WASHINGTON, DC – The AHEPA Athletic Department announced in the Spring 2021 issue of The Ahepan the establishment of  the Agganis Family-Galatis Award to honor the nation's most outstanding Hellenic high school athlete.

This award will be bestowed annually to a high school athlete, male or female, and will complement the AHEPA Harry Agganis Most Outstanding Athlete and the AHEPA William Chirgotis Most Outstanding College Athlete awards.

Bill Galatis, Mike Agganis, and Greg Agganis are responsible for the award's establishment and funding. Mike and Greg are the nephew and grandnephew, respectively, of the late iconic Hellenic athlete, Harry Agganis, All-American football player at Boston University and Boston Red Sox first baseman, who died tragically at the young age of 25 in 1955.

“We are deeply grateful to Bill Galatis, Mike Agganis, and Greg Agganis for sponsoring the establishment of this award that will properly recognize excellence in athletics at the high school level,” Supreme President George G. Horiates said. “AHEPA commends the Galatis-Agganis 'team' for its admirable work to keep Harry Agganis' legacy alive, serving as an inspiration and springboard for our next generation of athletes. Thank you, also to the AHEPA Athletic Department, Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves and Committee Member Gregory Stamos for working with Galatis-Agganis 'team' to make this award a reality."

Greg Agganis and Galatis have been instrumental in the formation and perpetuation of Harry Agganis' legacy through a number of philanthropic endeavors in the Greater Boston and Massachusetts area. The Agganis Foundation has granted over $2 million in college scholarships since its formation, has sponsored the State of Massachusetts High School Boys and Girls All-Star Teams in various sports since 1956, and led the fund-raising efforts for the life-size bronze statue outside the Boston University Arena which was named the Harry Agganis Arena in his honor.

The formation of this award is a further collaboration between the Agganis family, the Agganis Foundation and the AHEPA Athletic Department.

Greg Agganis, spokesperson for the Agganis Family and the Agganis Foundation, said that the award “honors the great contribution that Galatis has made over a number of years to the Foundation, but especially is a recognition of the great efforts of the Order of AHEPA in perpetuating the cherished legacy of our Uncle Harry.”

He added, “I have been very gratified to participate in the awarding of the Harry Agganis Award by the Order of AHEPA to various athletes over these last few years.”

“I am so pleased and honored by this wonderful effort to advance the education of our Hellenic youth, and I applaud the Order of AHEPA for all that it has done in this regard,” Galatis said.

The award shall also be accompanied by a significant scholarship stipend.

More information about AHEPA is available online: www.ahepa.org.