PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
July 28, 2006
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ARMENIAN STUDENTS REWARDED FOR COMMUNITY WORK
This year 63 undergraduate students from 15 states applied for college
scholarships distributed by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern).
The money is available thanks to donors who have established endowment funds
to provide such scholarships to young Armenians who have taken an active
interest in the Armenian Church.
(The Diocese encourages others to establish such funds by contacting
Berjouhi Saladin at the Armenian Church Endowment Fund, via e-mail at
Berjouhi@armenianchurchendowmentfund.org.)
Rec ipients had to be U.S. citizens, and priority was given to those who have
been most active in the life the Armenian Church community, those in
financial need, and those who had done well academically. Recommendations
from pastors and parish lay leaders were also taken into consideration.
This year the Diocese was able to give $500 scholarships to 23 college
students.
"These young people have given of their time and skill to better their local
Armenian Church community," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate.
"They are the future of our community, and we can see from their devotion
and service that we are encouraging our youth to live as part of the
Armenian Church."
HOLOPIGIAN MEMORIAL FUND
Receiving funds from the George Holopigian Memorial Fund, the largest
scholarship fund distributed by the Diocese, were:
Shant Broukian, son of Raphael and Astgik Broukian of Watertown, MA, a
senior at Boston University studying psychology and biology. He has been
active in the ACYOA chapter of the St. James Church of Watertown, MA, and
been a member of the parish’s junior choir. Most recently, he has begun
training as a deacon.
Gregory Dalakian, son of Martin and Nancy Dalakian of Parsippany, NJ, a
junior at the University of Delaware studying music education. He has
served as the assistant choir director in his home parish of St. Mary Church
of Livingston, NJ, where he has also been a sub-deacon and led performances
during parish events. He has also served as a counselor and director of
dramatic studies for the Diocese’s St. Vartan Camp and served as chairman of
his parish’s ACYOA Jrs. chapter. He is a past participant in the St.
Nersess Seminary summer programs.
Marisa Kelegian, daughter of Fr. Yeprem and Yn. Judy Kelegian of Racine, WI,
a senior at Drake University studying music performance. She has been an
ACYOA Jrs. Chairman, an ACYOA Srs. member and Assembly delegate, has
performed as a musician in her home parish of St. Mesrob Church of Racine,
WI, and has served as a counselor at the Diocese’s Midwest Hye Camp. She is
a flutist.
Tatevik Khoja-Eynatyan, son of Leon Khoja-Eynatyan and Narine Petrosyan of
North Bethesda, MD, a freshman at the Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins
University studying music performance. He has been an active member of the
Narek Bell Choir of the St. Mary Church of Washington, D.C. and has also
performed with the Armenian Chorale of Greater Washington.
Taleen Kupelian, daughter of Krikor Kupelian and Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian,
of Ft. Lee, NJ, a sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University studying
humanities and education. She has graduated from several Armenian
religious, linguistic, and cultural education programs and has taken
leadership roles in Armenian youth organizations and has taught Sunday
School.
Lori Manukoglu, daughter of Berch and Talin Manukian of Cliffside Park, NJ,
a sophomore at Babson College studying business administration. She is a
graduate of the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum program, and recipient of its Role
Model Award. She has also taught Sunday School at the Holy Cross Church of
Armenia in upper Manhattan and has served as an assistant to the Khrimian
Lyceum program in Boston.
Valerie McQueen, daughter of Eric and Arpine (Nakashian) McQueen of Jackson,
NJ, a sophomore at Boston University studying communications. She served as
vice president of the ACYOA chapter and as an altar server at the St.
Stepanos Church of Elberon, NJ, and also has volunteered as proofreader for
Diocesan publications.
Sossie Nalbandian, daughter of Fr. Zenob and Yn. Hasmig Nalbandian of
Windham, NH, a junior at the University of Massachusetts studying business.
She has been a member of the ACYOA Srs., a choir member, and organist. She
has also taught Sunday and Armenian school.
Christine Quinn, daughter of Karl and Nancy (Khachian) Quinn of Fairfield,
CT, a sophomore at the Rhode Island School of Design studying illustration.
She has been active in the Church of the Holy Ascension of Trumbull, CT,
serving as an ACYOA Jrs. officer, a choir member, and active member of the
Sunday and Armenian Schools. She has also been involved in the Armenian
Students Association.
Harout Sahagian, son of Hagop and Ani Sahagian of New Milford, NJ, a
freshman at Montclair State University studying biology. He has been an
ACYOA member and altar server at the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ. This
year he will be a staff member of St. Vartan Camp, after serving as a
counselor-in-training for the past few years. He has also attended the St.
Nersess Seminary Summer Sessions and plays basketball for the St. Leon
parish team.
Lisa Salbashian, daughter of Nazareth and Azniv Salbashian of Ft. Lee, NJ, a
junior at Rutgers University. A member of the St. Thomas Church of Tenafly,
NJ, she has been active in the Armenian Club at Rutgers and has worked on
the Times Square Genocide Commemoration.
