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EIGHT ARMENIANS AMONG 2012 ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL RECIPIENTS
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-06-07-eight-armenians-among-2012-ellis-island-medal-recipients-
Published: Thursday June 07, 2012
View of the Ellis Island. Courtesy image.
Related Articles
Seven Armenian Americans receive Ellis Island medals
New York - Nancy Arabian; Nishan Goudsouzian, MD; Kevork I.
Karajerjian; Dalida Keuroghlian; Papken Megerian; Ohannes A.
Nercessian, MD; Alice Petrossian and Joyce Philibosian Stein are
among this year's recipients of the Ellis Island awards.
The Medal of Honor award recognizes remarkable Americans who exemplify
outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives,
while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.
Both the United States House of Representatives and Senate officially
recognize the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year's recipients
are read into the Congressional Record.
Past medalists include six presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners
and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.
To date, over 1,800 American citizens have received Ellis Island
Medals of Honor.
Alice Petrossian, Association of California School Administrators
(ACSA) president.
Petrossian is recognized for her lifelong commitment to improving the
lives of California's students, her focus on diversity and educational
equity, and her support for English language learners and students
from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
"Alice is extremely deserving of this national recognition," said
ACSA Executive Director, Karen Stapf-Walters. "Her unique talents,
her educational expertise and her unwavering commitment and service
to public schools are inspiring. She is a role model to thousands
of school leaders working to recognize and honor diversity and to
improve the lives of students."
Petrossian recently retired from Pasadena Unified School District as
the Chief Academic Officer/ Deputy Superintendent. Her 42 years of
service to public education includes 31 years in Glendale Unified
School District with 12 years as the Assistant Superintendent of
Educational Services. While in Glendale she held a number of other
administrative positions and spent 11 years as a teacher in both
Glendale and Hayward, California.
Petrossian was appointed to several state boards and commissions by
Governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis.
Just to name a few, she served as Chair of the California Commission
for Teacher Credentialing, President of the California Community
Colleges Board of Governors, and Trustee of the California State
University System. For her service to the community, Petrossian was
honored twice as Legislative Woman of the Year-43rd Assembly District
in 1998 by Assemblyman James Rogan (Rep) and in 2008 by Assemblyman
Paul Krekorian (Dem). She has presented and key noted at numerous
conferences, seminars and banquets. In 2007, Petrossian was recognized
by ACSA with its "Most Outstanding Administrator Award" and in 2011,
she was elected State President to lead the 15,000 member organization.
Petrossian has continuously volunteered in organizations, especially
those involving children's causes. She has served on the Boards of the
Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale Community Foundation, YWCA, PTA and
many others. Most recently, she is active in collecting and shipping
school supplies and clothing to orphanages and village schools in
Armenia as well as providing professional development seminars for
educators. For her volunteer work, Petrossian has received numerous
prestigious awards and honors by community organizations, including
California PTA, YWCA, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, American Red
Cross, LA County Human Relations- John Anson Ford Award, Soroptimist
International, Glendale NewsPress, California State University-Hayward,
California State University-Los Angeles, USC, Armenian General
Benevolent Union-Generation Next, Armenian Professional Society,
Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian National Committee, Armenian
Relief Society, Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
Joyce Philibosian Stein, an ex-officio member of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Board of Directors.
Co-Chair of the AMAA National Orphan and Child Care Committee, Trustee
of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation and ex-officio member of the
Board of Trustees for Haigazian University, Joyce Philibosian Stein
was honored on May 12 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations
(NECO), sponsors of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The Ellis Island
Medal of Honor was presented to Mrs. Stein on Ellis Island, where 12
million immigrants entered the United States from 1892 to 1954.
Mrs. Stein is the daughter of the late Sirpuhe Philibosian Conte and
Stephen Philibosian, a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a co-founder
of Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon. Both having crossed the
Ellis Island threshold, would be amazed to know their daughter was
awarded this medal of honor. They were true Americans who in that
spirit encouraged the very American pursuits of giving of oneself.
Mrs. Stein was born in New York City and attended Colby/Sawyer College,
Southern Methodist University and graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania. She also holds an honorary degree from Haigazian
University (LLD). She lived in St. Andrew's Scotland while her husband,
Joe, attended St. Mary's College. She now resides with her husband in
Indian Wells, CA. In keeping with her father's legacy, Mrs. Stein
has wholeheartedly supported the AMAA and Haigazian University
in leadership positions. Among her many other contributions to
philanthropic causes, she served as a volunteer and major fundraiser
for the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and as Chair of the
"Daisy Day" Fund, when President Dwight Eisenhower was the Honorary
Chairman. She has also served as a member of the Support Committee
of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Her husband, Joe, represents AMAA in the United Armenian Fund and is
involved in numerous other Armenian organizations and projects. Her
daughter, Stephanie Landes, is a current member of the AMAA Board
of Directors and her daughter, Tina Segel, is a member of Haigazian
University Board of Directors. She also actively serves on the LA
Child and Orphan Committee and has sponsored the annual Luncheon and
Fashion Show. Mrs. Stein is actively involved in the lives of her
six grandchildren.
"The AMAA congratulates Joyce on this very prestigious award," said
Levon Filian, Executive Director of the AMAA. "Joyce is a true leader
who puts her heart and soul into each and every project to make the
world a little better than how she found it."
The Medal of Honor is granted by the National Ethnic Coalition of
Organizations. Its mission is to honor and preserve diversity and to
foster tolerance, respect and understanding among religious and ethnic
groups. NECO sponsors a broad range of programs, events, educational
initiatives and materials designed to cultivate understanding among
individuals and groups. Additionally, NECO continues the commitment
to the restoration and maintenance of Ellis Island, a living tribute
to the courage and hope of all immigrants who have built America.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-06-07-eight-armenians-among-2012-ellis-island-medal-recipients-
Published: Thursday June 07, 2012
View of the Ellis Island. Courtesy image.
