Presidential medal for His Holiness Karekin II

Fresno State News, CA
June 29 2005

Dr. John D. Welty, right, president of California State University,
Fresno, presented the President’s Medal of Distinction to His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, during a campus
visit on June 14. Assisting Dr. Welty was Barlow Der Mugrdechian,
Fresno State lecturer in Armenian Studies. The President’s Medal is
the highest non-degree award presented by Fresno State.

His Holiness Karekin II, considered to be pope of the Armenian
faithful, visited Fresno and the Central Valley from June 11-15 to
lead a “Renaissance of Faith.” He presented Dr. Welty with an engraved
silver tray.

The meeting was the second in a year for the two men. Last summer,
Dr. Welty visited His Holiness Karekin II while traveling in Armenia.