University of Utah
alumni couple receive achievement award
By Chris Metos
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – A
husband and wife team, Dr. James P. Pappas, Ph.D., and Peggy K. Pappas,
University of Utah graduates, have been honored by the Hellenic Cultural
Association, SLCity with its Hellenic Heritage Award, Sunday, May
27, during the annual Memorial Day Services of the Greek Orthodox
Community. Dr. Pappas is vice-president for Outreach at the University of
Oklahoma, overseeing programs that serve over 150,000 participants. Peggy
is Marketing Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric
Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK.
Keynote Speaker at the Memorial Service, Dr. Pappas quoted the
words spoken by John F. Kennedy, a veteran of World War II, in his
inaugural address as 35th president of the United States on
January 20, 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what
you can do for your country.” He recalled the heroism of patriots of
the Greek War for Independence in 1821 whose rally cry from 400 years of
Turkish domination was “Liberty or Death”.
“It is very unfortunate,” Dr. Pappas said, “that these days,
we seem unwilling to accept any discomfort; we seem to have lost our
civility and caring for one another. We should remember our founders who
sacrificed so much to create this nation and this community where we take
prosperity and freedom for granted.”
The Hellenic Heritage Award is conferred by the Hellenic Cultural
Association to “individuals who have demonstrated dynamic civic
leadership on a local and national level; who have contributed
consistently to the promotion and preservation of Hellenism and who, by
personal example have inspired others to serve their communities and
country with dedication and sacrifice.”
