GLENDALE–The Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools (CASPS) held its fourth annual awards reception Thursday at the Brandview Collection–honoring Glendale’s best and brightest public school students of Armenian descent.
The reception–which was attended by a slew of high-ranking Glendale Unified School District and City of Glendale–also featured parents–students–instructors and supporter of CASPS. Among officials in attendance were–City Councilmember Rafi Manoukian–GUSD Superintendent James Brown–Assistant Superintendents Alice Petrossian–Joann Merrick–GUSD Board members Lina M. Harper–Louise Foote–and Chuck Sambar. Also in presence were Crescenta Valley–Glendale–and Hoover High school educators–administrators and staff.
Community guests included–Western Prelate Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian–St. Mary’s Armenian Church officials–representatives of the Armenian National Committee Western Region and Glendale Chapter–Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Aharonian Chapter–Homenetmen Ararat Chapter–Armenian Relief Society Sipan Chapter–and Hamazkayin Glendale Chapter.
The evening began with Mistress of Ceremonies Sona Chilingarian welcoming the attendees and explaining the evening’s program. After the invocation presented by Bishop Mardirossian–CASPS Board member Eric Panossian addressed the committee’s welcoming message to the honorees and guests–and invited the highest ranking students (based on Grade Point Average) to say a few words. Anita Hovanissian of Crescenta Valley High School–Shushan Karapetian of Glendale High School and Vaheh Shirvanian of Hoover High School each thanked their teachers–parents and friends for their support and encouragement in their academic endeavors. All three students also addressed a note of thanks to CASPS for the various programs and support activities the group offers students.
Following a brief cultural program by the Alexanian sisters–Brown addressed the guests by praising the honorees of the evening–challenging them to continue their path toward excellence and to return and work in their community.
The evening’s keynote address was given by ANCA-Western Region Executive Director Vicken Sonentz-Papazian–who spoke to the students of their achievemen’s and the importance of earning the respect of those who they respect. In so doing–Sonentz-Papazian spoke of Armenian hero General Dro–and other heroes in Armenian-American history. Sonentz-Papazian told the students that their greatest accomplishment would be to not only take from the world but to also give back.
At the completion of the keynote address–CASPS Board members Marisa Sarian–Sandra Der Mesropian–Sonia Kaprielian and Eric Sahakian assisted in the distribution of the certificates–award and scholarships–while each student was congratulated by a receiving line comprised of GUSD Board members–Brown and CASPS Board member Medea Kalognomos.
Closing remarks were delivered by CASPS Executive Director Arshineh H. Hovannisian–who thanked the attendees and congratulated the students and their families wishing them a successful future.
The Honored Students were:
Crescenta Valley High School
Zepur H. Andonian–Nouar Boldy–Arin Hayrapetian–Anita Hovanissian–Hamlet Khachatryan–Evelyn Khachikian–Alex Khachaturian–Shawnt Maleky–Armen Minasian–Lisa C. Tokmajian;
Glendale High School
Anet M. Aboulian–Melly Adamian–Lala Aghaian–Anahit Alaverdyan–Tereza Aleksanian–Lousineh Alexani-Babroudi–Vartan Amayakyan–Tatevik Amirkhanyan–Christine M. Anouchian–Miganoosh Artoonian–Sergey Arustamyan–Aida Avoyan–Vanuhi Bagramyan–Stella Bakmajian–Lilit Baron–Laura Baroutgian–Yuliana Basmadzhyan–Artin Davodian–Susanna Davtyan–Arpine Eloyan–Anet Gabrielyan–Nonna Gabriyelova–Inga Galadzhyan–Nare Garibyan–Gayane Hakopyan–Karen Harutyan–Adrine Isayan–Vicken H. Jabourian–Shushan Karapetian–Gemin Keshishian–Nairi Khachikian–Agnesa Keshishyan–Nelli K. Khachikyan–Saro Khajehgian–Jacob Khanishian–Margarita Manoukian–Orbel Minassian–Artur Mkrtchyan–Nora Mossessian–Luiza Nargizyan–Andrui Nazarian–Rima Oganesyan–Marina Oganezova–Mikayel Oganyan–Aylin Safarian–Edvis Shahbazian–Arpine Shakhbandaryan–Clodiya Shakhanzyan–Karine Simonyan–Kozet Sinanyan–Gohar Stepanyan–Ani Tarpinian–Razmik Ter-Oganesyan–Tigran Tutuyan–Mrieta Vardanyan–Alen Vartan–Annette Vartanian–Ashken Vartanian–Armen Zarian–Evelina Zograbian;
Hoover High School
Vahan Abulyan–Arpa Aghajani–Linet Alexanian–Artur Ambarachyan–Edgar Ambartsoumian–Arsen Arabyan–David Artunyan–Asmik Asatryan–Narineh Avanessian–Arbi Ayvazian–Sona Azatyan–Armond Baboomian–Yeranui Barsegyan–Andre Basmadzhyan–Sally Belderian–Vartan Chilingarian–Oganes Chimayan–Sevana Cholakian–Ashot Chukhadzhyan–Razmik Danoukh–Sofya Darbinyan–Selin Darkalstanian–Spartak Delakyan–Raffi Djihanian–Artin Fiterz–Nooneh Gasparian–Alin Gharapetian–Ninette Gharibian–Arpa Ghazarian–Anna Grigorian–Tomik Grigorian–Marine N. Hakopian–Christine Anie Hayrapetian–Narine Karapetian–Anait Kazaryan–Anita Kazaryan–Anush Vivian Khachatryan–Gohar Khachikyan–Marineh Khanoyan–Sevana Khodagholian–Hilda Khorani–Chahe Kilislian–Grigor Labayan–Armen Mandessian–Manvel Meymarian–Alenoush Ellen Mirzayans–Shagen Oganian–Serouj Ourishian–Armine Ovasapyan–Diana Pakradouni–Jennifer Pakradouni–Meline Sakhkalyan–Vaheh Shiravanian–Karine Srapyan–Garen Utudjian;
