Cleopatra Haviaras is a 2011 recipient of the Hellenic Times Scholarship and an outstanding scholar of Queens College- CUNY. Her ambition and determination is to someday pursue a career in law. She talks about her Greek heritage, proudest accomplishments as a Greek-American female in New York, as well as a Queens College Ambassador Leader.
Cleopatra also shares her views on the Greek-American community and her impressive list of extracurricular activities she is involved in.
Cleopatra was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Astoria, New York. “I come from a Greek background; my father is from Chios, Greece and my mother is from Evia, Greece. Greek was the first language that I learned in spite of my being born and raised in New York. I credit my heritage for many things, especially, first and foremost, my love for history and ancient classical literature.”
On her educational background, Cleopatra remarks “I am currently a lower senior at CUNY Queens College. I am majoring in History, with a double concentration in Ancient and European, and Classics. I am minoring in Business and Liberal Arts Honors (BALA) Program, which is directed by esteemed professor Barbara Sandler, as well as Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies.”
“Being a 2011 Hellenic Times Scholarship recipient felt great – beyond what words can describe!” she exclaims. “It was not only my proudest moment as a Greek-American female student, but it was also my first time receiving a Greek scholarship.”
“What I enjoyed most about the 2011 Hellenic Times GALA event at the Marriott Marquis had to definitely be the guest list. I was ecstatic with the fact that I obtained the rare opportunity to meet so many famous and talented people, such as Kalomira [whom I had met once before two years prior with my family], Ernie Anastos, Gilles Marini, and most importantly, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier that evening in the Law and Politics panel.”
According to Mr. Nick Katsoris, the President of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Find (HTSF), he remarks “The HTSF was proud to award Cleopatra a scholarship this year, and we wish her a bright future!”
“Ever since my involvement with my high school’s mock trial team, I developed a profound interest in the field of criminal justice,” Cleopatra states. “I aspire to become a prosecutor to, hopefully, modify the corrupt legal system for the better. Being Greek has many advantages. I am argumentative, talkative, persistent, and outgoing. Law is the type of field that enables me to express who I really am by relying on my individual skills to properly execute the law against criminals.”
“I not only want to obtain my PhD in history, particularly in medieval history, but I also want to attend law school to further pursue my aspiration of becoming a prosecutor. I have always been the type of person to voluntarily dedicate my time to other people and organizations, so law epitomizes, for me, the ultimate community outreach job,” she further adds.
On being chosen to represent the undergraduate class at the Queens College Alumni Event this year, she remarks that “it was, undoubtedly, both an honor and a privilege. Being recognized as a potential candidate for such an event was an honor in it of itself, for rarely do students engage in events that involve the school – and the public – as a whole. I felt wanted and needed for something other than just another student in a classroom consisting of four walls.”
“My proudest accomplishment, so far, has to be my acceptance into the New York State Assembly Internship Program, last year, in the spring of 2011 semester,” she acknowledges. “Unfortunately I could not pursue the off-campus internship opportunity due to inevitable family circumstances, I nevertheless was proud of the fact that all my hard work over the years finally paid off, and in a BIG way at that.”
“Sadly, I must reveal that I have never been to Greece, or outside of the United States for that matter. I would, however, like to visit my parents’ home towns, in addition to Athens, Sparta, Kalamata, Crete, and Thessaloniki,” Cleopatra adds.
“The Greek-American community is filled with up and coming Greek-American students who are readily set and able to take on the world from all different angles. Greek-Americans, especially high school and college students, are known for their willingness to preserve their Greek roots, as well as for their ability to teach others about their Greek heritage and the importance of being Greek in today’s society,” she admits.
Cleopatra’s talents are by no means limited to her superb academic ability alone! “I am involved in quite a vast multitude of extracurricular activities apart from my academic pursuits. I am a Queens College Ambassador Leader, a Facilitator for the Center for Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Understanding, a mentor for Project ExCEL (otherwise known as the Black Male Initiative), a Lower Junior/Upper Senior Senate Representative, a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and of Phi Alpha Theta (the History Honour Society), and a continued volunteer and supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Smile Train,” Cleopatra reveals.
“The best possible advice that I can offer the Greek-American youth, as a means to preserve their heritage here in America, is for them to just be themselves and to not allow anyone to tell them what they should or should not do. Being Greek is a privilege more so than a right. Coming from such a rich, multifaceted, and undeniably dominant culture is enough to persuade anyone to preserve their heritage. By taking part in the Greek Club, in GOYA, and in various Greek Orthodox Church day-to-day functions, will ensure such preservation,” she re-assures.
Cleopatra concludes, “I would like to thank my boyfriend, Charles Bremer, for always standing by my side no matter what. “Charles has always been my number one supporter, and continues to be my number one supporter (and fan) to this day. He makes me feel appreciated, loved, and needed. I share my entire life with him and the 2011 Hellenic Times Scholarship was just another part of my life that I shared with him on that memorable night of May 14, 2011.”
In summation, Cleopatra Haviaras’ accomplishments and her strong work ethic make her a noteworthy role model for every Greek-American.
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