GEORGE ARTSITAS,
a native of Burlingame, CA, is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in film and journalism. An op-ed columnist for The Daily Utah Chronicle, Artsitas freelances for The Salt Lake Tribune , has served as an intern reporter and copy editor for the Santa Cruz Sentinel and commentated for LiveCom 365/Real Salt Lake MLS. He will be spending the summer in Washington, DC doing an internship with USA Today. As philanthropy chair for Beta Theta Pie Fraternity, Artsitas raised $600 for The American Foundation for Greek Learning & Culture, received The Emorphia T. Diamant Scholarship for Outstanding Greek Orthodox Student and is also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and the Association of Young Journalists and Writers. He is the son of Hristos George Artsitas and Merri Ann Artsitas, both of Carmichael, CA and the grandson of Mary Maharas and the late George H. Artsitas.

SOPHIA BAIRAKTARIS
is completing her second year in a joint journalism and political science program at Loyola University in Chicago. The St. John, IN native has contributed to Greek Circle Magazine, The Greek Star, U4U Magazine, The Loyola Phoenix, The Times of Northwest Indiana and was editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper. She is currently an assistant in the LoyolaWomen’s Studies/ Gender Studies Program office, responsible for event public relations. Currently public relations officer for the He ll enic Student Association, she is also a planning committee member for the campus chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship and is a weekly mentor for an inner city 5th grade girl.Bairaktaris will be interning this summer at Today’s Chicago Woman magazine. The National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll member has been the recipient of the IHSPA Student Journalist of the Year Award, National Press Association Honor Roll and the American Legion Citizenship Award, as well as several other academic and writing awards. She is the daughter of Gregory and Maria Bairaktaris of St. John, IN and the granddaughter of Theodoti Bairaktaris and the late Dimitrios Bairaktaris and Elias and Sofia Christos.

CHRISTOPHER C. BLAKE,
a junior at Texas Christian University majoring in broadcast journalism, is a native of Grapevine, TX. Blake is a TCU News Now telecast reporter; KTCU sportscaster and a reporter for The Daily Skiff. He is participating in an internship with the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY this summer. He has served as a feature writer for the Cape Cod Baseball League, a contributor to the Daily Cape League Report on News Radio 95 WXTK, done play-by-play for the Hyannis Mets and served as music DJ for college radio KTCU. Blake was the recipient of the 2010 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award and the 2009 Daily Skiff Outstanding General Assignment Reporter award. An active Orthodox Christian , he currently serves as GOYA advisor to his former chapter and was an altar server and member of Orthodox Christian Fellowship. He is the son of John C. and Harriet Louros Blake of Grapevine, TX and the grandson of Nicholas and Sophia Louros of Pelham, NY and Sherwood and Elanor Blake of New York City. Proud Papou Nicholas Louros will be 99 on June 15.

STEPHANIE GANIAS
of Worcester, MA is a senior at Boston University completing her degree in magazine journalism this spring. Having been chosen for BU’s prestigious State House Journalism Program, she served as a Stat e Hous e cor r e spondent for The Milford Daily News, as well as a political news writer for The Weekly Dig and a news writer for The Boston Bay State Banner and The Daily Free Press. She is presently a public relations account management assistant with Colette Phillips Communications in Boston. Ganias has been recognized by her parish, St. Spyridon Cathedral in Worcester, MA, and by the Pan Epirotic Society. She is the daughter of Fotios N. and Helen Ganias of Worcester and the granddaughter of the late Nicholas and Magdalena Ganias and the late William and Arhondoula Lanides.

HANNAH MCCARTNEY
will complete her degree in magazine journalism and English at the University of Cincinnati in 2011. The New Richmond , OH native and salutatorian of her high school class is currently a web editorial intern with Foam Magazine, a freelance writer and editorial intern with Cincinatti CityBeat . She ha s interned with The Advent Media Group, with The College Prowler as photo journalism intern and with The Daily Gamecock as copy editor. A member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the recipient of the Cooper Scholars Award, she is the daughter of Timothy and Rita McCartney of New Richmond, OH and the granddaughter of John and Christina Petkos of Batavia, OH and Ralph and Joan Loesch of Cincinnati, OH.

VASILIKI MITRAKOS
is a freshman majoring in journalism and political science at Northwestern University. Currently reporting for TheMash newspaper, a Chicago Tribune publication, and for The Daily Northwestern, she also contributes to Greek Circle Magazine and Loyola University’s Mosaic Magazine. Mitrakos served as editor-in-chief of Northside Prep High School’s newspaper and as yearbook event editor. An Illinois State Scholar and member of the National Scholastic Press Association’s Honor Roll, she has received numerous awards for academics, reporting and graphic design, including first place in the National Illinois Women’s Press Association’s graphic category, the Greek Youth Parliament Program award, the Hellenic Professional Society undergraduate and academic scholarship and an AHEPA scholarship.She is the daughter of Chris and Sophia Mitrakos of Chicago, IL and the granddaughter of Anthoula Mitrakos of Chicago and the late Andreas Mitrakos and Vasiliki Sourtzinos of Poros, Greece and the late George Sourtzinos.