News

Staff Report Dr. Matthew Jendian, Professor of Sociology at Fresno State, was recognized with the Richard G. Hovannisian Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award by the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region (ANCA-WR). Dr. Jendian was one of eleven educators and supporters honored during a virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2022. The honorees, from various public schools and ...

Sara Beberian Staff Writer The Armenian Studies Program celebrated another successful year at Fresno State with the 34th Annual Armenian Studies Program Banquet. Fresno State students, faculty, administrators, parents, donors, and community members came together to share a delicious dinner and celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Program. The banquet was held at the Fort Washington Country Club on Sunday, ...

Staff Report The Armenian Series of The Press at California State University, Fresno announces the publication of its fifteenth volume, From My Life and Thought: Reflections on an Armenian-American Journey, a memoir by Dennis R. Papazian, a well-known community leader, Professor Emeritus of History, and founding Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. Writer Michael ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program awarded scholarships to fifty students from thirty-four different endowment or scholarship funds for a total of $88,000 for the academic year 2021-2022. In addition to providing needed financial support, the scholarships encourage students to pursue Minors in Armenian Studies and to enroll in the various course offerings. We ask our students and our supporters ...

Staff Report The Armenian Students Organization (ASO) held a vigil on Friday, April 22, at the Armenian Genocide Monument on the Fresno State campus. The vigil was to honor the memories of the martyrs lost in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Somber duduk music greeted students and guests as they gathered by the Monument. ASO President Michael Mazman and executive ...

Staff Report Mark and Debbie Adishian-Astone have established a $25,000 Endowed Scholarship in Armenian Studies at Fresno State in honor of Debbie Adishian-Astone’s parents, George and Shenora (Kirishian) Adishian. “We are honored to be able to establish this scholarship to support Fresno State students and the Armenian Studies Program. Establishing an endowed scholarship ensures that the scholarship is sustainable for ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer “We should remember that genocide is, first of all, a man-made event, and genocide is something that people initiate. These are human beings who kill human beings,” emphasized Dr. Suren Manukyan, Kazan Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies in Fall 2021 and head of the UNESCO chair on the Prevention of Genocide and other Atrocity Crimes at ...

Staff Report The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation has made two significant donations in 2022 to benefit the Armenian Studies Program and to enhance the Kooyumjian Endowed Scholar Fund at Fresno State. The Kooyumjian Family Foundation donated $15,000 to the Armenian Studies Program to support special projects, including sponsorship of the “Komitas Trio” concert and an international conference. The Kooyumjian ...

Fresno State News “What inspires me is that we are making a difference in the lives of our students now and for generations to come,” says Deborah Adishian-Astone, the vice president for administration and chief financial officer at Fresno State. Growing up, Adishian-Astone’s family always emphasized the importance of education. She decided she wanted to get her degree from Fresno ...

Michael Mazman Staff Writer On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, the Armenian Students Organization held its biggest fundraiser of the year, the ASO “Christmas Ball.” On this night, members of the Armenian community from all over the Central Valley gathered at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church to enjoy a full dinner, catered by Ararat Market and Grill. Guests had the pleasure of ...