Category: 2023

BY ELISE KALFAYAN

The Armenian Missionary Association of America 104th Annual Meeting Banquet, celebrating Armenian Evangelical education, will be held at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront on October 21 with Gasia Mikaelian, KTVU Fox TV News Anchor, as emcee.

From its founding in 1918, the AMAA has prioritized education that fosters Armenian Christian identity as part of its mission. Hundreds of Armenian Evangelical elementary, secondary, higher education, boarding, and theology schools were founded and thrived in the decades before the Armenian Genocide, offering a high-quality education to all Armenians, and to girls and women for the first time. Armenian Evangelical leaders in the United States and abroad committed themselves through the work of the AMAA to rebuilding schools for their nation in the years after the Genocide.

With its faithful benefactors, the AMAA opened elementary and secondary schools in the Near East throughout the 20th century, established Haigazian College (now Haigazian University) in Beirut, Lebanon in 1955, opened the K-8 Charlotte & Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School in Los Angeles, CA in 1982, and established kindergartens in Armenia and Artsakh following the nation’s independence. With visionary benefactor Edward Avedisian and his family, the AMAA built the state-of-the-art, private, tuition-free, K-12 Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School and Community Center, which opened in Yerevan in 1998. Several graduates of the Avedisian School have now gone on to higher education and service to their country in prominent leadership and service roles.

“Education is the foundation of Armenians’ spiritual, emotional and practical lives: we are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of institution builders, teachers, and learners as we carry AMAA’s work well into the future,” said Gasia Mikaelian.

Haigazian University, Beirut, Lebanon

Mikaelian is a news anchor at KTVU FOX 2 News in Oakland. She grew up in the Bay Area and is one of 4 children. She is grateful to her parents, who instilled in her a deep love for the Armenian language, culture, and (of course) food. Through her work at KTVU, Mikaelian has been able to highlight much of the good work that’s happening in and by the Armenian American community. She is proud to work for a station that values and supports diversity in its newsroom and the larger community.

Mikaelian has reported live on everything from the North Bay wildfires to the Super Bowl. Some of her most fulfilling work came during the height of the COVID pandemic, in a series exploring the pandemic’s effect on mental health. After graduating with a journalism degree from San Diego State University, she started her career as a reporter at KSWT in Yuma, Arizona. She then reported and anchored at WAFF in Huntsville, Alabama, XETV in San Diego and KPRC in Houston before returning to the Bay Area in 2005 to join KTVU as anchor.

C & E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, Sherman Oaks, CA

Banquet Co-Chairs Roushig Kalebjian and Vana Khanjian Vartanian invited Mikaelian to emcee the Banquet, all sharing a commitment to education. “Growing up in an Armenian Evangelical household has played a significant role in shaping my educational journey. The emphasis on education and academic achievement, both within Evangelicalism and Armenian culture, created an environment that fostered and supported my passion for learning. As I reflect on my educational pursuits, I am grateful for the values instilled in me by my upbringing, and the positive impact they have had on my life,” said Kalebjian.

Vartanian’s sentiment is similar: “Having grown up in the Armenian Evangelical Church and community, I’ve seen and experienced first-hand how our educational initiatives have instilled strong moral and spiritual values.”

Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School, Yerevan, Armenia

“Our Armenian Evangelical schools have educated generations of leaders who value Armenian culture and uphold our Christian faith,” said AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian. “I look forward to the AMAA’s 104th Annual Meeting Banquet at which we will honor Edward Avedisian posthumously and celebrate his beautiful vision realized in the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School, named in memory of his loving parents, and to joining our AMAA community in Celebrating Armenian Evangelical Education.”

For more information and to make your reservations, you may call AMAA headquarters at (201) 265-2607 or visit the AMAA website.

Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh.

Representatives of the AAMS with event organizers and emcees at the gala on May 7

The Armenian American Medical Society and its dedicated community of members and supporters united on May 6 and 7 for a meaningful cause: to generate funds to procure essential life-saving medications and healthcare supplies for the people of Artsakh.

The weekend’s events, a Gala, and Telethon, launched an ongoing fundraising campaign, Lifeline of Hope. Nearly $300,000 has been raised so far between the Gala and the Telethon, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase medications and medical supplies for the Armenians in Artsakh. This campaign was spurred by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has been rendered inaccessible since December 12, 2022. As a result, the 120,000 residents are isolated, without access to essential goods and services, including life-saving medication and healthcare.

“Our priority is to ensure the well-being of our people in a region that is presently landlocked and under blockade,” said Garni Barkhoudarian, MD, FAANS, president of AAMS. “Our aim is to provide the necessary support to maintain the health of Armenians in Artsakh. The more resources we can obtain, the longer we can sustain the availability of vital medications and medical supplies crucial for their survival.”

The first event of the weekend, the AAMS 38th Anniversary Gala, was held May 6, at the spectacular Jonathon Club in downtown Los Angeles. The gala drew 250 attendees.

AAMS Board members with honorees Dr. Armand Dorian (center left) and Dr. George Melikian (center right)

Armand Dorian, MD, MMM, FACEP, FACHE, and George Melikian, MD, MPH, both received the AAMS Lifetime Achievement Award for their significant contributions in assisting Armenia and Artsakh during the challenging times of COVID and the Second Artsakh War. Their remarkable efforts were recognized and celebrated as they shared inspiring words, emphasizing the importance of continued dedication and collaboration.

Elizabeth Zoryan, RN, BSN, PHN, AAMS Executive Committee member and secretary, and gala chair, offered the evening’s opening remarks and a somber reminder that the evening was about more than awards and recognition. “As we unite to honor our peers, we need to also reflect on the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh,” she noted. “The blockade has continued for nearly five months, cutting off our Armenian brothers and sisters from Armenia and the rest of the world. Through the generosity of our members and supporters, we can provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. We can be their lifeline of hope.”

Emmy Award-nominated KTLA reporter Ellina Abovian presided over the gala as Mistress of Ceremonies. Ellina also co-hosted the Lifeline of Hope telethon, Sunday, May 7, sharing hosting duties with Vruyr Tadevosyan of Horizon Armenian TV and Armine Amiryan of USArmenia TV.

The televised fundraiser aired live for a total of 12 hours on Horizon Armenian TV, ARTN TV, and USArmenia TV. Members of the AAMS Executive Committee, AAMS members, and a host of local healthcare professionals rallied viewers throughout the day to support this worthy cause.

“The 120,000 Armenians in Artsakh this Sunday may not have electricity, fuel, or the security of knowing they can feed their family today, let alone tomorrow,” said AMIC President and AAMS executive board member Vicken Sepilian, MD, FACOG, during the telethon. “We are survivors of a genocide, but today, our brothers and sisters in Artsakh are still fighting to survive. We are here to send them the message, ‘We are here with you.’ We must speak out and provide them with aid so they know they are not alone.”

The fundraiser is ongoing and open for donations through the AAMS website, Paypal, and Venmo. With every contribution, we can make a world of difference in the lives of those affected by this crisis.

The AAMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with over 500 members from around California whose practice areas cover the entire spectrum of allied healthcare. The AAMS is the largest Armenian medical society in the Diaspora. Its directory of practitioners is a vital resource for patients seeking care in various health-related disciplines and specialties. In addition, the AAMS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Dental Board of California, ensuring that AAMS members maintain their competence in new medical knowledge through Continuing Medical Education activities to improve quality care for patients and their communities.