GLENDALE—Twenty-one graduating public high school seniors were selected as scholarship recipients by chapters of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Western USA for the 2011-2012 academic year. Selected for their excellence in scholastic achievement and community service, the students gathered by the invitation of the ARS-WUSA Regional Executive at the Regional Headquarters on Monday, June 4, 2012 before family and ARS members to receive their Merit Recognition Awards and scholarships ($500 per student).
Guests also included ARS Central Executive Board member Annie Kechichian; Tamar Kataroyan, Assistant Principal of Glendale High School; Tricia Byron, Counselor at John Marshall High School; and Sirvart Mouradian, Counselor at Hoover High School.
The Awards Night began with an informative video presentation regarding ARS programs and activities. Thereafter, Chairperson of the ARS-WUSA Regional Executive Dr. Nyree Derderian welcomed guests and congratulated all of the deserving students. “Since its inception, the Armenian Relief Society has believed that it needs to be the backbone of the Armenian community and it knows that our youth are the future… Therefore, we try to help fund education in order for our youth to become better representatives of the Armenian community,” Derderian stated.
Following the welcoming remarks, Derderian introduced the keynote speaker, Vache Thomassian, and provided a brief biographical sketch. Thomassian, Chairperson of the “Shant” Student Association and Editor of the Haytoug Magazine, recently received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School and will continue his education at Columbia University, where he has been accepted to pursue his Master’s Degree in International Affairs.
JUDr. Thomassian began his remarks by commending the scholarship recipients for their achievements and encouraged future successes. He paid special mention to the importance of education and defined success as “leaving an impact in this world that is greater than you as an individual. Success is taking your talents, skills, and interests and using them in a way that gives back to your community, your people, and your homeland.” He further provided a formula for success, including setting goals for oneself, having conviction, and acquiring the competence necessary to achieve the goals one sets for himself.
The program concluded with Dr. Derderian and Regional Executive Board Member Seta Hagopian introducing and presenting each of the students with their Merit Recognition Awards. Local ARS chapters, which selected the recipients from the public high schools in their communities, had representatives in attendance to present the scholarships. Some students, including those in San Francisco, received their recognition during their respective high schools’ awards ceremonies. Students showed their appreciation by publicly thanking the ARS for their awards.
2011-2012 Scholarship Recipients:
Anahit Aschyan STEM Academy of Hollywood
Nelly Benarbushian Robert Fulton Prep. High School
Ripsime Biyazyan Van Nuys High School
Lara Demirjian Montebello High School
Lucy Maggie Dishoian Fountain Valley High School
Hakob Gabrielyan Reseda High School
Shaunt Gharabegian Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Youlen Ghazalian Burbank High School
Stephen Ghazikhanian Hoover High School
Aram Ghoogasian Armenian Mesrobian School
Gayane Kechechyan Schurr High School
Hovannes Kegeyan Hollywood High School
Vana Kiork Pasadena High School
Mariam Kyarunts Burbank High School
Mariam Manukyan John Marshall High School
Alec Zareh Mouradian Glendale High School
Harutyun Nazaryan Glendale High School
Lucine Lucy Oganesian Hoover High School
Anahit Sargsyan Glendale High School
Arren Yedikian South High School
Angela Zhamkochian Burbank High School
