Pateel Mehitarian Editor There are many organizations, such as Orran and the Nork Childrens’ Center in Armenia, that seek to help children from unprivileged families. Another group that assists young women in achieving their aspirations is Mer Doon. Mer Doon, meaning “Our Home” in Armenian, takes in young women whom have outgrown their childhood homes in Armenian orphanages. Mer Doon ...

Staff Report Over thirty-five San Joaquin Valley and State organizations are cooperating to celebrate the William Saroyan Centennial (the 100th anniversary of his birth) in 2008. They will present a series of exhibitions, musical performances, lectures, school activities, theatrical productions and readings, historical discussions, and literary events focusing on Saroyan’s work and his life in the San Joaquin Valley. Events ...

Staff Report The Republic of Armenia held Presidential elections on Tuesday, February 19 and Serge Sarkisian was elected as the third President of Armenia, garnering 52.8% of the popular vote. His main opponent Levon Ter-Petrosian won an estimated 21.5%, according to the Central Election Commission. 1.6 million voters cast their ballots- about 70% of the eligible voters. Sarkisian was Prime ...

Staff Report William Saroyan: Views on Identity and Ethnicity,” was the focus of a course taught by Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program, on two consecutive Thursday afternoons, February 21 and February 28, as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Fresno State. Der Mugrdechian discussed the early influences on Saroyan, those that had a life long ...

Gina Jelladian Staff Reporter What are the major feast days celebrated in the Armenian Church? What are the four true marks of the Orthodox Church? How often is the Holy Oil (Muron) prepared? What is it used for? These were some of the questions faced by students on a quiz taken during the first session of a weekend class, Armenian ...

Staff Report On Tuesday evening, February 26, the Shoghaken Armenian Folk Ensemble of Armenia performed in concert to an audience of more than 400 in the Satellite Student Union at Fresno State. The eight-member ensemble was on an international concert tour, which began in Paris, and continued in twenty-one cities in the United States, ending March 7 in Los Angeles. ...

Staff Report Dr. Dickran Kouymjian and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts either offered personally or to the Program. The Armenian Prelacy, New York, New York, for the book Kronneru Patmutiun [History of Religions] by Professor Puzant Yeghiayan (in Armenian). David Cutting, Germinal Productions, ...

Svetlana Bagdasarov Staff Report Question: “With all the fun Armenian activities that happened this school year, which would you say you enjoyed the most?” Name: Caitlin Tiftick Year: Senior Major: Business Administration “My favorite event was the 8th Annual Armenian Film Festival. I enjoyed watching films related to the Armenian people and Armenian history.”     Name: Erik Rosvold Year: ...

Staff Report The William Saroyan Society held its annual William Saroyan Story Writing Contest Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 12, at the Woodward Park Regional Library. The theme for this year’s contest was “Coming Home.” Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program was the featured speaker at the event, and as he addressed the award winners, parents, and friends, ...

Staff Report Singer Gor Mkhitarian performed in concert at the Armenian Community Center of Fresno on Saturday, March 17. Mkhitarian, who composes and sings his own original songs, performed a series of hits from his recent CDs, Episode and Gor. Among the songs performed were a 12c. folk-song, Sarer, a revised version of a Gomidas Vardapet composition, Shogher Jan, and ...