Student Travels to Greece to Study Public Policy
Merrimack senior Jason Demetrios Vergados, 21, spent a portion of his summer meeting with top-level government officials in Greece.
Jason was one of nine college students from across the country chosen to participate in the American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip to Greece and Cyprus. The students began their trip in Washington D.C. for a two-day briefing (June 25-26), and then headed to Cyprus (June 27-July 2), and then Athens (July 3-9).
While in Greece, the students met with government officials, and were encouraged to ask questions and offer opinions from an American citizen point-of-view on current issues in Greece such as the invasion of Northern Cyprus by the Turks.
The students were all Greek-American or Cypriot-American in good academic standing studying political science, international relations, history, and/or foreign affairs.
As a second generation Greek-American international business concentration with a minor in European history, Jason more than fit the bill. Having traveled to Greece six times in his life, including a two-month study abroad trip during the summer of 2008, this most recent journey left Jason with valuable tools.
“I learned how to interact with high-level government officials, how to ask the right questions, while better understanding what is needed in certain areas of Greece,” said Jason. “I heard about issues right from those dealing with them directly, and I got to know important people that I can contact in the future.”
Now back on campus, Jason is already sharing the knowledge he learned through the AHIF trip, and has suggested that speakers he met in Greece, such as the Cypriot ambassador to the U.S. whom Jason met with him in Washington D.C, should visit Merrimack College and talk about the issues facing Cyprus, and how they affects Greek-Americans and Americans alike.
“I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in AHIF’s first foreign policy student visit,” said Jason. “It has helped me to understand Greece and Cyprus’ main problems, and to further develop my emotional connection with the area.”
Jason is also the president of the Boston Chapter of The Order of the Son of Pericles, a Greek organization he has been involved with since his teenage years. After he graduates from Merrimack College in May 2010, he hopes to head back to Greece for an extended period of time.
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Photo Caption:
Pictured here, Merrimack College student Jason-Demetrios Vergados ‘10 stands on the roof of a building which commemorates the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island of Cyprus. Behind him, is the EU green line buffer zone which separates the southern Republic of Cyprus from the northern Turkish occupied land. Jason spent two weeks in Greece this past summer studying public policy.