NO. 114

WASHINGTON D.C. — AHI Foundation Study Abroad Alumni Nikolaos and Stavros Piperis traveled to the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska, to meet with Governor Pete Ricketts, on behalf of Omaha’s St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Oct. 27, 2021. Governor Ricketts had proclaimed March 25, 2021 “Greek Independence Day” in Nebraska, and after a delay due to the pandemic, hosted the delegation at the signing of the proclamation.

The Piperis brothers discussed with Governor Ricketts the significance of the Greek Revolution, as well as other Greek American issues. Stavros discussed the importance of recognizing Greece’s contribution to the Allied cause in World War II, while Nikolaos informed Governor Ricketts of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s 2021 visit to the United States and his efforts to reopen the Halki Seminary despite opposition from the Turkish government. Governor Ricketts encouraged the Greek American community of Nebraska to partner with other Nebraskan groups to engage in dialogue with Turkish institutions in the United States to address Patriarch Bartholomew’s situation.

Governor Ricketts is the first governor of Nebraska to recognize Greek Independence Day . A few weeks later he attended the Hellenic Bicentennial Weekend Patron Party in Omaha.

Nikolaos and Stavros Piperis participated in the 2015 and 2017 AHI Foundation Foreign Policy Study Abroad programs, respectively. Both Nikolaos and Stavros are Creighton Scholars at the Creighton University School of Law and serve as Youth Directors at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Omaha.

“Our experiences on the AHIF Foreign Policy Program inspired us to reach out to the Governor and prepared us for this visit,” said Nikolaos Piperis.