For many young people of Greek descent growing up in North America, Greece begins as an idea—formed through family stories, church festivals, inherited traditions, and fragments of history learned at home or in school. It is something admired and respected but often experienced from afar. For the students who participate in the Heritage Greece® Program, that idea becomes something far more personal: a lived experience that reshapes identity, deepens purpose, and for many, alters the course of their lives.
“I didn’t really understand philotimo until I was surrounded by it,” reflected one alumnus, describing the uniquely Greek sense of honor, generosity, and responsibility to others that is absorbed through daily life rather than learned in a classroom.
The Heritage Greece® Program, an initiative of the National Hellenic Society (NHS), is a transformative educational and cultural immersion designed for Greek American and Greek Canadian college students. Its mission is both timeless and urgent: to help the next generation connect meaningfully with their heritage while cultivating pride, perspective, and a sense of responsibility to family, community, and society.
Since its founding, the program has sponsored more than 1,000 students, a milestone that places it among the most impactful heritage-based educational initiatives in the Greek diaspora. Demand continues to grow each year. Despite exceptional academic credentials among applicants, NHS is routinely forced to turn away qualified students due to limited capacity. Last year alone, the average GPA of participating students was an extraordinary 3.8, reflecting both the competitiveness of the program and the caliber of the participants selected that will serve as future ambassadors of Hellenic heritage.
Hosted in Greece at leading academic institutions—including the American College of Greece in Athens, Anatolia College / American College of Thessaloniki, and College Year in Athens—Heritage Greece® blends academic rigor with experiential learning. Students earn transferable college credit while engaging deeply with Greece’s ancient past and modern reality through classroom instruction, archaeological site visits, and discussions with scholars, public officials, and business leaders. Yet it is often the personal impact that resonates most powerfully.
“I feel more of a personal connection to Greece,” shared one student. “I now view Greece as a home rather than just an idea. Every place we went, every archaeological site we visited, every meal we shared exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to return with my family.” For many, the experience also brings new meaning to lessons passed down through generations.
“My parents always stressed the importance of understanding our heritage, and now I understand why,” another participant explained. “Heritage Greece brought me closer to my family. They were proud and excited to see me connect so deeply with who we are and with other Greek American and Greek students.”
That intergenerational connection is central to the program’s purpose. George Marcus, co-founder of the National Hellenic Society, sees Heritage Greece® as a bridge between past and future.
“This program was created so that our young people don’t just inherit stories about who they are—they experience it for themselves,” Marcus said. “When students return, they carry Greece with them in a very real way, and that shapes how they live, lead, and give back.”
Students frequently speak of a renewed sense of pride and responsibility—both personal and civic.
“Being immersed in all aspects of Greece changed how I see the country and myself,” one student noted. “I have never been prouder to be Greek. This program showed me how integral Greek people and Greek values are to democracy and the modern world. I would not trade my heritage for anything.”
Heritage Greece® is offered as a gift by NHS and its many partners and benefactors. The program enjoys the proud support and affiliation of the Hellenic Heritage Foundation of Toronto, the Elios Foundation, the Elios Society, and numerous sponsoring organizations and individuals across North America.
Among its major benefactors are George and Judy Marcus, Drake and Maria Behrakis and the Behrakis Family Foundation, and the Lea Soupata and Sotiris Zervoulias Foundation, whose generosity has ensured that financial barriers do not prevent deserving students from participating. For Drake Behrakis, NHS Chair Emeritus, the program represents the most meaningful kind of investment.
“Heritage Greece® is not a short-term experience—it’s a long-term commitment to leadership, values, and identity,” Behrakis said. “When you invest in a student, you are investing in a family, a community, and the future of Hellenism itself.”
Recognizing the importance of sustainability, NHS has launched the Hellenic Legacy Fund, a bold initiative with a goal of raising $10 million to permanently endow the Heritage Greece® Program and secure its long-term viability. The fund is designed to ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from the same life-changing opportunity.
In 2026 alone, NHS and its co-sponsors will fund 100 Heritage Greece® students across its host institutions. The organization’s vision is to grow that number exponentially in the coming years, expanding access in response to overwhelming demand.
Equally important is what happens after students return home. Heritage Greece® alumni become lifelong members of the NHS family, gaining access to mentorship, professional guidance, and career-advancing opportunities through a national and international network of leaders across business, public service, academia, medicine, technology, law, and the arts.
“This is not a program that ends when the plane lands back home,” said Lea Soupata, current Chair of NHS. “Our alumni remain connected—to one another and to NHS. We are deeply committed to supporting them as they grow personally and professionally, just as they remain committed to our shared values.”
This year, that continuum expands further. Several students will be eligible for internship opportunities in Greece, allowing them to extend their stay by working with companies and institutions aligned with their academic majors and career paths. These placements offer not only professional experience, but a deeper immersion into contemporary Greek society—bridging heritage, education, and career development in a uniquely meaningful way.
Independent studies conducted by NHS confirm what alumni consistently express: Heritage Greece® has a lasting impact on students’ identity, cultural pride, and civic engagement. Many alumni go on to become mentors, leaders, and benefactors themselves, paying forward the opportunity they were given.
At its core, Heritage Greece® is not simply about visiting a country. It is about understanding one’s roots, honoring the sacrifices of those who came before, and carrying forward values that remain deeply relevant in an increasingly complex world.
The expectation placed upon students is modest yet profound: pay it forward—and use what they have gained to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
As Pericles once observed, what endures most is not what is carved in stone, but what is woven into the lives of others. Through Heritage Greece®, that legacy continues—more than 1,000 lives changed, and many more yet to come.
