Our Mission
The Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nationwide network whose mission is to identify and harness the tremendous talents of Hellenic American Women. HAWC encourages awareness of public policy issues and promotes women who wish to play leadership roles in their communities, the nation and their professional fields of endeavor.
HAWC sponsors regional conferences, lectures, debates and seminars by prominent scholars, government officials, and experts on various issues of interest to its membership.
HAWC sponsors regional conferences, lectures, debates and seminars by prominent scholars, government officials, and experts on various issues of interest to its membership.
Our Objectives
- To establish an organization of Hellenic American women for the purpose of creating a unified presence in American society.
- To educate and inform Hellenic American women on public policy issues as well as other relevant issues.
- To provide our members with a forum for discussion and examination of issues that impact their lives.
- To interact with similar women’s organizations in the United States, Greece and around the world.
- To promote and support Hellenic American women within their professional fields of endeavor.
aristeon award
One of the goals of the Hellenic American Women’s Council is the recognition and promotion of women, particularly those who have made significant contributions to society or excelled in their particular fields of endeavor.
HAWC has established the Aristeon Award to be given annually to a woman who has made an extraordinary contribution to the ideals of Hellenism in her professional and personal life.
“Aristeon” is derived from the Greek word “aristos,” which according to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, describes an individual whose superior virtue merits the trust of others. The “aristos” woman is one who has distinguished herself through personal and professional excellence and service to society.
HAWC established this award in 1997, and has presented it each year, at our annual conference, to an extraordinary woman, who has made worthy contributions to the ideals of Hellenism.
As you will see from the list of recipients – these women come from a variety of professional fields, not all of them are Greek-American, not all of them are HAWC members.
The one thing all recipients have in common – they are all indeed “Aristi” !
HAWC has established the Aristeon Award to be given annually to a woman who has made an extraordinary contribution to the ideals of Hellenism in her professional and personal life.
“Aristeon” is derived from the Greek word “aristos,” which according to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, describes an individual whose superior virtue merits the trust of others. The “aristos” woman is one who has distinguished herself through personal and professional excellence and service to society.
HAWC established this award in 1997, and has presented it each year, at our annual conference, to an extraordinary woman, who has made worthy contributions to the ideals of Hellenism.
As you will see from the list of recipients – these women come from a variety of professional fields, not all of them are Greek-American, not all of them are HAWC members.
The one thing all recipients have in common – they are all indeed “Aristi” !
aristeon award winners
2023 Theodora (Sideropoulos) Hancock
Lt Colonel (USAF) Ret & HAWC Co-Founder
2022 Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou
Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the United States
2021 Stella Kokolis
Educator, & HAWC Co-Founder
2019 Maria Pappas
Politician – Cook County Treasurer, IL
2018 Thalia Assuras
Journalist & Television Anchor
2017 Marina Hatsopoulos
Entrepreneur & Author
2016 Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis
Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary
2015 Roula Alakiotou
Architect
2014 The Honorable Niki Tsongas
Representative, US Congress, Member of Hellenic Caucus
2013 The Honorable Frances Fragos Townsend
Former Advisor to the President on Homeland Security
2011 Stacey Sava - (posthumously)
Attorney, Former HAWC President
2010 Joan Vernikos, Ph.D
Former Director, Life Sciences, NASA, Research Scientist, Author
2009 Angeliki Frangos
CEO and Chairman, Navios Maritime Holdings
2008 Artemis Simopoulos, M.D.
President, Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, Author
2007 The Honorable Barbara Spyridon Pope
Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
2006 Maria Theodolou, M.D.
Oncologist, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2005 Evangeline Gouletas, Ph.D
CEO, Skyline Equities
2004 Mary Cleary
President and CEO, Cleary Consultants, Inc.
2003 The Honorable Marina Corodemus, J.S.C.
Superior Court Judge Middlesex County, NJ
2002 Her Excellency Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis
Cypriot Ambassador to the United States
2001 Kathryn Cameron Porter
Founder & President, Human Rights Alliance
2000 Olympia Dukakis
Academy Award Winning Actress
1999 Helen C. Evans, Ph.D.
Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
1998 Mary Rosenthal Lefkowitz, Ph.D
Chair, Greek & Latin Dept., Wellesley College, MA
1997 The Honorable Carolyn Maloney
Representative, US Congress, Co-Founder Hellenic Caucus
