PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org

For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 1, 2005

Contact: Rostom Sarkissian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANC-HOLLYWOOD & FASGI HOST WELCOME RECEPTION FOR NEW PRESIDENT OF LA CITY COLLEGE

HOLLYWOOD, CA – Dr. Steve Maradian, the new President of Los Angeles
City College (LACC), was the honored guest of a Welcome Meet and
Greet at Karapetian Hall in Hollywood on August 16. The Armenian
National Committee of Hollywood (ANC-Hollywood) and the Filipino
American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI) co-hosted the event. The event
brought together local leaders in the areas of education, health
care and social service, and served as an opportunity to introduce
Dr. Maradian to the Hollywood area community.

“The Armenian National Committee welcomes Steve Maradian as the new
President of Los Angeles City College. We look forward to working with
him and LACC on initiatives of common interest for the community,”
commented Dr. Onnik Keshishian, Master of Ceremonies for the event
and ANC-Hollywood chapter spokesperson.

The Meet and Greet attracted local leaders from a broad spectrum of the
LACC community and included Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti,
College Board of Trustees members Nancy Pearlman and Georgia Mercer,
and Burbank Unified School Board President Paul Krekorian. In addition,
there were numerous members of the Presidential search committee and
representatives of the Armenian Education Foundation, the Prelacy,
the Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, THAI Inc.,
and the United Nurses Association on hand.

“It was amazing. A diverse cross section of the community attended
the reception, and Dr. Maradian talked to each one of us,” said
Susan Dilkes, Executive Director of FASGI and a member of the
Presidential search committee. She added “I am happy to have been
part of the selection committee, and extend my congratulations to
and support for the new president of LACC. It took two years of
hard work to find qualified candidates. Dr. Maradian will have a
lot of work to do, but the community will be behind him.” The event
had a brief question-and-answer session during which Dr. Maradian
addressed questions about the challenges facing LACC, ranging from the
ethnic composition of the college to how budget cuts will affect the
institution. Following the evening’s program, the attendees continued
to network and welcome Dr. Maradian individually.

“It was a pleasure to be with so many leaders of the LACC community
who have a genuine interest and commitment to ensuring that everyone
receives a quality education,” said Dr. Maradian. “I am looking forward
to working with each and every segment of the community to ensure
access and success for our students and the future of Los Angeles.”

Dr. Maradian, who is originally from Boston, served as the Vice
President for Government Relations at the American University of
Armenia before joining the LACC team. Prior to that, he was the
Director of Federal Relations for the University System of Georgia.

FASGI is a community-based non-profit organization that prides
itself in empowering Filipino Americans and others through culturally
and linguistically sensitive advocacy, education, social services,
social action, research and leadership. It is through the support of
its community-members that FASGI is able provide social services to
low-income and homeless individuals through programs which provide
food distribution, independent living skills training, and education
and outreach services.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad
range of issues.

Editor’s Note: Photos Attached. Photo 1 Caption: Dr. Maradian (center)
with attendees and organizers of the welcome event. Photo 2 Caption:
Dr. Maradian (center) with Armenian American Community of Hollywood.

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