Tweet
Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ September 26, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
AYF Eastern Region Junior Members Participate in Annual Athletic Games
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 23 to 25, over 110 junior and senior
members of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern Region gathered
at Camp Haiastan for the annual Junior Athletic Games (JAG), which
brings together participants from the Mid-Atlantic and New England
districts.
AYF junior members hailing from New York; New Jersey; Philadelphia,
Penn.; Boston; Providence, R.I.; Worcester; North Andover; and
Blackstone Valley took to the pool and the track for heated
competitions. Attendees, staying at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, for the
weekend, were divided into two groups, with older juniors ages 10 to
13 competing separately from those in the 14 to 16 age group.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, all juniors and seniors were
bused from the camp to the Milford High School pool, in Milford, where
athletes competed to the cheers of a sizable crowd of peers, AYF
seniors and parents.
By noontime the swimming events concluded, with participants and
observes alike traveling to neighboring Hopkinton, where the track and
field events got underway at Hopkinton High School.
Juniors participated in six track events, as well as team relay races
and the field events of long jump, shot put and baseball throw. "I've
been doing this for 20 years now and I enjoy it very much," said
Providence AYF alumnus Sarkis Varadian, who clerks the track and field
events for JAG every year.
The Greater Boston chapter, who supplied sandwiches, snacks and manned
a concession stand at the track all day, hosted the event.
That evening, a celebration was held at Camp Haiastan's Dikran Tzamour
Hall, where athletes and AYF seniors danced to the music of
Philadelphia AYF senior members Aram Hovagimian on keyboard, Anthony
Deese on guitar, and Greater Boston AYF senior Sevag Khatchadourian on
vocals. Entertainment also included tunes played by DJ Harout
Khatchadourian from Providence.
Team scores and award winners were later announced, with New Jersey
finishing in third with 41 points, followed by Providence in second
with 92 and the Greater Boston Nejdeh juniors, with 201 points, taking
first place. High scoring athletes were also awarded trophies: Ani
Megerdichian from Providence for the older girls (age 14 to 16); Araxi
Krafian and Anoush Arakelian both from Greater Boston for the younger
girls (age 10-13); Varant Chiloyan from Greater Boston and Greg
Gregorian from North Andover for the older boys; and Matthew Picard
from Greater Boston for the younger boys.
On Sunday morning, athletes participated in a basketball tournament at
Camp Haiastan, before boarding their buses and getting in their cars
to go home. "I like going to JAG because I get to see all my Armenian
friends and it?s a lot of fun to compete in the games," said Ani
Sarajian from the New Jersey AYF junior team, as she left the camp.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
www.ayf.org
PRESS RELEASE ~ September 26, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
AYF Eastern Region Junior Members Participate in Annual Athletic Games
WATERTOWN, Mass.?From September 23 to 25, over 110 junior and senior
members of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern Region gathered
at Camp Haiastan for the annual Junior Athletic Games (JAG), which
brings together participants from the Mid-Atlantic and New England
districts.
AYF junior members hailing from New York; New Jersey; Philadelphia,
Penn.; Boston; Providence, R.I.; Worcester; North Andover; and
Blackstone Valley took to the pool and the track for heated
competitions. Attendees, staying at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, for the
weekend, were divided into two groups, with older juniors ages 10 to
13 competing separately from those in the 14 to 16 age group.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, all juniors and seniors were
bused from the camp to the Milford High School pool, in Milford, where
athletes competed to the cheers of a sizable crowd of peers, AYF
seniors and parents.
By noontime the swimming events concluded, with participants and
observes alike traveling to neighboring Hopkinton, where the track and
field events got underway at Hopkinton High School.
Juniors participated in six track events, as well as team relay races
and the field events of long jump, shot put and baseball throw. "I've
been doing this for 20 years now and I enjoy it very much," said
Providence AYF alumnus Sarkis Varadian, who clerks the track and field
events for JAG every year.
The Greater Boston chapter, who supplied sandwiches, snacks and manned
a concession stand at the track all day, hosted the event.
That evening, a celebration was held at Camp Haiastan's Dikran Tzamour
Hall, where athletes and AYF seniors danced to the music of
Philadelphia AYF senior members Aram Hovagimian on keyboard, Anthony
Deese on guitar, and Greater Boston AYF senior Sevag Khatchadourian on
vocals. Entertainment also included tunes played by DJ Harout
Khatchadourian from Providence.
Team scores and award winners were later announced, with New Jersey
finishing in third with 41 points, followed by Providence in second
with 92 and the Greater Boston Nejdeh juniors, with 201 points, taking
first place. High scoring athletes were also awarded trophies: Ani
Megerdichian from Providence for the older girls (age 14 to 16); Araxi
Krafian and Anoush Arakelian both from Greater Boston for the younger
girls (age 10-13); Varant Chiloyan from Greater Boston and Greg
Gregorian from North Andover for the older boys; and Matthew Picard
from Greater Boston for the younger boys.
On Sunday morning, athletes participated in a basketball tournament at
Camp Haiastan, before boarding their buses and getting in their cars
to go home. "I like going to JAG because I get to see all my Armenian
friends and it?s a lot of fun to compete in the games," said Ani
Sarajian from the New Jersey AYF junior team, as she left the camp.
Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) serves as the
youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(YOARF). The AYF stands on five pillars that guide its activities:
education, political awareness, fellowship, athletics and
culture. Moreover, the AYF promotes a fraternal attitude of respect
for the diversity of ideas and individuals amongst its
membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow
members of the organization to work together and realize its
objectives.