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MERDINIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
asbarez
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
Dr. Nalbandian & Mr. Loussararian during the banquet MISSION HILLS-C &
E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School recently celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the school's founding at a gala banquet held at the
Deukmejian Ballroom of the Ararat Home in Mission Hills, California,
on Sunday March 4.
The Banquet was a huge success. More than 350 guests and dignitaries
attended, including members of the school's Board of Directors,
faculty, administration, students, parents, alumni, founding members,
members of the PTO, the Women's Auxiliary, past and present AMAA Board
members and officers, Armenian Evangelical ministers, representatives
of the Western Prelacy and Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, representatives of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Consul
General of the Republic of Armenia, the first President of the American
University of Armenia, and members of the Armenian press.
Hreir Sagherian was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He is an
industrial engineer and a sales executive with IBM Corporation. He has
led the AEUNA youth committee for many years, and he currently serves
on the Board of Directors of Camp AREV. Mr. Sagherian introduced Dr.
Vahe Nalbandian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Merdinian
School.
Dr. Nalbandian thanked the attendees, the sponsors of the event
as well as members of the Banquet Committee, the PTO and the
Women's Auxiliary. He introduced Mrs. Lina Arslanian, the newly
appointed Principal of the school. Prior to her being elevated to
the principal's position, Arslanian served the school capably for
thirteen years in various capacities, as teacher, department chair,
and curriculum coordinator.
Recent accomplishments of the school were mentioned, including renewal
of the school's accreditation for a full six-year term, the highest
SAT scores achieved by its students in the school's history, and the
major renovations made to the campus facilities.
During the past twelve months, the school has been the beneficiary of
three major grants: a very large gift from the Armenian Evangelical
Social Service Center for the repair and renovation of the school's
buildings and grounds, a major gift from Anahis Derian-Boolghoorjian
for the renovation of the school's assembly hall, and a substantial
gift from the Ahmanson Foundation for the upgrading of the school's
computer lab.
On behalf of the Merdinian School Board of Directors, Dr. Nalbandian
expressed his sincere gratitude to these generous donors. He presented
a plaque on behalf of the Board of Directors to the Armenian
Evangelical Social Service Center and to its Executive Director,
Hagop Loussararian, as a token of their appreciation.
For twenty-five years, the Armenian Evangelical Social Service
Center has provided valuable services to the community of refugees
and immigrants who have arrived here from Armenia and the Middle
East by helping them resettle in the Glendale area, find employment,
and become productive members of society.
Mr. Loussararian is one of the visionaries who planned and founded
Merdinian School. He served as a Board member and Chair of the
Personnel Committee during the early years of the school's existence.
His love for the school has remained very much alive.
Dinner followed the invocation by Rev. Ara Chakerian. After dinner,
Dr. Nalbandian recognized Mrs. Anahis Derian-Boolghoorjian, a
registered nurse and a philanthropist, for her generous donation
to Merdinian School and various other organizations, including the
AMAA, Haigazian University, Camp AREV, Sahag-Mesrob school and the
Cilicia Armenian Evangelical Church in Pasadena. Upon completion of
its renovation, Merdinian School's assembly hall shall be named the
Aram and Anahis Boolghoorjian Hall.
A musical interlude ensued. After that, Peter Kougasian, Esq., an
AMAA Vice President, Assistant District Attorney for the County of
New York, and a gifted speaker, delivered the captivating keynote
speech entitled "Why Merdinian? What is the purpose of a Christian,
Armenian education in this increasingly secular world?"
Kougasian made a compelling case for Merdinian School, where children
are taught the Bible, along with the Armenian language, history, and
culture. He regards the assumption that religion and education must
be kept antiseptically separate as being a fallacy. He explained the
fallacy by quoting the epigram of the medieval philosopher St. Anselm:
"I do not understand, that I may then believe. I believe, that I may
then understand." Kougasian stated that when religion and education are
separated, teaching becomes sterile. As the book of Proverbs tells us,
the very beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.
The keynote speaker was followed by brief messages by Mr. Grigor
Hovhannissian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los
Angeles, and Helen Haig, daughter of Alice Haig, who played a key
role in the establishment of the school and who served as the first
Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Personnel Committee.
The Principal delivered her message both in English and in Armenian.
After that, ten alumni ascended to the podium, introduced themselves,
and mentioned the years they graduated from Merdinian, the colleges
they attended, the career paths they now follow, and what key
principles the school taught them. One of the alumni read a passage
that included remarks made by each of the ten.
Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister to the Union, concluded this highly
successful celebration of the school's 30th anniversary with his
benediction.
asbarez
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
Dr. Nalbandian & Mr. Loussararian during the banquet MISSION HILLS-C &
E Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School recently celebrated the 30th
anniversary of the school's founding at a gala banquet held at the
Deukmejian Ballroom of the Ararat Home in Mission Hills, California,
on Sunday March 4.
The Banquet was a huge success. More than 350 guests and dignitaries
attended, including members of the school's Board of Directors,
faculty, administration, students, parents, alumni, founding members,
members of the PTO, the Women's Auxiliary, past and present AMAA Board
members and officers, Armenian Evangelical ministers, representatives
of the Western Prelacy and Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, representatives of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Consul
General of the Republic of Armenia, the first President of the American
University of Armenia, and members of the Armenian press.
Hreir Sagherian was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He is an
industrial engineer and a sales executive with IBM Corporation. He has
led the AEUNA youth committee for many years, and he currently serves
on the Board of Directors of Camp AREV. Mr. Sagherian introduced Dr.
Vahe Nalbandian, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Merdinian
School.
Dr. Nalbandian thanked the attendees, the sponsors of the event
as well as members of the Banquet Committee, the PTO and the
Women's Auxiliary. He introduced Mrs. Lina Arslanian, the newly
appointed Principal of the school. Prior to her being elevated to
the principal's position, Arslanian served the school capably for
thirteen years in various capacities, as teacher, department chair,
and curriculum coordinator.
Recent accomplishments of the school were mentioned, including renewal
of the school's accreditation for a full six-year term, the highest
SAT scores achieved by its students in the school's history, and the
major renovations made to the campus facilities.
During the past twelve months, the school has been the beneficiary of
three major grants: a very large gift from the Armenian Evangelical
Social Service Center for the repair and renovation of the school's
buildings and grounds, a major gift from Anahis Derian-Boolghoorjian
for the renovation of the school's assembly hall, and a substantial
gift from the Ahmanson Foundation for the upgrading of the school's
computer lab.
On behalf of the Merdinian School Board of Directors, Dr. Nalbandian
expressed his sincere gratitude to these generous donors. He presented
a plaque on behalf of the Board of Directors to the Armenian
Evangelical Social Service Center and to its Executive Director,
Hagop Loussararian, as a token of their appreciation.
For twenty-five years, the Armenian Evangelical Social Service
Center has provided valuable services to the community of refugees
and immigrants who have arrived here from Armenia and the Middle
East by helping them resettle in the Glendale area, find employment,
and become productive members of society.
Mr. Loussararian is one of the visionaries who planned and founded
Merdinian School. He served as a Board member and Chair of the
Personnel Committee during the early years of the school's existence.
His love for the school has remained very much alive.
Dinner followed the invocation by Rev. Ara Chakerian. After dinner,
Dr. Nalbandian recognized Mrs. Anahis Derian-Boolghoorjian, a
registered nurse and a philanthropist, for her generous donation
to Merdinian School and various other organizations, including the
AMAA, Haigazian University, Camp AREV, Sahag-Mesrob school and the
Cilicia Armenian Evangelical Church in Pasadena. Upon completion of
its renovation, Merdinian School's assembly hall shall be named the
Aram and Anahis Boolghoorjian Hall.
A musical interlude ensued. After that, Peter Kougasian, Esq., an
AMAA Vice President, Assistant District Attorney for the County of
New York, and a gifted speaker, delivered the captivating keynote
speech entitled "Why Merdinian? What is the purpose of a Christian,
Armenian education in this increasingly secular world?"
Kougasian made a compelling case for Merdinian School, where children
are taught the Bible, along with the Armenian language, history, and
culture. He regards the assumption that religion and education must
be kept antiseptically separate as being a fallacy. He explained the
fallacy by quoting the epigram of the medieval philosopher St. Anselm:
"I do not understand, that I may then believe. I believe, that I may
then understand." Kougasian stated that when religion and education are
separated, teaching becomes sterile. As the book of Proverbs tells us,
the very beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.
The keynote speaker was followed by brief messages by Mr. Grigor
Hovhannissian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los
Angeles, and Helen Haig, daughter of Alice Haig, who played a key
role in the establishment of the school and who served as the first
Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Personnel Committee.
The Principal delivered her message both in English and in Armenian.
After that, ten alumni ascended to the podium, introduced themselves,
and mentioned the years they graduated from Merdinian, the colleges
they attended, the career paths they now follow, and what key
principles the school taught them. One of the alumni read a passage
that included remarks made by each of the ten.
Rev. Joe Matossian, Minister to the Union, concluded this highly
successful celebration of the school's 30th anniversary with his
benediction.