Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
The Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno held its 21st Annual Banquet on Sunday, March 15, at the Fort Washington Golf and Country Club in Fresno. There was an exciting feeling in the air as many notables joined guests for this special occasion.
Fresno State President Dr. John Welty greeted the special guests at the Banquet: former Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway, former USAID Mission Chief in Armenia Keith Simmons, and American University of Armenia Vice-President, Bruce Janigian.
Many guests from the community joined students, faculty, and administrators in celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Hye Sharzhoom, the Armenian student newspaper on campus. Former and current editors and staff were invited to the Banquet and many took the opportunity to attend and catch up with former colleagues.
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program, formally welcomed all to the Banquet and invited Dr. Welty to give his opening remarks.
“Thank you to all of you for not only being here this evening, but thank you for the incredible support that you have provided for the Armenian Studies Program over the years,” said Dr. Welty, “We are, as Barlow mentioned, in a difficult time and we have some difficult decisions ahead of us, but I can assure you that as a result of the sacrifices that you have made over the years, that the Armenian Studies Program is strong and is a Program that has a bright future… The intellectual quality that the Program brings to our campus enriches our entire university environment.”
Dr. Welty continued, “Tonight I feel an enormous sense of gratitude to all of you, for what you have done to build a Program that will live on forever. We are just a little over a year from beginning our centennial celebration at Fresno State, in April of 2010, marking the 100th anniversary of the then Fresno Normal School that was officially started through legislative act… The Armenian Studies Program will be one of those Programs that we will highlight and honor, and indeed I look forward to it.”
Prof. Der Mugrdechian then introduced Dr. Vida Samiian, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and thanked her for her support as Dean.
“Thank you Barlow. Barlow is giving me credit for what he has done. He has really done an amazing job carrying Armenian Studies forward, seamlessly, from the departure of Dr. Kouymjian,” said Dean Samiian. “It is so wonderful to see the accomplishments this year, especially because it ensures the success of the Program into the future. I have to tell you, that this event, the Armenian Studies Banquet, is one of my favorite events, because of the community that you all bring to the university. And is such a perfect example, that at every table, there are all of these wonderful stories that go on during dinner, and every one of you brings your history, your diversity, your perspective and that is so enriching for us. And that is what makes our Program so successful.”
Dr. Samiian continued, “So I too, I want to thank you for the investment that you have made in our Program and I can tell you that we have the strongest undergraduate Armenian Studies Program nationally, and I am so proud of everything that our faculty has done, our students who are our hope for the future, and everything that each of you are doing in supporting us, and in supporting our community, and our campus. Thank you.”
Thirty years ago in April 1979, a small group of students, under the direction of Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, director of the Armenian Studies Program, started a newspaper, that thirty years later has become an institution. Several generations of students have contributed their efforts in making the newspaper, Hye Sharzhoom, into an international phenomenon, reaching a readership of more than seven thousand throughout the world.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian introduced Dr. Bill Erysian, one of the founders and first editors of Hye Sharzhoom, to speak about how the newspaper began and what was behind its growth. (Dr. Erysian’s full remarks are found at the end of this article.)
Prof. Der Mugrdechian invited Dr. Welty to bestow certificates on those staff members of Hye Sharzhoom in attendance. Editors, staff members, photographers, from all eras of the paper stepped forward to receive recognition for their accomplishments. Prof. Der Mugrdechian also recognized the many student recipients of scholarships and grants that have been established at the university through the generosity of the Armenian community.
Ambassador John Ordway, Keith Simmons, and Bruce Janigian then engaged in a panel discussion on “United States Foreign Policy in Armenia and the Caucasus.” Each spoke on their experience while in Armenia. Ambassador Ordway in particular had enjoyed his tenure in Armenia and spoke about how he viewed Armenia’s future development and relations with the United States. Simmons discussed the opportunities for economic development in Armenia. Janigian spoke about the success of the American University of Armenia (AUA), and how AUA is making an important contribution to the intellectual development of the Republic of Armenia.
The 21st Annual Banquet was a wonderful event that brought together the university with the community. It has become an annual tradition that should continue long into the future.