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Published: May 10, 2008 01:29 am    print this story   email this story  

A big fat Greek graduation

Greek family's Mankato connections get tighter

By Robb Murray
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Paul and Lia Kourkafas were both born and raised in the Greek city of Corinth. But they had to travel 5,540 miles, all the way to Mankato, to find each other.

They’re married now and have successful careers and families back in Greece. But this week they’re back in Mankato for a special reunion.

Their son Evangelos graduates from the MBA program at Minnesota State University today, and he’ll deliver one of the commencement addresses. The milestone continues a Mankato connection in their family that began 30 years ago.

At the center of their connection sits Basil Janavaras. The Greek business and marketing professor at MSU has spent nearly 40 years teaching, most of that time at MSU. He always has encouraged people from his homeland to come to the university he’s come to love, and many students from Greece have studied at MSU because of Janavaras’ encouragement.

But the Kourkafas connection is probably the strongest.



For complete story, see the Saturday, May 10, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.

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Photos


Since the 1970s, many students have come to Minnesota State University from Greece. When they come, they usually come at the invitation of Basil Janavaras, who has taught at the university off and on since 1969. Shown here are (from left) Janavaras, Paul Kourkafas, Evangelos Kourkafas and Lia Kourkafas. Paul and Lia, both originally from Greece, met at MSU. Today their son, Evangelos, graduates from MSU’s MBA program. None/John Cross (Click for larger image)

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