Onnig Terzian, son of Fr. Aved and Yn. Vivian Terzian of West Boylston, MA,
a junior at Georgetown University studying finance and international
business. He has been an altar server, Sunday School teacher, Armenian
School assistant teacher, and ACYOA member in his home parish of the Church
of Our Saviour in Worcester, MA.
Aleen Tovmasian, daughter of Mania and Thomas Tovmasian of Ft. Lee, NJ, a
sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University studying sociology and
Italian. She has been active in the ACYOA chapter of the St. Thomas Church
of Tenafly, NJ, and the Tekeyan AYO. She has also attended St. Nersess
Seminary Summer Sessions.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Several other endowment funds also provide money for college scholarships.
They include the Adrina Movsesian Scholarship Fund, the Armine Dikijian
Journalism Scholarship Fund, the Mabel Fenner Scholarship Fund, Dikran and
Nevart Dadourian Scholarship Fund, Joseph and Eve Gorvetzian Scholarship
Fund, Louie Cefalu Scholarship Fund, and the Astrid Hatabian Zolas
Scholarship Fund.
Receiving $500 each from these funds this year are:
Aram Babikyan, son of Jirair and Carol Babikyan of Belmont, MA, a junior at
the University of Massachusetts studying business administration. He has
been active in both ACYOA Jrs. and Srs. at his home parish, the St. James
Church of Watertown, MA. A Sunday School graduate, he then served as an
assistant teacher.
Alexa Diranian, daughter of Richard Diranian and Karen Kazanjian Diranian of
Arlington, MA, a sophomore at Providence College studying psychology. She
has been chair of the ACYOA at the St. James church in Watertown, MA, and
also its parish Sunday and School, where she has served as assistant to the
superintendent. She has also worked as a counselor for St. Vartan Camp. On
campus, she has been involved in the campus ministry programs.
Natalie Jamian, daughter of Gregory and Sandra Jamian of Bloomfield, MI, a
freshman at Michigan State University studying science. A former chair of
the ACYOA chapter at her home parish, the St. John Church of Southfield, MI,
she has attended the St. Nersess Seminary Summer Conferences. She has also
been a volunteer at the parish’s summer day camp and at the Midwest Hye
Camp.
Andrew Kayserian, son of Tamar and Hampar Kayserian of Flushing, NY, a
sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying biomedical
engineering. A Sunday School teacher at his home parish, the Church of the
Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY, he has also led extracurricular activities at
the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum program.
Jacqueline Kazarian, daughter of Michele Kazarian and Kenneth Kazarian of
Rumford, RI, a sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University studying
Latin and Greek. She has volunteered at the Nubarashen Orphanage in
Armenia. She also has taught Sunday School and been active in the ACYOA at
her home parish of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob in Providence, RI.
Arousiag Markarian, daughter of Siranoush Markarian of Forest Hills, NY, a
junior at the City College of New York studying biomedical science. She has
been a class representative for the American Medical Students Association
and has been active in Armenian youth programs and has performed as a
soloist in local Armenian churches. She also volunteered with the Land and
Culture Organization and served as a youth delegate representing the
Republic of Armenia at a youth meeting organized by the United Nations.
Matthew McGann, son of John and Linda McGann of Fairfield, CT, a sophomore
at Stonehill College in North Easton, MA, studying communications. A Sunday
School graduate, he is also an acolyte at his home parish, the Church of the
Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT. He has also been a member of his parish’s
junior and regular choir and has been co-chairman of its ACYOA chapter.
Ani Nalbandian, daughter of Fr. Untzag and Yn. Setta Nalbandian, a sophomore
at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, studying in a pre-med
program. She has been an organist for her home parish of the Church of the
Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT, and has studied through junior choir
leadership development program of the Association of Armenian Church Choirs
of America (AACCA). She has been an ACYOA delegate and co-chair of her
parish’s ACYOA Jrs. She has also taught in her parish’s Armenian School.
Margo Voskanian, daughter of Gevorg and Parkoohi Voskanian of Marlboro, MA,
a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts studying biology. She has
taught Sunday School at her home parish, the Church of the Holy Translators
in Framingham, MA, and has been a leader of her parish’s ACYOA. This spring
she participated in the Diocese’s "Alternative Spring Break," through which
college students traveled to southern states to build homes through Habitat
for Humanity. She is co-chair of the Armenian Club at her school.
Marianna Zargarian, daughter of Benjamin Zargarian of Fair Lawn, NJ, a
freshman at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey studying
speech-language pathology. An acolyte, she is also a Sunday and Armenian
School graduate from her home parish of St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ.
She is also a member of her parish’s basketball team, ACYOA Jrs. and choir.
She is also part of the Antranig Armenian Dance Ensemble.
— 7/28/06