News

Staff Report It is common to hear the exciting announcement of students graduating from Fresno State with a degree in biology, business, engineering, or nursing. Andrew Hagopian, however, decided on a different path, becoming the first student at Fresno State to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Armenian and Middle Eastern Studies. With the help of advisor Prof. Barlow ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor Tasting grandpa’s fresh apricots and black plums, playing the tunes of childhood on grandma’s old piano, walking past the water fountain by an all too familiar route – “Back to Ashtarak” is a documentary film brimming with nostalgia. It is a compilation of archival and recent footage, with unique animation that captivates the audience through its depiction ...

Staff Report Award-winning journalist and director of the documentary film “Motherland,” Vic Gerami, was a guest of CineCulture and the Armenian Studies Program on Friday, April 14, 2023. Gerami interacted with a virtual audience of students and community members, who posed a variety of interesting questions regarding the movie. CineCulture Professor Mary Husain moderated the discussion, together with Prof. Barlow ...

Staff Report A team of USC Institute of Armenian Studies staff, including Dr. Lilit Keshishyan, Manuk Avedikyan, and Brandan Balayan, visited Fresno State on Monday, March 13, 2023 to speak to students and faculty about the Institute’s “My Armenian Story” oral history project. The two-year project involves conducting oral interview with Armenians throughout California, to “dis-cover and record individual journeys.” ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program, Fresno State, the St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Scottsdale Community College (SCC) hosted a one-day workshop “Teaching About Genocide-The Armenian Genocide: A Case Study,” on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Twenty-two teachers from the local area participated in the workshop which featured several presentations. SCC Professor of Anthropology Dr. Lisa Marsio ...

Natalie Agazarian Editor Armenian 148, Masterpieces of Armenian Culture, is a general education course taught by Dr. Hagop Ohanessian. The class is designed to delve into various forms of Armenian literature and art through distinct periods in Armenian history. It fulfills upper division Area IC of the Fresno State General Education requirements and is a required course for completing the ...

Christine Pambukyan Staff Writer On Sunday, March 26, 2023, the Armenian Studies Program held its 35th Annual Banquet at the Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno. The evening was dedicated to the establishment of the Ralph Shabazian Endowment in Armenian Studies and the Florence Elaine Hamparson Endowment in Armenian Studies. Banquet sponsors, donors, scholarship recipients, faculty, university administrators, and family ...

  Yesenia Fuentes and Benjamin Kirk Special to Hye Sharzhoom Florence Elaine Hamparson was known to have a big heart. As a third and fourth-grade teacher at Turner Elementary School, she was regarded as an impactful educator who loved her students. She had a lot of love for furry friends and was an avid square dancer. Strong in her Christian ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program awarded scholarships to fifty-seven students from thirty-five different endowment or scholarship funds for a total of $90,000 for the academic year 2022-2023. In addition to providing needed financial support, the scholarships en-courage students to pursue Minors in Armenian Studies and to enroll in the various course offerings. We ask our students and our supporters ...

Hannah Paloutzian Staff Writer “Art symbolizes goodness,” said Yervant Gojabashian. “Painting, literature, and music awaken the beauty in the world, especially for the young generation and that brings about peace and love to the whole world.” On Thursday, April 13, 2023, the Armenian Studies Program held an opening reception for Armenian artist Yervant Gojabashian’s exhibition, “Gojabashian: Blessed Hands of the ...