Welcome to the Hellenic Cultural Foundation

HISTORY: The Hellenic Cultural Foundation (HCF), a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, was founded in Tucson in 1983. Visionary community leaders, including Mary Gekas, Prof. Richard Kinkade, Rev. Anthony Moschonas, James Sfarnas, Prof. David Soren and others, both within and beyond the Greek American community, came together to promote the study of Hellenic language and culture in close partnership with the University of Arizona. For many years HCF maintained a strong involvement with the University Seminars Program of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA).

MISSION: The Foundation supports the study of Greek language (ancient and modern), Greek archaeology, and Classical literature and all aspects of Greek culture in Tucson and southern Arizona. It promotes academic excellence in Hellenic studies through a program of scholarships at the University of Arizona and is deeply committed to community outreach.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The Foundation annually hosts a calendar of activities featuring University of Arizona faculty and specialists from Greece and elsewhere in the U.S.

The Hellenic Cultural Foundation:

Supports modern Greek language instruction at the University of Arizona
Promotes the study of Greek culture, both ancient and modern
Provides scholarships to University of Arizona students studying modern and ancient Greek language, literature, philosophy, archaeology, anthropology, ancient history, or other aspects of Hellenic culture
Hosts lectures and other events focused on Greek culture
Supports archaeological field projects in Greece
Partners with the University of Arizona to support student scholars
Provides outreach to the Greek community in Tucson and the region

2026 AWARDEES: The Hellenic Cultural Foundation of Tucson is pleased to congratulate the 2026 recipients of scholarships and awards for Greek studies at the University of Arizona.

Lyssa Beiswenger, First-year M.A. student in Classical Archaeology, Department of Religious Studies and Classics, for continued study of ancient Greek language and archaeology: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Nikos Eliopoulos, Sophomore majoring in Economics, completing second-year Modern Greek: Ariana Mercedes Economou Prize for Excellence in Modern Greek Language

Zoe Hubacker, First-year M.A. student in Classical Archaeology, Department of Religious Studies and Classics for participation in the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project, Arcadia, Greece: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Rhett Jurkowski, Senior majoring in History and Arabic and minoring in Classics, for participation in a study abroad program in Morocco, examining Mediterranean interactions and the Greeks and Romans in North Africa: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Hanna Katulski, First-year M.A. student in Art History, School of Art, focusing on ancient art, for travel in Southern Italy to study ancient Greek sites and artifacts: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Caroline Keller, Junior majoring in Anthropology and History, with minors in Classics, Geographic Information Science, and French, for participation in excavations at the Greek and Elymian site of Segesta in Sicily, Italy and for the study of intensive ancient Greek: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Gene King, Fourth-year, majoring in Architecture, for participation in the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project, Arcadia, Greece: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Katie Sweiven, Third-year, majoring in Architecture, for participation in the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project, Arcadia, Greece: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Jacob Tucker, First-year M.A. student in Classical Philology, Department of Religious Studies and Classics, for continued study of ancient Greek: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Jonah Vega, Sophomore majoring in Anthropology with a focus on Archaeological Sciences, for participation in excavations at the Greek and Elymian site of Segesta in Sicily, Italy: James P. Sfarnas Scholarship

Alexis Young, First-year M.A. student in Classical Archaeology, Department of Religious Studies and Classics, for participation in the Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project, Arcadia, Greece: Chris Limberis Scholarship for Archaeological Fieldwork in Greece

Applications are currently closed. The 2027 HCF Scholarship application will re-open in early 2027.