CT Leaders in Law, Education, Government, Community to be Inducted into Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame

The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame (IHHF) proudly announces the 2025 inductees, exceptional individuals whose contributions have enriched Connecticut’s legal, education, civic, and cultural landscape. These remarkable and inspiring individuals exemplify the spirit of immigrant success and resilience. The Induction Ceremony & Gala, by the National Immigrant Heritage Center, will take place on Thursday, September 25.

The 2025 class of IHHF inductees:

• Dr. Ali Antar, Emeritus Professor and Adjunct Professor of Physics at Central Connecticut State University. Born in Egypt, he came to the United States after earning his Bachelor Degree in Science. He subsequently obtained a Doctorate Degree in Atomic and Nuclear Physics from the University of Connecticut and has been an educator for six decades. Dr. Antar is founder and co-president of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, co-founder of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, and past president of the Islamic Council of New England. A leader in the interfaith community, Dr. Antar is a special advisor to the president of Hartford International University, and a founding member of We Refuse to Be Enemies in coalition with Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
• Atty. Dana Bucin is an award-winning immigration attorney and partner at Harris Beach Murtha. She leads one of the most respected immigration practices in Connecticut, representing immigrants and refugees, including 70 Afghan nationals applying for Humanitarian Parole, and assisting more than 2,000 Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s full-scale invasion. She is founder of the “Connecticut for Ukraine” program matching refugees with sponsors and assisted the CT National Guard in security collaboration with the Romanian Army. She is Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut and was named Attorney of the Year by the CT Law Tribune.
• Dr. Demetrios Giannaros, a Greek American, served for 16 years in the Connecticut Legislature, was Deputy Majority Leader and the first foreign-born individual to serve as Deputy Speaker. He immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager with his family, and went on to earn a PhD in economics, an MA in political economy, and an MA in economic development. While at the Capitol, he was Chairman of the Education and Energy & Technology Committees, Vice Chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and a member of the International Trade Commission. After the collapse of the communist system, Dr. Giannaros was Director of the U.S. Consortium for Management Education in Central and Eastern Europe and assisted in the transition to a market economy by training professors, officials and business leaders, and assisted in establishing western-style business schools in Eastern Europe. He is former President of the World Hellenic Interparliamentary Association, has served on numerous nonprofit Boards, and is former President and co-founder of the National Immigrant Heritage Center.
• Homa Naficy, born in France to Iranian parents, earned a bachelor's degree from the American University of Paris. After emigrating to the United States, she earned a Master of Library Science from Rutgers University. In 2000 she became a naturalized American citizen and joined the Hartford Public Library, where she conceived and developed The American Place, which became a highly regarded cornerstone of support for immigrant and refugee communities. The American Place is celebrated for its work helping immigrants learn English, study for the citizenship exam, and succeed in their new homeland. Ms. Naficy was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board and served until 2023. Her many distinctions include Champion of Change from President Obama’s administration, Hartford Changemaker from Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, and the prestigious Carnegie Corporation Great Immigrants, Great Americans award.

“We are delighted to honor this exceptional group of individuals who exemplify perseverance, commitment to excellence, and remarkable achievement," said Asha Lassen, president of the National Immigrant Heritage Center. "The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame Induction Gala celebrates our diverse and multicultural nation and the significant contributions that our inductees and those of immigrant heritage make to our state, nation, and the world.”

Honoring and Highlighting the Inspiring Impact of Immigrants

The mission of the National Immigrant Heritage Center is to “Celebrate, preserve, publicize, and promote Immigrant Heritage and Cultural Diversity as defining characteristics of the American Nation, and the contributions of Immigrants and Immigration to the American economy, culture, and civil society.”

The IHHF Induction Gala ceremony on September 25 will take place at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT at 5:30 p.m. In addition to a formal dinner, the program will include a Keynote Speaker, brief video presentations about each of the inductees, and an array of cultural presentations reflecting each inductee’s background and providing evocative entertainment throughout the evening.

Detailed inductee profiles – for this year’s honorees and previous inductees – can be seen on the IHHF website, immigrantheritage.org.

The IHHF celebrates the diverse ethnic heritage of our state and country by honoring individuals and institutions who exemplify the best of their immigrant heritage and who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, economic, and civic development of the United States. The IHHF strives not only to preserve heritage but to educate the public about the importance of immigrant heritage to the identity of the United States and the contributions of immigrants and immigrant communities.

The National Immigrant Heritage Center aims to celebrate, preserve, publicize, and promote immigrant heritage and cultural diversity as defining characteristics of the American nation, and the contributions of immigrants and immigration to the American economy, culture, and civil society. The NIHC advocates for Immigrants and Refugees, facilitates collaboration among related organizations on mission-based services and programs and promotes inter-ethnic and cultural understanding.

Tickets for the 2025 Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame gala are now available. A wide variety of sponsorships are also available to support the event and the National Immigrant Heritage Center. For up-to-date events, ticket, sponsorship and inductee information, visit immigrantheritage.org.