The ceremony began with the address by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, and was followed by the presentation of the commendation speech (Laudatio) by the Chair of the Department of International and European Studies, Dr. Aristotle Tziampiris.
In his opening speech, the Rector of the University of Piraeus Professor Michael Sfakianakis mentioned that the Honorary Doctorate degree (Doctorem honoris causa) is awarded to the Lieutenant Governor of California, Eleni Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis, a leading figure of the Greek-American community, for her overall contribution to diplomacy, entrepreneurship, politics and society. The honoree personifies the realization of the American dream, combined with Ethos, Logos and Passion who has honoured her Greek origins with substance and respect and a dynamic course of creation and contribution.

As Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis belongs to that group of up-and-coming dynamic politicians, who with political action solve real problems, improving the everyday life of citizens, freeing stagnant potential, opening the way to accomplishment and creation for everyone and her path so far portends to very important achievements for the future. Finally, he wished her good luck in her candidacy for Governor of California.
The Chair of the Department of International and European Studies, Dr. Aristotle Tziampiris presented the commendation speech (Laudatio) for Eleni Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis, welcoming her to the circle of Honorary Doctors of the University and to the academic family. The University has decided to honor Eleni Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis, for her multifaceted and outstanding contribution to politics, diplomacy and the Greek diaspora, which acts as a bridge of friendship and culture between Greece and the United States. Eleni Tsakopoulos - Kounalakis, is a second generation American, a true renaissance woman, a fierce leader, who works passionately for better public education, affordable housing, gender equality in leadership and environmental issues.

The awarding ceremony ended with the honoree’s speech, “California and the Hellenic Republic: Ties to the Past and a Shared Vision for the Future”. After warmly thanking the University and the Department for the honor bestowed upon her, she referred to her visits to Greece as a child and the people who taught her what it means to be Greek and what values and history this heavy ancestry carries. A European country and an American state, with more than three times the population, at first glance do not seem to have much in common; however, both Greece and California struggle with identical issues. Migration and environmental protection are prominent and pressing concerns and require innovative thinking, research and joint practices in order to be solved.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou, former Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Greek-American journalist, academic and writer Markos Kounalakis, members of the academic community and many relatives and friends of the honoree in Greece.