BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Vickie Folias
Vickie Folias (Co-founder, Education Chair of the Board) B.A. in Languages from St. Olaf College, ME.D University of Utah, Special Education & Learning Disabilities Gifted Educator's Endorsement, 27 years of teaching Elementary Education in grades two through six. Was a mentor to teachers for 14 years in the Curriculum and Assessment program ,C/A, at Ensign Elementary, Hawthorn Elementary and Clayton Middle School. Involved in Salt Lake City School District Committees; Strategic Planning, Annenberg Committee for Education Improvement, State Social Studies Revision Committee, Performance Tasks Assess
Bill Chaus
Born and raised in Salt Lake and graduated from Skyline High School. Later graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Chemistry and Math with a secondary education teaching certificate. I am married with two children and am currently retired. I am the current treasurer for the St. Sophia Board and have served for approximately two years. Having also served on the Greek Orthodox parish council for a total of 20 years, including several years on the executive board and two years as President gives me a lot of experience in dealing with this type of board.
George Karahalios
George Karahalios was born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah, June 2, 1963. He lost both of his parents in a car accident at the age of 7 and was raised by his Uncle Greg and his Aunt Rula Karahalios. George grew up with his brother Paul and his cousins, Joanne, Paul and Jamie.
George attended Hawthorne Elementary, Glendale Jr. High and South High school. He received a BA from the University of Utah in Business Finance and Sociology, graduating in 1986.
During his days in High School and College he worked for his Uncle Spiro Nichols at Nichols Photo Lab. In 1990 he started to take pictures at weddings a various other events, yet only considered this a hobby and not a profession at the the time. In 1991 he decided to take it a step further and turn his hobby into a profession. He opened his first studio in 1992 with his brother Paul and called it GP Studio. In 1996 he created the Gallery Portrait, an art form that is reminiscent of the great Master painters of past. His portraits are known nationwide and his artwork has been featured in two publications, “Rangefinder and Professional Photography.” He continues working and creating beautiful portraits today.
In 1995 George married Eleni Ritzakis. George and Eleni have two children, Vasiliki and Panayioti. Growing up, both children were involved in sports, arts and various other activities with Community and Church groups. George and his family are members of The Greek Orthodox Church and are heavily involved in the Greek Community.
Elaine Bapis
Elaine Bapis is a lifetime educator and is now enjoying retirement. Her career included adjunct professor of American history, literature, and film at Westminster College of Salt Lake City; University of Utah courses on film history, Honors History and The Power of Place – intersections of Humanities and Geography. She has published a cultural history of film entitled Camera and Action: American Film as Agent of Social Change, 1965-1975. She is co-editor and author of Imagining the Big Open: Nature, Identity, and Play in the New West. Her published essays appear in The Landscape of Hollywood Westerns: Ecocriticism in an American Film Genre and in the Utah Historical Quarterly. She is author of Valter of Salt Lake: The Magic of the Table. She is currently publishing a chapter in Utah Foodways, a book due to be released soon. She received her Bachelor of Arts at Weber State University (English and History), and her Masters of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Utah (English and History. She has presented papers and lectures at Oklahoma University, University of Utah, Western History Association, Arizona Greek Folklore Society, Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange (CCCE) in Albany, New York. and at various civic groups in Salt Lake City. She has served on the Boards of the American College of Greece, CCCE, and various school boards and social clubs. She is a co-founder of Saint Sophia School and currently President of the Board.
Artemis Vamianakis Lavelle
Artemis Vamianakis Lavelle is on the Saint Sophia School Board of Trustees as the legal adviser and has served the School in this capacity since 2010. She is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm Fabian VanCott in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. She practices commercial litigation and administrative law in the areas of real property, energy and natural resources and employment law. Artemis received her law degree from the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law. She earned a double-major, honors bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Artemis and her family are active in the local Greek community. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, baking and Cretan dancing, and she loves the Saint Sophia School.
Alexis Matthews
Alexis was born and raised in Price, Utah. After high school she moved to Salt Lake to attend the University of Utah where she received Bachelor's Degrees in Human Development & Family Studies, and Community & Consumer Studies. During college Alexis worked at Saint Sophia School and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake. She loved being able to work with variety of children in her community.
Alexis's greatest passion is working with at-risk youth and underserved populations. This led Alexis to become the Program Director at the Capitol West Boys & Girls Club.
In her free time Alexis enjoys traveling, cooking, and is a barre fanatic. Alexis loves being a part of the incredible community here at Saint Sophia School.