Wilmington, DE – Another successful year for Odyssey Charter School ended last Saturday where the graduation ceremony took place.
In 2006, Odyssey opened its doors as Delaware’s first mathematics and foreign language-focused elementary education charter school. Founded by, and with ongoing support from, members of the Wilmington, DE, chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), and having its founding roots deep within the Greek community, culture, and unsurpassed educational heritage, our mission is to prepare students for a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, develop a keen awareness of world citizenship and culture, and establish critical thinking and problem-solving proficiency through the added learning of the Modern Greek language and Mathematics focus.
Today, building on tremendous academic success, Odyssey has expanded to an award-winning K-12 choice education and serves one of the most diverse student bodies of nearly 2,000 students (40% minorities and 50% low-income). Serving the entire New Castle County, the admissions policy is entirely choice lottery without pre-qualification academic testing or other qualifiers. Odyssey is proud to offer choice education opportunities to the community and demonstrates academic success through innovation as its dual-language curriculum is intertwined with a rigorous core curriculum.
Also, Odyssey Charter School, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Chapter 95, the Daughters of Penelope Chapter 149, and the Skoutelas and Yiannos families are pleased to announce two Skoutelas/Yiannos Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded each year to two graduating seniors of Odyssey. This year, the recipients will be notified by June 18th, 2021.
The scholarships are established in memoriam for two of the school’s principal founding fathers, Mr. Anthony (Tony) Skoutelas and Dr. Peter Yiannos. Both Tony and Peter had a strong belief that the Greek language was unique in its role throughout history as a powerful instrument of education for multitudes of generations that preceded them. They also believed that the Greek language, coupled with the core values of Hellenism, could create a powerful vehicle for learning that would be invaluable throughout a person’s lifetime.
Ms. Daphne Skoutelas, the wife of the late Mr. Skoutelas and the daughter of the late Mr. Peter Yiannos, said that the Skoutelas/Yiannos scholarships should be given to two students who “best represent the founding ideals of Odyssey through their high academic standards and their reverence for the Hellenic educational mission. These students would exemplify Odyssey’s goal of nurturing a life-long love of learning.”
For nearly 100 years, the Mission of the AHEPA, the Daughters of Penelope, the Sons of Pericles, and the Maids of Athena has been to promote Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family, and individual excellence. This is accomplished throughout the world through scholarship programs, Veteran’s programs, athletic tournaments, various foundations, affordable housing for seniors, shelters for battered women, and daycare centers for low-income families. They sponsor medical research for various public health concerns and promote civic responsibility to affect public policy.