SKY express rewards top graduates honoured by IKY with a trip of their choice

On Saturday 10 October, the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) honoured 391 top graduates of Greek universities at a ceremony held in the Lighthouse at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). SKY express supported the initiative, giving the graduates the opportunity to pair their academic achievement with a new travel experience.

Remarks were delivered by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki; the President of the Administrative Board of IKY and Professor Emerita at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Ms. Vassiliki Kindi; and the Chief Commercial Officer of SKY express, Mr. Gerasimos Skaltsas. During the ceremony, four of the graduates shared their personal journeys to academic excellence, highlighting the power of perseverance, effort and belief in one’s goals, as well as the dreams behind every success.

A trip for every graduate

SKY express offered each of the 391 award-winning graduates a return ticket to a destination of their choice from the 62 destinations in its network, 33 in Greece and 29 abroad.

SKY express also made it easier for the graduates to attend the ceremony, covering their air travel with complimentary return tickets from anywhere in its network, as well as the flights of those accompanying them, so that they could share this important moment with their loved ones.

Consistent support for education

The initiative is part of SKY express’s steadfast commitment to providing tangible support for young people and education. This commitment is reflected in the company’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, under which, for the fourth consecutive year, it is offering a 30% discount on all domestic flights to newly appointed and substitute teachers, making it easier for them to travel to where they are posted. In the 2024-2025 school year alone, more than 3,400 teachers flew with SKY express, making approximately 10,000 trips.

Mr. Gerasimos Skaltsas, Chief Commercial Officer of SKY express, stated: “For SKY express, supporting this initiative is not simply a sponsorship. It is our way of recognising the effort behind every achievement. As an airline that connects every corner of Greece, we know well that a young person from an island or a remote region deserves the same opportunities as any of their peers. We warmly thank the Ministry of Education and IKY for their trust, and we remain committed to bringing young people even closer to their goals.”

In her address, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, stated: “Excellence is the recognition of effort, consistency and dedication to one’s goal. Today, through the Excellence Awards of the State Scholarships Foundation, we honour young women and men whose knowledge, hard work and perseverance make them a source of inspiration and optimism for our country’s future. It is the State’s responsibility to give every young person the tools and opportunities to make the most of their potential, regardless of their financial situation, social background or where they grew up. This is the direction in which we are working: strengthening public universities, with a 21.7% increase in operating grants since 2020, greater resources for student welfare, investment in infrastructure and new opportunities for research, collaboration and international outreach. We want our young people to spread their wings, gain experience, excel all over the world and find in Greece the opportunities to create and to prosper. Because investing in the knowledge and talent of the new generation is investing in the very future of our country.

Congratulations to all the young women and men receiving awards today, as well as to the families and teachers who stood by them. Their success is further proof of the great potential of Greece’s new generation.”

The President of the Administrative Board of the State Scholarships Foundation and Professor Emerita at NKUA, Ms. Vassiliki Kindi, spoke about the importance of academic excellence and IKY’s long-standing mission to support young people along their academic path:

“Today we are presenting a €1.000 award to each of the 391 graduates who meet the criteria, that is, who complete their degree on time with high grades, without stalling along the way: 209 women (53.45%) and 182 men (46.55%). Every one of you has excelled because you persevered in the face of difficulties; you devoted yourselves to a wide range of subjects that taught you a great deal, something so essential in an age that demands many skills and changes of course; you followed your passion, discovered new interests and inclinations and trusted your good teachers; you faced adversity and overcame obstacles that all too often arise unexpectedly at Greek universities; you put in long nights and hard work. The world moves very fast, and so did you. You had passion, curiosity and discipline, great assets for a future that demands alertness, promises new paths and may hold unexpected turns. In that future, IKY can be one of your allies and supporters. It awards postgraduate and doctoral scholarships and manages the Erasmus+ programme, widely acknowledged as the EU’s most successful programme. Congratulations on all that you have achieved, and best wishes from all of us at IKY for many more great successes and a calm, happy life in a turbulent world. You are already standing on solid ground!”