PASADENA, Calif. —The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® has announced the 2017 float entries that will participate in the 128th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed “Echoes of Success,” and the American Armenian Rose Float Association for a third year in a row will participate with their float “Field of Dreams.” The 2017 Pasadena Tournament of Roses theme tells the story of how our character has developed through the selfless contributions of others and celebrates their inspirational gifts. It is a celebration for those people, institutions and organizations that help in the success of others.
The America Armenian Rose Float Association will present to the world the echoes of success of the Armenian Community in depicting and its first announced rider for the Field of Dreams 2017 float as Houry Gebeshian, PA-C, ATC, an American Armenian Gymnast.
Houry has been involved in gymnastics for 20 years. As a child she won multiple State Championships, was a Level 10 National competitor, and earned a full scholarship to the University of Iowa. She competed all four years in the All-Around for Iowa, attained the honor of Big Ten Champion on the balance beam in 2010, and was an NCAA National competitor in 2011. Post-graduation, she continued on to International Elite competition, competing for the Republic of Armenia at the 2011 World Championships. Here she secured a spot as a reserve athlete for the 2012 Olympic Games. Unable to qualify in 2012 and after taking a 3 year hiatus to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant, she returned to international competition to continue toward her dream of the Olympics. This past summer, she made this dream a reality by competing in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Not only was she the first female gymnast to represent the Republic of Armenia at the Olympic Games but she also pioneered a new gymnastics element, The Gebeshian.
At the University of Iowa, Houry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and is a Board Certified Athletic Trainer. She then continued her education at Wake Forest University, earning a Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Alongside her gymnastics training, she currently works at the Cleveland Clinic, as a surgical physician assistant, on the Labor and Delivery floor.
Upon the completion of Houry’s athletic career, she plans to continue to inspire through community leadership and motivational speaking. She also hopes to continue building an Armenian Women’s gymnastics program for the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
The float will also feature three children atop a majestic Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Stallion in the foreground descending from historic Mt. Ararat in the background where Noah’s Arc came to rest. Mt. Ararat has long stood as a spiritual symbol of faith for people around the world. Also growing out from the soil of this snow-capped mountain, a pomegranate tree with a peacock, a symbol of good fortune and fertility for Armenians around the world.
The children atop the Artsakh Stallion wear traditional Armenian garments, hold symbols representing Literature, Music and Science, paying tribute to the fields in which this historic ancient people have contributed to the collective human experience.
This year’s uplifting theme “Echoes of Success” is represented in this positive portrayal of the Armenian culture paying homage to accomplishments of Armenians in the fields of music, literature and science.
Join us on December 11, 2016 for the Gala Under the Stars unveiling our “Field of Dreams.” For ticket information contact us at 626-788-9622 or Info@AARFA.org
