Study in Greece, Boston University, the Department of Philosophy and the English-taught “BA Program in the Archaeology, History and Literature of Ancient Greece” of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens dedicated a farewell ceremony to the graduates of the Voyage into Greek Civilization summer program, which concluded on Friday, June 13, 2025.

The students successfully completed the summer program, with the support and guidance of their accompanying professor and Director of the Boston University Philhellenes Summer Program, Kelly Polychroniou, and with the valuable knowledge generously provided by the lecturers of the Department of Philosophy who were responsible for the creation of a complete programme of study in ancient Greek culture and philosophy. The beginning of the ceremony was marked by a short, warm greeting by the Dean of the Department of Philosophy of the university, Professor Dimitris Drossos. After the Dean’s speech, Ms Polychroniou expressed her wish to always see her students excel, as they have now, and the speeches were concluded by the Operations Director of Study in Greece, Mr George Hatzithanasis, who wished all the students of the programme to always carry a memory of this journey with them. Before the end of the ceremony, the Dean presented the students with their certificates of completion of the program.

This short term program is one of the fruits of the ongoing Greek-American cooperation in higher education, which has been growing rapidly in recent years, and is a priority of the American Embassy in Greece, the Hellenic Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports and Study in Greece. It is worth mentioning that Greece is among the 8 most popular study destinations for US students, with Greece hosting over 6,000 students in study programs of all levels.

The participating students, all with different research interests and at different stages of their academic careers, came into contact with exciting stimuli and experiences. The detailed and lively guided tours of the various archaeological sites and museums by Professor of Archaeology Mr. Nikos Harokopos, the leisure excursions and in-depth lectures by their professors, the Mediterranean climate and the Greek cuisine, for each and every one of the students there was some aspect of the programme that will remain etched in their memories. Most importantly, however, is the inspiration and impetus that a program like Voyage into Greek Civilization gives students to pursue and expand their academic pursuits and the visibility that Greece gains as a destination ideal for students, be it for short-term programs or for entire undergraduate and graduate courses.