News

Staff Report The Second International Congress on Armenian Studies “Armenian Studies and the Challenges of Modern Times,” was held October 17-19, 2013 in Yerevan, Armenia. The Congress was sponsored and organized by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, under the Presidency of Dr. Radik Martirosyan. The Congress coincided with the 70th anniversary celebration of the founding ...

Andrew Esguerra Staff Writer Armenian Studies began at Fresno State with a mere couple of classes just over half a century ago. Today, the Armenian Studies Program is one of the staple such Programs in the United States, offering courses that disseminate knowledge of Armenian language, culture, art, literature, and history to students. In addition, the steadily growing Program, based ...

Staff Report Kevork Ajamian History Minor in Armenian Studies What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? I was encouraged to take Armenian Studies courses primarily because I am Armenian, and also because of the great things I had heard about the Program and Prof. Der Mugrdechian, through my mother and aunt who had also taken courses. It also ...

Denise Altounian Staff Writer As the holiday season approaches, what are you most looking forward to? Menas Arisian Junior Major: Business I really look forward to spending more time with family and friends.  I am also excited and thankful for the good Armenian meals that will be provided.     Vachagan Vardanyan Senior Major: Computer Science What I look forward ...

Tatevik Hovhannisyan Staff Writer The works of composer Aram Khachaturian are always beautiful to listen to, but when they are performed by an Armenian orchestra, the same compositions transport the audience to another world—the Armenian world. On Saturday, November 16, the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia visited Fresno for a concert dedicated to the 110th birthday of Aram Khachaturian, one ...

Marine Vardanyan Editor The clock tower froze at 11:41 while children were at school, parents at work, and busy people were running errands. These individuals became the unsuspecting victims of a terrible disaster, one that devastated the historical city of Gyumri (then Leninakan) and stole the lives of an estimated 25,000 Armenians, injuring 15,000. With a reported magnitude of 6.9, ...

Marine Vardanyan Editor In the October 2013 issue of Hye Sharzhoom, excerpts from family histories prepared by students who had enrolled in a Spring 2013 course taught by Dr. Sona Haroutyunian (University of Ca’ Foscari Venice), Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies, were published.  Following are the three remaining excerpts: Suren Oganessian My grandfather, Suren Oganessian the First, was born ...

Tamar Melkonian Staff Writer Have you ever wondered what a trip to historic Armenia would be like? On Friday, September 27, 2013, Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program, shared a presentation on his summer trip to historic Armenia. Titled “Historic Armenia II: Armenian Cilicia,” this event was part two in a series by Der Mugrdechian, following ...

Suren Oganessian Staff Writer Armeniapedia http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Main Page: Provides the best way to navigate the website, listing categories covered in the Wiki, such as history, travel, society and culture, language, food, art, books, and maps. Armenian Language Lessons: An online textbook is provided to help English-speakers learn Eastern Armenian, accessible on the main page. Navigation: A sidebar present on all ...

Ruzan Orkusyan Staff Writer What do the spiritual leader of the Salvation Army, the inventor of the MRI, the creator of automatic transmission, and the founder of GNC have in common? Along with countless intellectuals and public figures, they share a unique American-Armenian heritage and serve as prominent reminders of Armenians’ survival, growth, and civic contributions. In a two-part lecture ...