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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Sisters Academy
440 Upper Gulph Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Contact: Susan Pogharian
Tel: 610-757-7090
Fax: 610-687-2450
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Congratulations go to Armenian Sisters Academy (Phila.) 5th grade
student Barkev Sarkahian on winning second place in an essay contest
sponsored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the
American Immigration Council. The theme of his year’s contest was "Why I
am Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants." Barkev based his submission
on his grandparents’ story, and titled his essay "Good Things From
Immigrants.’ All Academy fifth grade students received participation
certificates for their writing submissions. Ms. C.J., Lyford,
co-chairperson of the Philadelphia chapter of AILA, visited the school
and presented Barkev with his award.
Good Things from Immigrants
by Barkev Sarkahian
The reason why I am glad America is a nation of immigrants is because my
parents and grandparents are immigrants. They came from Lebanon, and
still have good memories from their birth country. My grandparents once
were all in Lebanon, but my father’s parents, my parents, and my
dad’s brothers and sisters came to the United States. My relatives are
all in the United States, but my aunt is in Maryland; the rest are all
in Pennsylvania.
Another reason why I am glad America is a land of immigrants is because
immigrants invented Yahoo, Google and Intel. These are all wonderful
things immigrants created. Without immigrants, this country wouldn’t
have unique traditions. All the immigrants came for hope and freedom.
Many went through Ellis Island or Angel Island. Ellis Island and Angel
Island act like gateways to the Americas. Long ago they traveled by ship
and people would seep on bunk beds.
The people who came, all came for a purpose. Some were forced to leave
their home country because of war. Others had a choice to come or not.
Some didn’t even make it all the way to America. My family came to the
America’s in the 1900s. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if they
didn’t. I wouldn’t have such great friends! Life would be a whole
lot different if they hadn’t come to Pennsylvania in the United
States.