The 1st Student Creative Writing Competition, organized by the Center for the Study of the Hellenic Language and Culture (HeLaS) of the DIKEPPEE "Stavros Niarchos" of the University of Ioannina, was successfully completed. The event took place on February 9, World Greek Language Day. The initiative forms part of the celebrations marking 20 years of operation of the DIKEPPEE "Stavros Niarchos", as well as 30 years of the HeLaS, highlighting their longstanding contribution to the promotion of the Greek language and culture.

The first part of the event included the creative writing competition. The students arrived early in the morning at the premises of the DIKEPPEE Stavros Niarchos, where they were welcomed by the responsible, Ms. Vasiliki Panteli. The members of the judging committee—Mr. Georgios Georgoulas, PhD in Creative Writing and poet; Mr. Thodoris Koukias, educator and author; and Ms. Rinio Kyriazi, Artistic Director of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Ioannina (DI.PE.THE.), actress, director, and voice teacher—then presented key aspects of creative writing and offered useful guidance to the participants. Before the start of the competition, a video message addressed to the students by Mr. Panos Dimakis, author and lexicographer, was screened.

After receiving the topic, the students began writing their texts in an environment that fostered creativity, calmness, and collaboration. Throughout the duration of the competition, a buffet was available for all participants.

Following the completion of the process, the committee evaluated nine outstanding texts, which highlighted the students’ love for creative writing and their need for meaningful expression.

The second part of the event took place at the “Dimitrios Glaros” Amphitheatre of the DIKEPPEE "Stavros Niarchos" and began with a greeting from the Deputy Mayor for Education, Lifelong Learning and Early Childhood, Mr. Stefanos Sintos. This was followed by speeches from the Head of the DIKEPPEE "Stavros Niarchos", Ms. Vasiliki Panteli, as well as the President of the HeLaS and Vice-Rector for International Relations, Global Engagement and Lifelong Learning, Mr. Xenofon Bitsikas. The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Konstantinos Karamanis, member of the Governing Council of the University of Ioannina, who delivered a greeting, along with the President of the Secondary Education School Committee, Mr. Konstantinos Krikonis, and the President of the Primary Education School Committee, Ms. Katia Tzima. A particularly special moment of the event was the screening of a recorded message by Mr. Giannis Korinthios, the inspirer and leading advocate for the establishment of World Greek Language Day.

The following schools participated in the competition:
3rd Gymnasium of Ioannina, 4th Gymnasium of Ioannina, 6th Gymnasium of Ioannina, 7th Gymnasium of Ioannina, Model Gymnasium of Zosimaia School of Ioannina, Ioannina Music School “Nikolaos Doumbas”, Gymnasium Velissariou, Gymnasium Katsika, Arsakeio Gymnasium of Ioannina

First prize was awarded to Gymnasium Katsika, second prize to the 3rd Gymnasium of Ioannina, and third prize to the Arsakeio Gymnasium of Ioannina. A special mention was presented to the Ioannina Music School “Nikolaos Doumbas” for its approach to magical realism, while all students received a certificate of participation.

During the event, attendees had the opportunity to listen to the highly engaging lecture by Mr. Panagiotis Filos, Associate Professor in the Department of Philology at the University of Ioannina, titled “Small Milestones in the History of the Greek Language.”

The 1st Student Creative Writing Competition was a celebration of language and creativity, highlighting the power of student expression and the importance of nurturing both language and culture. The enthusiasm, the outstanding texts, the flawless organization, and above all the children’s smiles, lay the foundation for establishing this special initiative as a recurring event.

The event’s sponsors played a key role in its success. METAIXMIO Publications and Kastaniotis Publications provided book packages to each school to enrich their school libraries. N. Prokos & Co. Ltd. supplied stationery, while the Epirus Bottling Industry S.A. Vikos provided the water and soft drinks for the buffet.

Commemorative logo design: Nikolaos Konstantinou, Faculty Member (E.DI.P.) of the School of Fine Arts, University of Ioannina