ACS Athens continues to build academic networks, form partnerships, establish collaborations and expand a framework that opens a shared path for blurring the educational lines between K-12 and Higher Education Institutions.

On April 4, 2019, representatives from Widener University and ACS Athens gathered at the Widener campus in Chester, Pennsylvania, to sign an agreement expanding the established partnership between the two schools and promoting their shared vision for education. Under the agreement, graduate programs will be offered focused on K-12 international school leadership. The agreement also allows for ACS Athens high school students to take online undergraduate courses.

Dr. Julie E. Wollman, President of Widener University, welcomed Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, ACS Athens President, Dr. Peggy Pelonis, ACS Athens Vice President and Mr. Iraklis Prokopakis, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of ACS Athens, together with  Paul Beideman, Vice Chair of Board of Trustees of Widener University and Provost Dr. Fred Akl. 

Dr.  Wollman highlighted: “We already have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with our partners at ACS Athens and now we are expanding this MOU to be able to offer graduate programs to the outstanding teachers at this special school and also to be able to offer some courses for the students who wish to take college courses while they are still in high school.  This is an opportunity to expand what is a wonderful partnership and we are very excited about it”. Also, Dr. Wollmann is now the newest member of the International Advisory Council of ACS Athens.

Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, ACS Athens President, remarked: ”It is very important that, as the President of the Middle States Association told me, two institutions accredited by Middle States Association are getting together not for one more partnership, but to pioneer the effort to bridge the gap between K-12 and higher education in terms of not only teaching and learning, but also as a different way of thinking. Today, we don’t have to endure a financial crisis but more importantly an ethical one. Widener U. and ACS Athens have the same beliefs and both want to prepare tomorrow leaders with Ethos.” 

Also attending the signing were Nicholas Karambelas, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees,  Arti Gyftopoulos, Board of Trustees member, and  Dr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in New York, who expressed their support of this partnership. 

Here is a video recording of the signing.