Lia Manidou, a class of 1976 alumna, began her career at Anatolia College in 1986 as a Chemistry teacher. She served as Dean of the 2nd Gymnasium from 1998 until her retirement in 2016.
Her exceptional expertise, strong educational background, and demeanor both inside and outside the classroom made her one of the most beloved teachers among students and colleagues alike.
As an individual, educator, and Principal, Lia Manidou served the school with unwavering faith and dedication. She was a staunch advocate for educational innovation, managing significant changes in Anatolia’s school life with moderation, efficiency, and her characteristic calm determination. She consistently supported students facing academic or personal challenges and sought to instill Anatolia’s values and ideals in them. Moreover, she encouraged students to find their own ways to contribute to the school, including supporting the initiative to establish a Natural Sciences Museum at Anatolia.
After her retirement, she continued to offer her services on a voluntary basis, serving honorarily on the Administrative Council of Anatolia High School and mentoring new teachers. Her retirement coincided with the creation of innovative educational spaces at Anatolia, including the Green Education Center at the Innovation Isle, which donors Stavros and Loretta Konstantinidis dedicated to Lia Manidou in recognition of her work and unwavering commitment to the school.

An Anatolia College class of 1954 alumna, Aliki Stogiannou studied Archaeology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh). Immediately after completing her studies, she returned to the school she so dearly loved, joining its faculty. She became a legendary philologist at Anatolia, serving with passion and dedication.
Deeply committed to teaching Greek Literature, exceptionally methodical and engaging in History, and progressive in Civic Education, Aliki Stogiannou left an indelible mark as an educator. During the dictatorship, she not only allowed but demanded the use of the demotic Greek language in her classroom, fostering critical thinking in her students.
With determination, she dismantled Greek historical myths, analyzing poetry and prose with inspiration, humor, and a wealth of anecdotal stories. Her teaching opened a world filled with enthusiasm for learning, rich in knowledge and experiences. Her classes were a delightful journey that left an everlasting impression on the hearts and minds of her students.

Anastasia Gerakopoulou Vafopoulou was born in Pyrgos, Eastern Rumelia, and relocated to Thessaloniki at a young age. She graduated from Anatolia College in 1934. In 1945, with a scholarship from the British Council, she traveled to England to further her studies. In 1946, she married Georgios Th. Vafopoulos, one of Thessaloniki’s most prominent poets and benefactors.
In 1952, she founded the “Vafopoulou Institute for English Studies”, which became highly successful in teaching English in Thessaloniki, preparing students for admission to Anatolia College.
Anastasia Gerakopoulou Vafopoulou maintained close ties with Anatolia College throughout her life, supporting it in numerous ways. Her contributions were particularly significant through generous financial donations that strengthened the College’s mission and work, exemplifying her dedication and service to the educational community.

Born in Greece, John Pappajohn was just nine months old when he immigrated with his mother to the United States, joining his father in Iowa. A natural entrepreneur, Pappajohn began working at an early age and quickly became one of America’s earliest and most successful venture capitalists – elite investors who provide capital to emerging companies. Even in his 90s, Pappajohn could be found working at his Des Moines office seven days a week, driven by the same boundless energy that helped him launch more than 100 companies over a 50-plus-year career.
However, Pappajohn always aspired to something greater than financial success. A close friend once remarked that Pappajohn made money solely to give it away. This is evident in his philanthropic endeavors, as he and his wife Mary generously supported charitable causes worldwide, with a particular passion for higher education and the arts. His leadership and generosity were especially impactful at Anatolia College, where he served as a Trustee, providing guidance and funding to support entrepreneurial initiatives. Together with Mary, he was a steadfast supporter of ACT, championing its Scholarship Program and establishing the annual John and Mary Pappajohn Business Competition.

Michael S. Dukakis was elected Governor of Massachusetts three times and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1988. He has been a long-time supporter of Anatolia College, actively promoting its mission in the United States. In 1986, during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Anatolia’s founding in Merzifon, he declared “Anatolia College Day” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Later, at his initiative and with his tangible support, the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service (Dukakis Center) was established at ACT, one of the institution’s three outreach centers. The center’s mission is to inspire young people and engage them in public service.
In September 1999, Michael Dukakis attended the inauguration of the Dukakis Center at ACT and delivered the keynote address. Along with his wife, Kitty Dukakis, he has visited ACT on three occasions, including in May 2010 to attend the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony.

Alki Kyriakidou-Nestoros, a class of 1953 alumna, was a distinguished figure in the fields of sociology and folklore. She studied at the School of Philosophy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and pursued further studies in the United States in 1956-57 on a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania.
As a prominent professor at Aristotle University, Alki Kyriakidou-Nestoros played a pivotal role in the development of the then newly established SBALA (now ACT). Through her teaching in Anthropology, she significantly shaped the academic profile of the institution, strengthening the Humanities and bolstering the faculty’s overall academic standing.
In 1983, during the first graduation ceremony of SBALA students, she was honored as the keynote speaker, highlighting the value and vision of the educational program through her address. Since its inception as SBALA and continuing today as ACT, the institution has been recognized for attracting leading academics with international acclaim, and Alki Kyriakidou-Nestoros stands as a definitive example of dedication to advancing the organization’s academic mission.

