Scholarships That Change Lives
Education Unites is The American College of Greece’s bold commitment to refugee education. Launched in 2017 with support from the U.S. Embassy, the program offers full scholarships—including tuition, housing, and meals—to displaced students from across the globe. Today, 44 students are enrolled from countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Ghana, Iran, and Kurdistan. Scholarships support students for the full duration of their studies.
Transformative Impact
Since its founding, Education Unites has empowered more than 200 students to thrive—with graduates now working at Meta, accepted to top U.S. PhD programs, and leading in fields from economics to filmmaking. Among the program’s many success stories:
- Graduates with degrees ranging from BA to MSc
- Alumni studying or working in Paris, Emory University, Dublin, Rotterdam
- A filmmaker now producing for the Athens Democracy Forum
- A visual artist featured at the Venice Biennale
Students also engage in leadership programs at Stanford, Harvard, and MIT-led initiatives, and receive personalized advising, mentoring, and career support.
Financial Support
Education Unites scholarships are supported through a combination of funding from ACG’s general operating budget and contributed support from generous donors including The Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation, former ACG trustee Kosmo Kalliarekos, and the U.S. Embassy in Athens. Demand for scholarships from qualified students far outstrips our funding capacity.
What’s Next
Soon, Education Unites will formally launch a new, future-focused leadership initiative. Designed to guide students beyond graduation, the program includes:
- Leadership training
- Human rights education
- Mentorships & internships
- Career and graduate school advising
Students begin this track after completing 20 courses and receive one-on-one guidance to build career paths, apply to graduate programs, and grow as changemakers.
Beyond the Classroom
Education Unites is also about shifting perceptions—showing host communities the talent and potential that refugee students bring. These young people are not just survivors—they are future doctors, professors, engineers, artists, and human rights leaders.
At ACG, we’re proud to stand with them. And we’re just getting started.
Education Unites Contact
Kathleen Macdonell, Director – Education Unites Scholarship Program for Refugees
Email: kmacdonell@acg.edu
