GLENDALE, Calif.,–The Armenian National Committee – Glendale Chapter announced on Wednesday that ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian will deliver the keynote speech at its 2010 Annual Banquet, while Ms. Lyola Hovhannisyan will receive the “Youth Activist of the Year” award. The event is set to take place on Thursday, September 16th, 6:30pm at Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale, CA.
“We’re extremely honored to have Mr. Hamparian as this year’s keynote speaker,” said ANCG Executive Director Elen Asatryan. “Mr. Hamparian has been a true advocate of the Armenian cause and a longtime leader on issues impacting Armenian-Americans, while empowering those around him to improve their communities. We’re looking forward to having him speak to our community and share with us recent developments and initiatives in Washington,” added Asatryan.
Since 1994, Hamparian has served as the organization’s national representative to the Administration, Congress, and the Washington foreign policy community. In addition to his tireless work to ensure recognition of the Armenian Genocide and increase of US aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Hamparian has testified before Congress and serves as the organization’s representative to the national and international media. He Most recently worked with key legislators such as Senator Boxer to postpone the flawed nomination of Mathew Bryza as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Lyola Hovhannisyan, who graduated third out of her class at Glendale High School with a 4.34 GPA, has been an exceptional community volunteer with a diverse portfolio. Over the years, aside from serving on the Executive Board of the GHS National Honor Society, Crescenta Valley Red Cross Club, GHS Armenian Club and the Associative Student Body, Hovhannisyan volunteered at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Narek Cultural Foundation. Moreover, Hovhannisyan helped established Kids Against Tobacco, a year round education program which serves to educate elementary students throughout the City of Glendale about the negative effects of tobacco use. She also participated in activities such as GHS Link Crew, Heal the bay, Cancer Walk, Relay for Life, Windsor Manor Caroling, Operation Christmas Child, Genocide March amongst many others. Come fall, Hovhannisyan will attend the University of California, Los Angeles where she plans to major in physiological sciences and minor in mathematics.
“We received countless nomination forms for the Youth Activist of the Year Award. To choose from a group of driven, young individuals, who commit themselves to serving their community was exceptionally difficult, but Lyola’s involvement in the different segments of the community brought us to our final decision,” said Leonard Manoukian, Co-Chair of the ANCG Board of Directors.
The Annual Banquet will begin with Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner and main program at 7:30pm.
Awards will be presented to Larry Zarian, a former Mayor of the City of Glendale, Alissa Asmarian, the owner of Favorite Place Restaurant, Glendale Healthy Kids, a provider of health care and health education to children, Glendale Youth Alliance, a provider of employment for Glendale’s low-income youth, and Lyola Hovhannisyan.