Byron Alexiadis (1934-2024), an iconic figure in Greek basketball and a class of 1953 alumnus, was an athlete, referee, coach, and a distinguished member of Anatolia College’s administrative staff. He studied economics and later joined the staff of Anatolia College, where he served for 33 years. For the last 25 years of his career, he held senior administrative positions as financial officer and director of administration, overseeing continuous improvements to the school’s facilities with remarkable dedication and skill.
Alexiadis’s contributions to Anatolia College extended far beyond his administrative work. As a student, he began playing basketball for Anatolia College’s team, achieving significant recognition. As an alumnus, he captained Anatolia’s basketball team, which competed for several years in Greece’s A Division. During the 1962-63 season, the team contended for the championship in playoff matches against Panathinaikos, Iraklis, and Triton, tying for first place.
In 2013, he served as the flag bearer for Anatolia’s team at the World Basketball Championship in Thessaloniki, having also participated in the World Championship in Prague in 2010. As a coach, he led Anatolia College’s basketball team, instilling a love for the sport in younger generations.
Byron Alexiadis’s multifaceted and longstanding contributions exemplify his deep connection to Anatolia College and his invaluable impact on both the educational community and the world of sports.

Apostolos Vakalopoulos, a historian, author, and academic, was one of the most prominent figures in modern Greek historiography during the 20th century. He taught history, ancient Greek, and modern Greek at Anatolia College from 1946 to 1950.
He subsequently earned his doctorate from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and served as an unpaid lecturer in Modern Greek History at the School of Philosophy in 1943. In 1944, he was appointed as a special lecturer. From 1951, he served as an adjunct professor, and in 1956, he was elected full professor, a position he held until his retirement in 1974.
Vakalopoulos was a member of the Society for Macedonian Studies and numerous other scholarly organizations, representing Greece at many international academic conferences. His scientific contributions, published both as standalone works and in Greek and international journals, total 242, beginning in 1935.
Through his remarkable academic, research, and teaching work, as well as his extensive writing, Vakalopoulos made invaluable contributions to Greek scholarship and was honored with numerous awards and distinctions.

Anatolia College has always sought talented and ambitious scholars to join its faculty. Among them was Nikos Chourmouziadis, a charismatic philologist who taught at the College between 1954 and 1961.

Chourmouziadis was an exceptional figure with a brilliant mind, captivating his students with his enthusiasm and teaching skills. With sharp insight and unmatched humor, he brought ancient theater to life, maintaining his students’ interest with vivid and engaging explanations. He focused on the core aspects of theater, exploring character dynamics, performance conditions, and audience interaction with the plays. By combining archaeological evidence with textual interpretation, he illuminated the essence and timeless relevance of ancient drama.

A significant moment in the history of the Greek Theater Club at Anatolia College was the staging of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Nikos Chourmouziadis and featuring the then-student Vasilis Tsivilikas in a leading role.

Chourmouziadis was an internationally renowned classical philologist and professor of ancient Greek literature at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He served as a fellow at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C. (1966-67), specializing in ancient Greek drama, which was the focus of most of his publications. He translated the monumental work of Austrian classical philologist Albin Lesky on the tragic poetry of ancient Greece. Moreover, he served as chairman of the Board of Directors and director of the National Theater of Northern Greece during the post-dictatorship period. Additionally, as a director, he staged over 20 productions of classical and modern repertoire, significantly contributing to the dissemination of theatrical education in Greece.

Serge B. Hadji-Mihaloglou, an Anatolia College class of 1960 alumnus, began his legal career in New York at the law firm Rogers Hoge and Hills. He later served as Senior Counsel at TRW, a Fortune 100 technology company (later merged with Northrop Grumman), where he dealt with international affairs, antitrust issues, and intellectual property. For several years, he was a member of the Board of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and chaired INTA international forums in the European Union.
In 1974, Serge became the first alumnus elected to the Board of Trustees of Anatolia College. During his tenure, he served on various committees, including the Executive Committee, the Board Governance Committee, and several Presidential Search Committees, while also participating in legal working groups on college matters. Additionally, he contributed to the reestablishment of the Anatolia Alumni Association in Athens.
Hadji-Mihaloglou edited the second expanded edition of Carl Compton’s invaluable memoir, “The Morning Cometh: 45 Years with Anatolia College”, which highlights the history and spirit of the institution. He also authored the bilingual book “Institutional Governance and the Trustees of Anatolia College”, the first publication on nonprofit governance in Greek. This book was the result of his collaboration as co-chair of the Board Governance Committee, alongside Chip Elfner and under the guidance of Jack Clymer.