ASO Holds First Meeting and Elections for Fall Semester

Front row, left to right: Ariana Garabedian, Victoria Topjian, Sylvie Khatchikian, Jonathan Chardukian, Razmig Markarian, Adam Garabedian, Sevag Poladian, and Simon Zhamkochyan. Back row, left to right: Andrew Hagopian, Anastasia Eritzian, Christa Eritzian, Macyn Topoozian, Jordan Mazmanian, Harutyun Amirkhanyan, Ani Sargsyan, Karina Messerlian, Alec Karayan, Armand Karkazian, and Edgar Gasparyan. Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian

Anahid Valencia
Staff Writer

The Armenian Students Organization held its first meeting of the 2024-2025 academic year on Thursday, August 29, 2024. A new Executive Board was elected for the year: Harut Amirkhanyan, President; Careen Derkalousdian, Vice President; Jonathan Chardukian, Treasurer; Ani Sargsyan, Secretary; and Sylvie Khatchikian, Publicist.

Harutyun Amirkhanyan
President
Accounting Major

Why are you interested in ASO?
Adventures brought me to ASO. At Fresno State, I gravitated to the brightest beacon of national values, which is ASO.

How has being an ASO member connected you with the Armenian community?
Meeting new people that share something in common with me is great. Getting to know the old faces from different perspectives is beautiful. I admire how the ASO students uphold the Armenian culture in the sea of American way of life.

Careen Derkalousdian
Vice President
Biochemistry Major- Armenian Studies Minor

Why are you interested in ASO?
I believe it is the duty of our Armenian youth to stay involved in the community to ensure that our faith and culture thrives for many generations to come.

What would you like to accomplish as an ASO officer?
I would like to collaborate with other board members to bring our ASO family together through social events and advocate for Armenian issues.

Jonathan Chardukian
Treasurer
Civil Engineering Major- Armenian Studies Minor

How has being an ASO member connected you with the Armenian community?
Being in ASO has introduced me to many other Armenians that I likely would not have met, and it has helped me play a more active role in our community.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?
Playing guitar in an Armenian folk music band is pretty interesting, and it is a very fun way to preserve our culture.

Ani Sargsyan
Secretary
Communicative Sciences Major-
Armenian Studies Minor

Why are you interested in ASO?
ASO brings students closer to the Armenian community at Fresno State and it’s an important part of the Armenian Studies Program. You meet so many new people and get to be a part of something that feels familiar and allows you to celebrate your culture!

Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I have ziplined up to 2,500 feet in length over the mountains in the Tavush region of Armenia!

Sylvie Khatchikian
Publicist
Interior Design Major- Armenian Studies Minor

Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I was born and raised in Dubai and I have been to most of the Middle East and European countries. I play multiple instruments and sing. I did professional figure skating for over 14 years and competed in many championships with gold medals.

What would you like to accomplish as an ASO officer?
I want to capture all the fun memories we share together and create new ideas to promote our club. I would like to assist the President and the rest of the execs and as a team create new social gatherings to promote, recruit, and preserve our language and culture.