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In the presence of the Deputy Minister for Education, Mr. Andreas Lykourentzos and a large crowd of well-wishers, Minoan International College’s held its first convocation at the Moevenpick Resort & Thalasso, at Amoudara, Heraklion, Crete.
In his address to the convocation, Mr. Lykourentzos praised MIC for its high standards of education and its sound business practises. The minister characterized Minoan International College as a ‘prototype’ for institutions of higher learning. He went on to say that, “as a result of MIC’s good infrastructure, facilities, and organization of its educational programs, the youth of the international community will turn their interest and attention to Greece, for they can now say that they are going to study at Minoan International College”.
President Nikos Skoulas welcomed the many dignitaries present, including Mr. Andreas Lykourentzos, and then addressed the graduating class. The President’s parting words to the students were: “You are our first graduating class and, as such, will play a major role in defining MIC’s significance to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. And, I hope that you will remember that, as college graduates, the pursuit of your personal goals needs to be encased in a broader commitment to give back to your communities and countries both as active and thoughtful citizens and as skilled professionals”.
MIC graduates were awarded their degrees in a ceremony that followed a traditional academic format. The graduating students, appropriately attired in cap and gown, and the platform party entered the hall to the strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance March”. The students were hooded by MIC’s president, Nikos Skoulas and had their diplomas presented by Mr. Andreas Metaxas, founder of MIC and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The convocation was officially opened by Dr. Stergios L. Mourgos, Vice President and Chef Academic Office. Other members of the platform party included Academic Dean, Dr. James P. Moran, MIC’s Professional Development Manager, Dimitris Perrakis and faculty members Maria Kanderakis, Emmanuil Sfakianakis and Themis Mountrakis. The degrees awarded were MIC’s Associate Degrees and Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management, MIC’s Bachelor of Science Degrees in Tourism and Hospitality Management and Southern New Hampshire University’s Master of Science Degree in Hospitality Administration. SNHU’s master’s program was offered at Minoan International College and was taught jointly by MIC and SNHU faculty.
Emmanuil Sfakianakis read a message from Dr. Ravi Pandit, Chair, Department of Hospitality Business, Southern New Hampshire University to the graduating Master’s students.
An Honorary M.Sc. degree was awarded to Mr. Antonis Panagiotopoulos, President of the Greek Academy of Taste. When presenting Mr. Panagiotopoulos with his degree Mr. Skoulas said, “As President of the Greek Academy of Taste for the past twelve years, he (Mr. Panagiotopoulos) has exercised inspired leadership for all of us and has made an inestimable contribution to the cause of culinary tradition and healthy eating”.
Valedictorian for this graduating class was Nikos Vlassiadis. In his introduction Dimitris Perrakis described Nikos as a real hospitality professional: “Having started his career with Maris Hotels and Resorts and promoted from within, Nikos found the time, the energy and the inspiration to work and at the same time complete his BSc in Tourism and Hospitality Management. In this way he became the best example of a highly educated industry professional who is already an assistant F&B manager in Terra Maris Hotel and he is ready to climb to the top”.
The convocation was officially closed by Dr. Stergios L. Mourgos.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
