Recipients 2015

Award Recipients 2015

KRISTINA KRISTINA RENEE BOGOS
recently earned dual degrees in journalism and Hellenic Studies from New York University, with a mi nor in Middl eEaste rn Studies. The Tampa, FL native has served as a U.S. St ate Depa rtment Critical Language Scholar; a research intern with Human Rights Watch and production intern with New Greek TV in Astoria, NY; editor at Washington Square News and The Gazelle and wrote her senior honors thesis on the asylum system in Greece through a case study of Syrian refugees. She speaks Greek and Arabic, as well as the Syrian dialect. Kristina will pursue a master’s in Arabic Studies at Georgetown University. She is the daughter of Valerie (High) Bogos of Tampa, FL and the late James E. Bogos and the granddaughter of Irene Dritsas of Tampa, FL.

TERESA MARIA COTSIRILOS
will complete a master’s degree in journalism in 2017. The Berkeley, CA native also holds und er gra dua te degrees in histor y and literatu re from Harvard University. Teresa has held positions at National Public Radio, The Nation, Salon.Com, NewCred, Let’s Go Travel and at the Los Angeles County Commission on Jail Violence and speaks Spanish. Teresa is the dau ghter of George and Maria (Baird ) Cotsirilos of Berkeley, CA and the grand-daughter of William Baird of Flathead Lake, MO; Lourdes Baird of Los Angeles, CA and the late George and Theresa Cotsirilos of Chicago, IL.

PETER PERICLES ELIOPOULOS
will earn a degree in 2016 in broadcast journalism from the University of Maryland.The Ipswich, MA native has served in support positions with WJLA Washington, DC ABC affiliate, Big Ten Network , Capital News Service and The Diamondback and is fluent in Greek. Peter is the son of Pericles and Katheri ne(Scangas) Eliopoulos of Ipswich, MA and the grandson of Alexandra Eliopoulos of Malden, MA and the late Peter Eliopoulos and Peter and Anastasia Scangas of Salem, MA.

ZOE SNYDER MATHEWS
earned a journalism degree with a minor in political science recently from Emerson College.The Topsfield, MA native has served in positions with National Public Radio, Operation Groundswell in Israel and Palestine, the MINDS Foundation in rural India, Next Mile, The Salem News and Emerson College Radio. Zoe is the daughter of John and Patricia (Snyder) Mathews of Topsfield, MA and the granddaughter of Angeline Mathews of Chagrin Falls, OH and the late John Mathews and the late Thomas and Jennie Snyder of Mt. Pleasant, PA.

JOHN JAMES PETROLIAS
will enter his sophomore year at Penn State University pursuing a degree in broadcast journal-ism. The Pittsburgh, PA native has held positions at Penn State Network TV, The Daily Collegian and The Devil’s Advocate and has covered current events in the world of politics and sports for his own weekly column, The Petrolias Per-spective. John is the son of James and Athena (Zaras) Petrolias of Pittsburgh, PA and the grandson of Anthony and Becky Zaras of Pittsburgh, PA, John Petrolias of Wilmington, NC and the late Elizabeth Petrolias.

ALYSSA JOAN VOBORIL
will be awarded a master’s in health, environment, science & sustainability journalism later this year from Marquette University, from which she also earned a degree in marketing and public relation s. The New Berlin, WI native is serving as a research and production intern in investigative journalism for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a graduate journalism teaching assistant and as an urban intern working to train social justice advocates. Alyssa is the daughter of Stephen and Ricca (Demos) Voboril of New Berlin, WI and the granddaughter of Nicholas and Joan Demos of Cudahy, WI.