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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Professor Peter Cowe Presented with 2006 AGBU Garbis Papazian Award
On March 4, 2007, close to 400 people gathered at the Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena for the
traditional annual Lenten Luncheon organized by the AGBU Alex Manoogian
Center Ladies Committee. The event provided a forum to announce and
honor the winner of the 2006 AGBU Garbis Papazian Award.
The annual AGBU Garbis Papazian Award was established in 1988 through a
special fund with the AGBU, to support and encourage non-Armenian
scholars, who, through their scholarly research and publications,
contribute to the propagation of Armenian causes, heritage, literature,
language and history.
Following a special AGBU Centennial video presentation, Haig Messerlian,
AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC) member and emcee,
gave his welcoming remarks. He then introduced Professor Peter Cowe,
winner of the 2006 Award, and read a letter of congratulations from AGBU
President Berge Setrakian.
Cowe, a highly respected scholar, researcher, teacher and author, was
being recognized for his important contributions to Armenology as
Narekatzi Professor of Armenian Studies, Department of Near Eastern
Languages and Cultures at UCLA, and for his previously held positions in
Armenology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Columbia University
in New York.
AGBU SCDC chairperson Vahe Imasdounian and Messerlian presented Dr. Cowe
with the 2006 AGBU Garbis Papazian Award on behalf of the AGBU Central
Board of Directors, which placed him among the ranks of distinguished
past recipients such as Baroness Caroline Cox of England; French jurist
Francois Rigaux; Genocide scholar Hans-Lukas Keiser; human rights
advocate Tessa Hofmann; Austrian art historian Helmut Buschhausen;
German theologian Hermann Goltz; and Iranian poet and translator Ahmat
Nourizade.
"I am very honored to receive this award bearing the name of the
well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Garbis Papazian, who is
continuing a laudable Armenian tradition of appreciating learning and
actively supporting it. I am sorry that Mr. Papazian is unable to be
with us today so that I could express this directly to him, but I hope
to have an opportunity to do so during a trip planned to Vienna in the
summer to access materials in the Vienna Mkhitarist library en route to
Armenia," said Cowe.
Also partaking in the luncheon were California State Assembly member
Paul Krekorian, Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard, Glendale City Council
members Rafi Manoukian and Ara Najarian, and Glendale School Board
candidate Nayiri Nahabedian. Several of Professor Cowe’s colleagues from
the University of California at Los Angeles as well as Professor Kevork
Bardakjian from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, joined the AGBU
in recognizing his achievements.
On behalf of the Armenian Consul General in Los Angeles Armen Liloyan,
consular aide Hagop Hovannisian presented Cowe with a unique, enviable
gift–an Armenian passport.
City of Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, who was re-elected to his third
term two days after the luncheon, had taken some time away from his busy
campaign to congratulate Dr. Cowe and commend the AGBU for its work in
the community. "When I’m part of the events of the great Armenian
community, I think of the history, tradition, dedication, determination
and teamwork that make this community so strong and vital," said
Bogaard. "This is an important event in the City of Pasadena, and makes
me proud as mayor of this great city. It would not be the same community
without your work and participation. You are welcome, well known and
appreciated, and I thank you very much."
Musical entertainment was provided throughout the luncheon, and included
performances by violinist Megujan Margarian, 13-year-old pianist Hovsep
Boghossian, and Elise Tashjian, who performed several popular Armenian
songs with Levon Abrahamian accompanying her on the piano.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.