Related Articles
Seven Armenian Americans receive Ellis Island medals
New York - Nancy Arabian; Nishan Goudsouzian, MD; Kevork I.
Karajerjian; Dalida Keuroghlian; Papken Megerian; Ohannes A.
Nercessian, MD; Alice Petrossian and Joyce Philibosian Stein are
among this year's recipients of the Ellis Island awards.
The Medal of Honor award recognizes remarkable Americans who exemplify
outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives,
while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.
Both the United States House of Representatives and Senate officially
recognize the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year's recipients
are read into the Congressional Record.
Past medalists include six presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners
and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.
To date, over 1,800 American citizens have received Ellis Island
Medals of Honor.
Alice Petrossian, Association of California School Administrators
(ACSA) president.
Petrossian is recognized for her lifelong commitment to improving the
lives of California's students, her focus on diversity and educational
equity, and her support for English language learners and students
from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
"Alice is extremely deserving of this national recognition," said
ACSA Executive Director, Karen Stapf-Walters. "Her unique talents,
her educational expertise and her unwavering commitment and service
to public schools are inspiring. She is a role model to thousands
of school leaders working to recognize and honor diversity and to
improve the lives of students."
Petrossian recently retired from Pasadena Unified School District as
the Chief Academic Officer/ Deputy Superintendent. Her 42 years of
service to public education includes 31 years in Glendale Unified
School District with 12 years as the Assistant Superintendent of
Educational Services. While in Glendale she held a number of other
administrative positions and spent 11 years as a teacher in both
Glendale and Hayward, California.
Petrossian was appointed to several state boards and commissions by
Governors Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis.
Just to name a few, she served as Chair of the California Commission
for Teacher Credentialing, President of the California Community
Colleges Board of Governors, and Trustee of the California State
University System. For her service to the community, Petrossian was
honored twice as Legislative Woman of the Year-43rd Assembly District
in 1998 by Assemblyman James Rogan (Rep) and in 2008 by Assemblyman
Paul Krekorian (Dem). She has presented and key noted at numerous
conferences, seminars and banquets. In 2007, Petrossian was recognized
by ACSA with its "Most Outstanding Administrator Award" and in 2011,
she was elected State President to lead the 15,000 member organization.
Petrossian has continuously volunteered in organizations, especially
those involving children's causes. She has served on the Boards of the
Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale Community Foundation, YWCA, PTA and
many others. Most recently, she is active in collecting and shipping
school supplies and clothing to orphanages and village schools in
Armenia as well as providing professional development seminars for
educators. For her volunteer work, Petrossian has received numerous
prestigious awards and honors by community organizations, including
California PTA, YWCA, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, American Red
Cross, LA County Human Relations- John Anson Ford Award, Soroptimist
International, Glendale NewsPress, California State University-Hayward,
California State University-Los Angeles, USC, Armenian General
Benevolent Union-Generation Next, Armenian Professional Society,
Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian National Committee, Armenian
Relief Society, Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
Joyce Philibosian Stein, an ex-officio member of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Board of Directors.
Co-Chair of the AMAA National Orphan and Child Care Committee, Trustee
of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation and ex-officio member of the
Board of Trustees for Haigazian University, Joyce Philibosian Stein
was honored on May 12 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations
(NECO), sponsors of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The Ellis Island
Medal of Honor was presented to Mrs. Stein on Ellis Island, where 12
million immigrants entered the United States from 1892 to 1954.
Mrs. Stein is the daughter of the late Sirpuhe Philibosian Conte and
Stephen Philibosian, a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a co-founder
of Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon. Both having crossed the
Ellis Island threshold, would be amazed to know their daughter was
awarded this medal of honor. They were true Americans who in that
spirit encouraged the very American pursuits of giving of oneself.
Mrs. Stein was born in New York City and attended Colby/Sawyer College,
Southern Methodist University and graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania. She also holds an honorary degree from Haigazian
University (LLD). She lived in St. Andrew's Scotland while her husband,
Joe, attended St. Mary's College. She now resides with her husband in
Indian Wells, CA. In keeping with her father's legacy, Mrs. Stein
has wholeheartedly supported the AMAA and Haigazian University
in leadership positions. Among her many other contributions to
philanthropic causes, she served as a volunteer and major fundraiser
for the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and as Chair of the
"Daisy Day" Fund, when President Dwight Eisenhower was the Honorary
Chairman. She has also served as a member of the Support Committee
of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Her husband, Joe, represents AMAA in the United Armenian Fund and is
involved in numerous other Armenian organizations and projects. Her
daughter, Stephanie Landes, is a current member of the AMAA Board
of Directors and her daughter, Tina Segel, is a member of Haigazian
University Board of Directors. She also actively serves on the LA
Child and Orphan Committee and has sponsored the annual Luncheon and
Fashion Show. Mrs. Stein is actively involved in the lives of her
six grandchildren.
"The AMAA congratulates Joyce on this very prestigious award," said
Levon Filian, Executive Director of the AMAA. "Joyce is a true leader
who puts her heart and soul into each and every project to make the
world a little better than how she found it."
The Medal of Honor is granted by the National Ethnic Coalition of
Organizations. Its mission is to honor and preserve diversity and to
foster tolerance, respect and understanding among religious and ethnic
groups. NECO sponsors a broad range of programs, events, educational
initiatives and materials designed to cultivate understanding among
individuals and groups. Additionally, NECO continues the commitment
to the restoration and maintenance of Ellis Island, a living tribute
to the courage and hope of all immigrants who have built America.