors Society, which promotes the study of the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Demetrios plans to pursue a career in international business and believes the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will provide a deeper understanding of issues affecting U.S. political and economic interests in Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. He views the experience as valuable preparation for a career in international affairs and an opportunity to better understand how to promote U.S. investment in both countries.
George Mantalvanos is a rising sophomore at the College of William & Mary studying International Relations. He is involved in club lacrosse, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and the Hellenic Student Association. George also studies modern Greek online and aims to achieve Γ2-level proficiency. He aspires to a career in foreign affairs and diplomacy and believes the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will deepen his understanding of the unresolved geopolitical issue of Cyprus and the importance of U.S.-Greece relations. As he notes, "this trip will allow me to gain experience in diplomatic relations and policy while being a building block for my career readiness in International Relations."
Constantina Moustakis is a rising sophomore at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York majoring in Economics and Public Health with a minor in Classics. She is an active board member of International Hellenic Students (IHS) Global, where she helps connect Greek youth throughout New York City and coordinates events for the Greek Independence Day Parade. She also serves on the board of the Patras Society of New York Kostis Palamas. Constantina is interested in a career in foreign policy, particularly in public health, and is eager to deepen her understanding of international politics through the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip, which she believes will provide valuable insight into the complexities of Greek and Cypriot political relations with the United States.
Anna Papakirk is a rising senior at Yale University majoring in Economics and History. A proud Hellene, she has devoted much of her time at Yale to deepening her engagement with her heritage by taking Modern Greek language and history courses, participating in a summer language intensive program in Thessaloniki, and serving as Outreach Chair of the university's Hellenic Society. Outside the classroom, Anna serves on the Alumni Board of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, has written for Hellenic News of America, interned at the American Hellenic Institute, and enjoys cooking with her yiayias. The AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will allow her to build upon the work and research she conducted during her internship by providing firsthand experience in Greece and Cyprus. Anna hopes to pursue a career in law or journalism and is grateful for the opportunity to explore the legal dimensions of Eastern Mediterranean foreign policy issues and how those issues are represented in the media.
Iasmi Siopsis is a rising junior at Illinois Tech majoring in Public Policy and Applied Mathematics. She is the founder and president of Ethical Debaters and Culture Club, a Camras Scholar, a member of the Honors Program, a varsity athlete, coordinator of IIT Soccer Club's Instagram and community outreach efforts, a volunteer teacher's assistant serving underserved schools, and a member of the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Iasmi plans to pursue a career in social research or with a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity and access. She believes the AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip will offer valuable insight into international policymaking and strengthen her ability to contribute meaningfully to global and community-focused initiatives, particularly those that support and serve Greece.