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About this Event
The Hellenic Federation of New Jersey was founded in 2009 under the auspices and cooperation of the Metropolis of New Jersey and our Bishop, Metropolitan Evangelos. The Federation strives to support the local community organizations and Greek Orthodox churches with the Goals of “Protecting, Promoting and Preserving Hellenism.”
Each year, the Federation recognized individuals with outstanding contributions to the community with the Alexander the Great Award. The categories include:
2019 Alexander the Great Community Service Award
Mr Savas Tsivicos
2019 Alexander the Great Education Award
Dr John Kostis
Mr Savas Tsivicos
Savas C. Tsivicos was born and raised in a small farming community in the village of Innia, Paphos, Cyprus. In 1982, he left Cyprus for America drawn by educational and business opportunities, willing and determined to continue the hard work. One may say that Savas’ “American life” can be described as the embodiment of dreams, hopes and aspirations of thousands of immigrants who arrive in the United States to construct decent lives. He graduated his Bachelor of Science and M.B.A. degrees with Honors, from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his post graduate master’s certificate in management of government contracts from George Washington University.
He is the CEO of Cypreco Industries, Inc. a consulting, Engineering, general contracting and construction management company specializing in government and commercial contracts.
His sense of duty has taken him on the road to political and community involvement. Starting in 1987 he has participated in several presidential, congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial, state and local election campaigns.
Savas has served all the major Greek-American organizations, such as the Cyprus Federation of America, Inc., the American Hellenic Institute, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), where he served as Chapter President, District Governor and currently as National Chairman of The Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Committee, the Greek American Chamber of Commerce of NJ and the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey in the capacity of President. He is a member of the Metropolitan council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of NJ, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, a member of the Archdiocesan council of the Greek Orthodox Church of America and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Highest honor to be conferred upon a layman. He is also currently a member of the Board of Directors of Queens College Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies.
Savas is a source of inspiration, leadership, and strength in his community but his true wealth lies in his vision and exceptional humanitarian efforts to enrich the lives of others in an admirable way. He has been recognized by several organizations and churches, for his efforts to preserve Hellenism and orthodoxy. In 1988, he was awarded a certificate of recognition by the President of Cyprus Mr. George Vassiliou for his contributions to the Cyprus cause. In 1997 he was awarded the NECO Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award, a meritorious award reserved for distinguished Americans who exemplify the spirit of hope that accompanied countless immigrants to the United States. In 2016 he was awarded the metal of exceptional service by the president of Cyprus Mr. Nicos Anastasiades for his efforts for justice and freedom for Cyprus.
As National President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Children’s Fund, a charitable foundation currently sponsoring 300 children, he has performed inspirational work. Under his leadership, hundreds of thousands of dollars were sent to Cyprus to help needy children and annual scholarships in excess of $50,000 are being awarded yearly to students of Cypriot descent studying in the USA. In the words of Winston Churchill “we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give”, Savas does just that.
Savas is married to Maria and they have three children, Haralambos 31, Ellpetha 29, and Evangelos 26. They worship at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean, New Jersey where Savas served six terms as President of the Parish Council. Under his leadership and direct supervision the dream of a generation, the building of new church complex in Ocean Township started in 2009 and was completed in less than 3 years! The Tsivicos reside in Wayside, New Jersey.
Dr John Kostis
Dr. Kostis received his medical degree from the Medical School of the Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki, Greece (first in academic standing five consecutive years) and obtained a doctoral degree (DPhil) from the University of Athens. He had his postgraduate education at the Brooklyn-Cumberland Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania where he also served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. He has served as Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hypertension and Chairman of the Department of Medicine for over 22 years at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he occupies the first endowed Chair. At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital he has served as Chief of Cardiology, Chief of the Medical Service and on the Board of Directors.
Dr. Kostis developed state of the art tertiary cardiology in New Brunswick, established clinical research in cardiology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, participated in the study and development of over 140 pharmacologic agents and devices and held leadership positions in large clinical trials sponsored by the NIH and the industry. He has served as President of the Eastern Regional Chapter of the American Society of Hypertension and of the Northeast Lipid Association.
A dedicated teacher, he was judged best lecturer by the second year medical school class for over 20 consecutive years and received the UMDNJ Excellence in Teaching Award. He has published seven books, one translated into German, over 500 papers and chapters.
He has served as Associate Editor of Cardiology, Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, Current Hypertension Reviews, and the International Journal of Cardiology-Hypertension and has held leadership positions in the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension and the Northeast Lipid Association. He is a member of the Association of University Cardiologists, the Council on Clinical Cardiology and the Council on Hypertension of the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and a Fellow in the American College of Cardiology, the International Society of Hypertension, and the National Lipid Association.
He was honored by The Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation with the Distinguished Service Award, received the New Jersey American Heart Association Distinguished Leadership in Research Award, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Award of Honor, the New Jersey Pride Award in Health, American Heart Association New Jersey Affiliate Heart of Gold Award, and was named “Healthcare Executive of the Year” by the American Heart Association, Middlesex Division. He received the UMDNJ-RWJMS Internal Medicine Residency Program “Best Research Mentor” Award twice. He is the recipient of the 2008 International Society of Hypertension Award given to investigators presenting superior research. He is the recipient of the Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation’s Outstanding Medical Research Scientist Award for Clinical Research and the Foundation of UMDNJ Excellence in Research Award. He received the Honorary Alumnus Award from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He was named among the “best physicians” in all published lists from 1996 to the present. He was the first to develop a Doppler instrument for the study of the adult human heart and develop the Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System (MIDAS), a statewide database of all hospital admissions in New Jersey.
He carries an active open access clinical practice.
