The history of the Cypriot diaspora in America is full of personal journeys that began from the ashes of refugeehood and evolved into shining examples of global recognition and selfless service. It is precisely this spirit of resilience, creativity and unbreakable connection to the homeland that the Federation of Cypriot American Associations (FCAO) is bringing to light at its established annual formal dinner , which is scheduled for Friday, September 25. At the center of this year’s brilliant event are three distinct personalities of the community, each of whom honored their Cypriot origins in their own way.
The top Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented this year to John Josephakis , a man who has charted an impressive course at the forefront of global technological innovation as NVIDIA’s global vice president of Sales and Business Development for supercomputers . Mr. Josephakis’ life encapsulates the island’s modern history: born in Famagusta , he was forced to take the path of refugee after the tragic events of the Turkish invasion of 1974. After first finding himself in Athens, he crossed the Atlantic in 1982 to study at the University of Texas at Austin . His perseverance and scientific training quickly led him to leadership positions at IT giants such as Cray Inc. and NVIDIA, proving that refugeehood can be transformed into a springboard to global distinction.
At the same time, the Social Contribution Award is shared by two people who dedicated their entire lives to preserving the Cypriot soul and identity on the other side of the Atlantic: Stavros A. Kamilaris and Despina Axiotaki .
Stavros A. Kamilaris , originally from Agios Georgios, Kyrenia , experienced the dramatic events of the war fighting on the front lines with the National Guard in 1974. He arrived as a refugee in the United States in 1977 and managed to build an enviable 46-year professional career as a civil engineer . At the same time, since 2003 he has been leading with dedication the historic Cypriot American Association “Lambousa” , constituting the soul of dozens of cultural activities that teach the younger generations the history, traditional dances and traditions of Cyprus, while he has also provided valuable services as vice-president of the Federation.
Despina Axiotaki , who was born in Asgata, Limassol , and settled in the USA in 1956, also followed the same path of selfless social contribution. For more than four decades , Ms. Axiotaki has remained a tireless pillar of organized Hellenism, serving as General Secretary of FCAO and actively participating in a number of community and charitable organizations, such as the Asgata Association of America “Cyprus” , the Cypriot-American Chamber of Commerce and the Greek Cypriot organizations of New Jersey.
The event is expected to acquire particular political weight, as the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides , will be present, accompanied by government officials who will be in New York for the work of the UN General Assembly . The presence of the state leadership is a practical recognition of the role played by the Cypriot diaspora as a strong ambassador of national rights, reminding that the ties of the homeland with the diaspora remain unbreakable.
