WASHINGTON (June 27, 2016) — A 2015 World Series champion and an All-American NCAA Division I hockey player have been selected as national honorees by the National Athletic Department of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading membership-based association for the nation’s millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes. The awards were announced by Supreme President John W. Galanis and Gregory J. Stamos, head of the National Athletic Awards. The honorees are:

• Mike Moustakas, professional baseball player, Kansas City Royals, and 2015 World Series champion, who will receive the AHEPA Harry Agganis Hellenic Athlete Award; and

• Sam Anas, collegiate hockey player, Quinnipiac University, who will receive his second AHEPA William Chirgotis Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Award

The awards will be presented at the 94th AHEPA Supreme Convention, July 27, 2016, Las Vegas, Nev.

“AHEPA is proud to recognize these two amazing talents,” Galanis said. “Both athletes have risen to championship-level play in their respective sports and are to be commended for their athletic accomplishments to date.”

Added Stamos, “As the starting third baseman for the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals, Mike Moustakas played an integral role in the team’s championship run, and Sam Anas attained First-team All-American honors for a major NCAA Division I hockey program at Quinnipiac University, leading the team to a number one national ranking and to the championship game.”

About the 2016 National Honorees for Athletics

MICHAEL “MIKE” MOUSTAKAS, Los Angeles, Calif., is in his sixth professional season as the third baseman for Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.  He was the second overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.  For the 2015 World Champion Royals, he batted. 284 with 22 home runs and 82 RBIs, and he was named a 2015 All-Star for the first time. In the 2015 World Series, he batted .304 and knocked in three runs.  Mike was a member of the USA Baseball Junior National Team. In high school, Mike was four-year starter at Chatsworth High School where he set a California state record blasting 52 career home runs.

SAM ANAS, Potomac, Md., concluded a stellar, three-year collegiate hockey career with Quinnipiac University by totaling 69 goals and 63 assists in 121 games over three seasons. He was the team’s leading scorer in each of the three years.  In his final year, Sam tallied 50 points (24 goals and 26 assists) and scored four game-winning goals.  For his effort, Sam was named AHCA/CCM Hockey Men’s Division I All-America First Team. As a sophomore, he was named Second-team All-American, and as a freshman, Sam was named the National Rookie of the Year. In April, Sam signed a contract with the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild.