Oakleigh Grammar hosted its annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, December 5, at the school’s Conference Centre. This significant event, marking the final celebration of the year, was attended by students, staff, board members, and families.
The ceremony began with the Australian and Greek national anthems, followed by an opening prayer led by Reverend Father Stavros Kakavas. The Byzantine Choir enriched the occasion with hymns dedicated to the Saints Anargyroi and other spiritual melodies.
In his opening address, Principal Mark Robertson commended the dedication of the school’s staff and students, expressing how the students’ achievements and spirit inspire him daily.
Following him, Oakleigh Grammar President Chris Damatopoulos, known for his unwavering passion for the school and the Greek Orthodox community, delivered a heartfelt speech. He thanked the school community and students for another successful year, reflecting on the collective accomplishments.
The evening’s main purpose was to celebrate the achievements of Oakleigh Grammar students. Numerous awards were presented to deserving students, culminating in the announcement of the Student Leaders for 2025.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Nafsika Stamoulis Foundation awards. For another consecutive year, the Stamoulis family generously supported five outstanding Oakleigh Grammar students with awards totaling $6,000. The awards, aimed at recognizing excellence in the arts, were distributed as follows:
- Mikayla Haralambakis – $3,000 for VCE Units 1 & 2 Visual Communication Design and Art: Creative Practice (Year 11)
- Evdokiia Tolluman – $1,500 for VCE Units 1 & 2 Visual Communication Design and Art: Creative Practice (Year 11)
- Dante Keddie – $500 for VCE Units 3 & 4 Visual Communication Design (Year 12)
- Lucas Koutsovasilis – $500 for VCE Units 3 & 4 Visual Arts (Year 12)
- Anthony Arcuri – $500 for VCE Units 3 & 4 Media (Year 12)
Spiros Alatsas, General Manager of Greek Media Group, presented the awards on behalf of the Nafsika Stamoulis Foundation. He expressed the family’s pride and joy in continuing to support the Greek-Australian community, particularly its younger generation.
Heartfelt congratulations were extended to all Oakleigh Grammar students who received awards for their exceptional achievements. The evening concluded with the school choir’s inspiring performance of “The Future and The Key,” symbolizing hope and ambition for the years ahead.
