Haigazian University
From: Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Haigazian University Honors Two Environmental Organizations on its
Founders’ Day

Beirut, October18, 2007- Haigazian University honored two Lebanese
Environmental Organizations, the Union of Northern Association for
Development Environment and Patrimony (UNADEP), and the Lebanese
Environment Forum (LEF), during its Founders’ Day, on October 15, 2007,
in the presence of the Director General of the Ministry of Environment,
Dr. Berge Hadjian, NGO representatives, Board members, faculty, staff
and students.

The ceremony started with the invocation by the Vice-Chairman of the
University’s Board of Trustees, Rev. Robert Sarkissian, followed by a
power point presentation, "Tribute to the Founders", delivered by Dean
of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Arda Ekmekji,

Ekmekji highlighted the factors which lead to the foundation of the
University 52 years ago, and the founding institutions, the Union of
Armenian Evangelical Churches of the Near East (UAECNE), and the
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA).

As an annual tradition, Student Life Director, Antranik Dakessian
presented Student of the Year 2007, Ms. Ani Nadjarian who cherished with
the audience her sweet memories of Haigazian days. "Haigazian University
provided me with many promises, … the promise of proving truth,
freedom and service, in addition to the promise of spending the best
days of my life", Nadjarian said.

Nadjarian also considered Haigazian an ideal microcosm, through the
freedom of expression, diversified culture, the quality education and
the exemplary unity presented in the University.

After a short musical interlude, a piano duet skillfully performed by
students Nayiri Shahinian and Araz Aitian, the audience attentively
listened to the keynote speaker of the occasion, the President of the
University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian.

Haidostian, with his inspiring speech, eloquently moved the audience to
prepare themselves and the young generation for the day that follows
tomorrow, instead of being limited by the uncertain and questionable
tomorrow.

"The day after tomorrow is the day when we will realize that much has
changed in the political calculations, allegiances and topics around us.
But if in the meantime we fail to care for our natural resources, the
natural house in which we live, we will realize that political
agreements will not be able to return to us the trees that were cut, the
beaches that were polluted, the mountains that were carved, the springs
that lost their routes, and the wells that we abused, and of course,
important in our natural habitat, the potential of human beings that we
wasted", Haidostian noted.

Haidostian also introduced a new political understanding that falls in
line with the mission of Haigazian University, politics that cares for
"the welfare and dignity of the individual human being in Lebanon",
politics that strengthens "the cultural heritage of Lebanon", politics
that appreciates "the leading and serving role of the private and
non-private institutions of the Lebanese society", politics that accepts
"the continued dialogical identity of Lebanon as a nation", and finally,
politics that strives for "the preservation and freshness of the natural
resources of Lebanon".

Afterwards, the Dean of Business Administration and Economics, Dr. Fadi
Asrawi, invited to stage the presidents of the NGOs, Mr. Rafaat Saba of
the LEF, and Mr. Mazen Abboud of the UNADEP, who received from President
Haidostian and Dr. Hadjian, appreciation plaques of the University.

After words of thanks and gratitude, the program concluded with the
University’s Alma Mater.