The Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO) will honor three prominent members of the Cypriot American community at its 2026 Testimonial Dinner in New York on Friday, September 25.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park.
President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will serve as honorary chairpersons for the evening.
The dinner will recognize John Josephakis, Stavros A. Kamilaris and Despina Axiotakis during the annual event for their professional achievements, leadership and service to the Cypriot American community.
John Josephakis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
John Josephakis, global vice president of sales and business development for high-performance computing and supercomputing at NVIDIA, will receive the FCAO Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Famagusta, Cyprus, Josephakis and his family were forced to leave their home following the events of 1974. After settling in Athens, he moved to the United States in 1982 to study at the University of Texas at Austin.
He subsequently built a distinguished career in technology and supercomputing, holding leadership positions at Cray Inc. and NVIDIA. Throughout his career, Josephakis has maintained close ties to his Cypriot heritage and emphasized the values of family, perseverance, education and service.
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose accomplishments, professional excellence and integrity have made lasting contributions and brought honor to Cyprus.
Stavros Kamilaris Honored for Community Service
Stavros A. Kamilaris, president of the Lampousa Cypriot American Association, will receive the Community Service Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the Cypriot American community.
Kamilaris was born and raised in Agios Georgios in the Kyrenia district. He served in the Cyprus Army and fought during the Turkish invasion of 1974 before arriving in the United States as a refugee in 1977.
He went on to complete a 46-year career in civil engineering. Since becoming president of Lampousa in 2003, Kamilaris has helped strengthen cultural programs for younger generations and promote Cypriot dance, history and geography.
He has also served on the FCAO Executive Board and as one of the organization’s vice presidents.
Despina Axiotakis Recognized for Decades of Leadership
Despina Axiotakis, a former general secretary of the Federation, will also receive the Community Service Award for her extensive volunteer work and community leadership.
Born in Asgata, in Cyprus’ Limassol district, Axiotakis immigrated to the United States with her family in 1956. For more than four decades, she has been active in the Federation and numerous Cypriot, Greek American and philanthropic organizations.
Her leadership roles have included service with the Asgata Association of America “Cyprus,” the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Greek Cypriots of New Jersey and the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey.
Axiotakis has received numerous honors for her contributions to Greek and Cypriot American organizations.
The FCAO Community Service Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional volunteer service and dedication to promoting the ideals and values of Hellenism.
Supporting Cypriot Heritage in the United States
The Federation of Cypriot American Organizations represents 28 Greek Cypriot American associations across the United States. It works to strengthen cooperation among its member organizations while supporting educational, social, philanthropic and cultural initiatives.
The Federation also seeks to preserve and promote Greek and Cypriot history, language and cultural heritage in the United States.
Proceeds from the Testimonial Dinner will support the organization’s programs throughout the year, including humanitarian initiatives, scholarships, educational and cultural projects, Greek-language programs and efforts to raise awareness of issues affecting Cyprus.
The funds will also support activities intended to strengthen the Cypriot American community and preserve its heritage for future generations.
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