TRINITY, Fla. – Less than a week after retrieving the cross at Tarpon Springs’ 120th annual Epiphany celebration, Athos Karystinos visited Plato Academy Trinity on Wednesday to share his experience with elementary and middle school students.
The 18-year-old Plato Academy Tarpon Springs alumni, and Palm Harbor University High School senior, also attending St. Petersburg College, responded to the invitation of our Greek language teacher Mrs. Vasiliki Fournarakis and spoke with eager young students about what led him to dive into Spring Bayou’s cold waters on January 6. Questions came quickly from the audience, with children asking about his training, the water temperature, and what it felt like to emerge with the cross.
“Did you practice diving?” one student asked. “Were you scared?” inquired another.
Athos answered each question, mentioning the significance of continuing a family tradition that spans three generations. His father retrieved the cross in 1991, making the achievement particularly meaningful for both the graduate and his family.
For Plato Academy Trinity students, who study Greek language and culture as part of the school’s curriculum, the visit brought their lessons to life.
The young speaker emphasized the importance of setting goals and working steadily toward them, a message that resonated with students at the K-8 charter school. His path at Plato Academy illustrated how early education and cultural connections shape futures.
